Reborn and determined to escape the doomed marriage, I rejected Nathan Whitman, who got down on one knee to propose to me, signed the contract as a principal dancer, and spirited his mother, Jane Whitman, away without a second thought. In my previous life, Jane perished in a car crash during Nathan’s and my honeymoon abroad. Nathan held me responsible for his absence in her final moments and spiraled into a deep depression since then. To atone for a sin I didn’t commit, I quit my job and became his stay-at-home wife. However, all my doting care for Nathan ended up in him callously allowing his childhood sweetheart, Olivia Reed, to paralyze me, force me to miscarry, and even push me into the sea. As the icy water choked my lungs and numbed my veins, I died with bitter resentment. Then I woke up, only to find myself back at the proposal while Nathan, ring in hand, was gazing at me with adoration. “Aurora! Nathan spent three months planning this proposal. He even booked tickets to Elysiland, your dream destination. Are you humiliating him on purpose?” No sooner had I refused than Olivia emerged from the crowd to scold me. Her familiarity with Nathan was laughable. I’d always believed they were nothing more than close childhood friends, never imagining that Olivia had been harboring a long-standing crush on him. I ripped up the tickets and tossed them in her face. “Since you care about him so much, be with him!” “You!” Olivia gritted her teeth, a faint blush staining her cheeks. She bit her lip and glanced at Nathan. He shot up and shielded her, staring at me in disbelief. “Aurora, have you lost your mind? Nothing I do is good enough for you!” The sight of them made me sick to my stomach. I dashed to the restroom and threw up. Gazing at my made-up face in the mirror, I finally confirmed I’d been reborn.

In my previous life, Nathan took me to Elysiland for our honeymoon. Right after landing, we got the news that Jane had been in a car accident and was in the hospital. We caught the first flight back, but by the time we reached the hospital, she was gone. Olivia stood there, sniffling, and subtly blamed Nathan for going to Elysiland with me. “Nathan, what matters more to you, Aurora’s wishes or your mother’s life?!” Nathan stood there, looking defeated. After a long silence, he glanced up at me with bloodshot eyes. “Aurora, if it weren’t for you, Mom would still be alive!” The honeymoon, which was supposed to be a sweet surprise when he proposed, was now being twisted into my demand. I wanted to defend myself, but his hateful gaze silenced me. From that moment on, I was the villain in his story. Our wedding decorations were still up, but our wedding photo was replaced with Jane’s portrait. I was stuck in this nightmare, and Nathan, unwilling to go home, moved in with Olivia. She pretended to be helping us reconcile, but in reality, she’d started living with him the day after Jane died. Yet, I still transferred the money to her, imploring her to look after Nathan. To save our failing marriage, I turned down an offer from Reverie Dance Theatre the day my pregnancy test results came in. I saw our baby as the only hope and carefully put the test results in a pretty box. However, when I knocked on Olivia’s door, there she was, three months pregnant, leaning on Nathan. The answer to who the father was was clear as day. She spotted my belly and snorted, “Look, Nathan, the murderer of your mother is here. “Would you really keep a baby from her?” “Just get rid of it. It’s bad luck.” Nathan didn’t even spare me a glance before slamming the door shut. Heartbroken, I sent him a divorce agreement. He tore it up and sneered, “Aurora, you have no right to call it quits. “You’ll spend the rest of your life paying me back.” Therefore, he let Olivia force me to take abortion pills and watched as I, bleeding, tried to make it to the hospital but fell from the fourth floor. I lost the baby and became paralyzed. Yet, Olivia’s cruelty hadn’t run its course. She sent thugs to storm my home, strap me to a wheelchair, and hurl me into the churning sea. As I was drowning, she shouted with a smirk, “Nothing’s going to stop me and Nathan. You and Jane had it coming!” Only then did I realize Jane’s death was no accident—Olivia had been plotting it for years. Thankfully, I had a second life now.

Stepping out of the restroom, I found Nathan standing in the crowd, his face a picture of mortification. Everyone here was his acquaintance, and he was the kind who’d rather eat glass than lose face. Right now, his pride was in the gutter, and Olivia just kept pouring salt in the wound. “Nathan, did I mess up the arrangements and make Aurora misunderstand?” she cooed. “Shut it!” Nathan snapped. His scowl deepened, and I could tell he had no idea how his ever-compliant girlfriend could pull such a stunt. His frown didn’t ease until he saw me. “Aurora, I was out of line earlier,” he said, all honeyed tones. “I’ve been planning this proposal for ages, and Olivia helped me every step of the way. You’ve just got the wrong idea. “You’re the only one for me, always.” Nathan reached for my hand, ring at the ready, desperate to salvage the situation. I yanked my hand back. He furrowed his bros and whispered, “Aurora, enough with the dramatics.” I chuckled, “For five years, every gift you gave me? Olivia’s idea. I like mild flavors, but she sent you to take me for spicy food. I’m terrified of heights, yet she convinced you to drag me bungee jumping. I’m allergic to pollen, but she told you to deck the place with roses for the proposal. “Is she your mother? Why are you so obedient to her? “Or are you using me as some twisted flirting prop, trying to get me killed?” Nathan was displeased. “That’s not what this is.” Olivia batted teary eyes at him. “Nathan, I only want the best for you two.” I said icily, exposing her lie, “Really? But you slept with him.” “Aurora!” Nathan seethed. “I told you, we were drunk. There was only one bed left. Nothing happened.” Olivia clung to his sleeve. “Aurora, don’t tell me you’re still bitter about that, trying to humiliate us today?” The air crackled with tension as the gaze of the onlookers became more and more piercing. Nathan gave a humorless laugh. “Fine. If you don’t trust me, so be it.” He whirled around, dropping to one knee in front of Olivia with the ring. “Olivia, will you marry me?” This surprise came so suddenly that she covered her mouth with both hands, overwhelmed by excitement. “Are you serious?” “Of course.” Before she could say yes, he jammed the too-small ring onto her finger. The crowd winced at his rough handling. Olivia forced a smile and gritted her teeth, enduring the discomfort. Then, she hooked her arm around Nathan’s and showed off the big diamond ring with the other hand. “Aurora, you’ll regret letting this excellent man go.” “Congratulations! May you last forever.” I raised a glass of wine, toasting her new fiancé, the man I’d once tossed aside like trash. Nathan stormed off without a word, Olivia hot on his heels. The guests all gave me pitying looks. Nathan and I always seemed like the perfect couple. No one knew Olivia had been lurking in the shadows all along. Once the awkward goodbyes were done, I headed home and replied to the Imaginarium Dance Theatre’s offer to be principal dancer. This time around, I was going to follow my dreams. Lying in bed, I scrolled past Olivia’s Instagram post of her ring and smiled with disdain. After blocking and deleting her, I drifted off. The next morning, ninety-nine missed calls jolted me awake. Jane was frantic on the line. “Aurora, what on earth did you two quarrel about? How did that bastard Nathan upset you? I’ll teach him a lesson!” During the five years that I had been with Nathan, Jane had treated me like her daughter, always bragging that Nathan didn’t deserve me. The sound of Jane’s voice, which I hadn’t heard for a long time, made me lose my composure, and I almost burst into tears. “It’s okay, Jane.” She caught me crying and got even angrier. “I’ve always warned him to stay away from Olivia! Aurora, don’t worry. I only accept you as his wife. As long as I’m still alive, Olivia will never be able to marry into the Whitman family.” “Thanks, Jane, but it’s over between me and Nathan.” I’d sacrificed enough for him in my last life. No amount of Jane’s kindness could make me do it again. Jane sighed, “I should never have sponsored that maid’s daughter and let her go to school with Nathan. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had all the chances to cling to him…” Before she could finish, a loud crash suddenly erupted from her end. “Jane!” Olivia’s mocking laugh came through. “You meddling old hag! You’re the one stopping Nathan from marrying me, right? You started helping me, so why not finish the job? “No one in this world loves Nathan more than I do. It’s no use regretting now.” I heard Jane’s labored breathing and her faint cry for help. It dawned on me that she was in trouble. Before I could shout to stop Olivia, she noticed the call and cut it off. I grabbed my coat and bolted for the door, but the moment I swung it open, I crashed into Nathan. He stood there, blocking my way, with a dark face. “Who are you in such a hurry to meet?” Noticing that Nathan’s eyes sharpened with distrust, I thought he was being irrational. “Do you believe everyone shares your capacity for betrayal?”

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On the day of my wedding, the Lawson family’s fake heir, Nicholas Lawson, showed up to offer his blessings, covered in blood, kneeling in front of me, and begging for forgiveness. “Maxwell, I already promised you. I won’t fight over the inheritance. So why did you have to go so far and hire someone to kill me?!” Right then and there, my fiancée, Savannah Stanton, called off the engagement and ordered that I, Maxwell Lawson, be sent to the private Sapphire Isle to be punished. There, I was subjected to inhuman abuse and eventually transformed into a sea lion, a creature trained for others’ entertainment. Two years later, Savannah came with the whole family to bring me back. They were quite pleased with how blank and obedient I looked. At least, until I swallowed a whole fish in front of them, and Nicholas, the fake heir, threw up on the spot. Savannah flew into a rage. “I really thought you’d learned your lesson. But turns out you’re still the same disgusting mess. We just wanted you to come here and reflect on yourself. What’s with the disgusting performance?!”

Stepping off the plane was my fiancée, Savannah, followed closely by the rest of the Lawson family. A few of their men yanked me out of the shabby shack where I’d been kept, forcing me into a suit. The fabric scraped against my already rough, damaged skin, but I didn’t flinch. I felt nothing at all. Savannah strutted toward me in high heels. Her face twisted in disgust with a warning glint in her eyes. “From now on, stay away from Nicholas. The past is done and over. If you stir up trouble again, you’ll regret it.” My vacant gaze drifted across their faces, but I said nothing. Two years of relentless torment on Sapphire Isle had stripped away my humanity until I was no different from the sea lion they’d turned me into. Suddenly, as if reacting to a trainer’s cue, I clapped my palms together, a sharp smacking sound echoing in the air. Murmurs stirred around us. Savannah frowned and snapped, “What the hell are you doing now?” I couldn’t stop. It was like I was trapped in a loop I couldn’t break, clapping again and again no matter what they said, my eyes glassy and lifeless. When she saw how obedient I looked, Savannah’s expression softened with a smug smile. “That’s better, Maxwell. Keep acting like this, and our engagement will stay intact. As long as you don’t lay a finger on Nicholas, we can go back to being one big happy family. You know what will happen if you don’t behave.” She nodded with satisfaction, grabbed my arm, and started pulling me toward the helicopter. The moment her hand touched my skin, she froze. Her expression turned from annoyance to shock. “Why is your body so cold?” she asked, her voice suddenly shrill. I let her hold onto me, completely unbothered, moving mechanically with her like everything she said had nothing to do with me. My eyes stared straight ahead, unfocused. Nicholas wore a fake, nauseatingly concerned smile. “Maxwell, did something happen on the island? Did you get sick or something? “I should’ve spoken up for you sooner… This is my fault. “But don’t get the wrong idea. I honestly hope you recover. We’re still family, after all.” The sound of his voice made my head snap toward him. I stared straight into his eyes, then let out a high-pitched screech that didn’t sound human, more like a sea lion’s cry. Nicholas flinched hard, panic flashing across his face. He staggered back, nearly losing his balance. He clutched his chest like he thought I was about to attack him. “Maxwell, I get it, okay? You still hate me, but I didn’t mean any harm!” Savannah yanked my arm with force and yelled, “What kind of tantrum are you throwing now? Nicholas was being kind. You gonna attack him for that?” Nicholas sniffled pathetically, adding, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have brought up the past. I must’ve upset Maxwell.” Savannah immediately stood in front of Nicholas like a lioness protecting her cub. Her eyes blazed with fury, and she shrieked, “What do you want from us, Maxwell?! Nicholas has always treated you like a real brother. Why can’t you let it go? Two years on Sapphire Isle, and you still haven’t changed. Instead of becoming a better person, you’ve learned how to lash out?” My father, Connor Lawson, turned beet red and pointed a shaking finger at my face. “Look at yourself! Nicholas has shown you nothing but kindness, and this is how you repay him? You’ve always been petty, and now you’ve completely lost it. I can’t believe we raised someone as ungrateful as you!” My mother, Grace Lawson, dabbed at her eyes, sobbing quietly, “Why can’t you just get along with Nicholas? He never steals anything from you. He’s not even a real Lawson by blood. It’s hard enough for him. Can’t you just be the bigger person?” Their hatred surrounded me like an invisible net, wrapping tighter and tighter until I could barely breathe. My body moved on its own, desperate to escape, my feet carrying me toward the sea. I wanted nothing more than to dive into that cold, familiar water. Savannah’s eyes locked on me, and she lunged forward, grabbing my clothes. She yanked the suit jacket off my shoulders. And then she froze.

My skin was a mess of scars, not a single patch untouched, raw, layered, and horrifying. Some came from surgical tools, others from saltwater infections, and many were the aftermath of brutal, inhumane experiments. “What… What happened to you?” Savannah’s voice trembled as she clutched my shoulders, her grip frantic. Before I could respond, Nicholas’ eyes welled up with tears, and his voice choked. “This is all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have ended up here. I never meant for this to happen.” Grace wrapped her arms around him protectively, though her eyes flicked toward me, full of revulsion. “Don’t blame yourself, Nicholas. He may be my biological son, but that doesn’t excuse his cruelty. He’s always had a mean streak to you.” Connor let out a heavy sigh. “Look at him now. Who knows. Maybe he brought this on himself.” My sister, Isabella Lawson, sneered from the side, “Please. He’s clearly putting on a show to make us feel sorry for him. He brought everything that had happened before on himself. “I really thought Sapphire Isle would change you, but look at you, same old act, same old drama. You’re still trying to guilt-trip us. Haven’t you made us worry enough already? “You think showing up covered in scars is enough to make us forget everything you did? You’re pathetic!” A tidal wave of hunger crashed over me. Each wave was stronger than the last until it wiped out every other thought. Nearby, someone reeled in a dead fish. The stench hit my nose and triggered something primal inside me. I didn’t care who was watching. I charged forward like a starving animal, grabbed the fish, and shoved it straight into my mouth, swallowing it whole. The scales scratched my throat, and the raw stench filled my mouth, but I didn’t stop. I just wanted to swallow it as fast as I could. Nicholas turned pale. His eyes widened in horror as he clutched his stomach and doubled over, vomiting violently. His whole body trembled, his face twisted in pure disgust and fear. Connor stormed up and kicked me in the ribs. He roared, “What was that? What the hell is wrong with you?! You’ve disgraced our entire family! You’re nothing but an animal!” Grace shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at me, “You’re revolting, Maxwell! How could you become something like this? How did we give birth to something like you?!” Savannah’s face darkened with rage, her disappointment turning to fury. She marched up to me, teeth clenched. “I thought you’d changed. I really believed you’d learned your lesson, but you’re worse than ever. You think we’ll ever let someone like you back into this family?!” Tears welled in her eyes. “Don’t think you can guilt us into forgiving you! How could you treat yourself like this, swallowing raw fish like some kind of lunatic? Are you trying to gross everyone out, or have you actually lost your mind?” She panted, glaring at me like I was a monster, then pointed at the fish remains on the ground, her voice shaking. “Do you have any idea how many parasites live in that thing? Do you want to get even sicker just so we’ll feel sorry for you? Or have you just given up completely? “I am so done with this pathetic, self-destructive act of yours!” Nicholas, still pale, crept closer, his voice soft and guilty. “Maxwell, please don’t be mad at them… It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t been so immature and always competing with you, maybe you wouldn’t have been sent to Sapphire Isle. Maybe you wouldn’t be starving like this… It’s all on me. I ruined you…” Connor’s face turned red again. “Nicholas, none of this is on you. You’ve always been kind and respectful. He’s the one who’s never appreciated a damn thing. This is his own doing.” Grace rushed to Nicholas’ side and shielded him with her arms. “Exactly. Don’t blame yourself, sweetie. We know you’ve always been a good boy. Not like him, who never learns a damn thing.” Isabella stormed up to me, her face twisted with disgust. She jabbed a finger in my face. “What’s your deal? Playing the victim so people will hate Nicholas? You’re petty and selfish. You can’t stand to see him doing well, can you? You had a place in the Lawson family, but it was never enough. Now look at you, trying to milk sympathy from your own misery.” Savannah’s eyes were ice-cold, her face expressionless as she stared at me. “You like playing the victim?” she said flatly. “Fine. I’ll give you what you want.”

Savannah gave a twisted smile and turned to her men. “Lock him in the mirror room. Feed him nothing but rotting garbage. Let him take a good look at that pitiful face he loves to put on!” Soon, I was dragged roughly into a room lined wall-to-wall with mirrors. The harsh white lighting was blinding. In every direction, I saw myself with disheveled hair, soaked in the stench of raw fish, a mess beyond recognition. Not long after, someone brought in a tray of food, the stench enough to make someone faint. It was crawling with maggots. Savannah walked in holding a leather whip, slapping it lightly against her palm with a sharp crack. “Go ahead. Aren’t you hungry? Eat it. Let’s see how long you can keep up the act.” I stared at the tray, eyes fixed on the rotting meat and squirming insects, and let out a sharp, piercing cry, an unmistakable sea lion’s call that echoed off the small room. Then I lunged at the food on all fours, like a starving beast that had been caged too long. Savannah’s face went ghostly white. The whip slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor with a thud. She stumbled backward, crashing into the mirror behind her. Nicholas looked stunned. “Maxwell… have you actually lost your mind?!” I grabbed a handful of rotting flesh, juices running down my arm, and shoved it into my mouth without hesitation. My teeth crunched through decay and maggots, the sound grotesque. Each time I swallowed, I’d throw my head back and let out a series of excited sea lion cries, bits of meat stuck around my lips. Savannah, trembling, picked the whip back up, her voice rising in panic. “Stop! Maxwell, what the hell are you doing?!” But I didn’t hear her. Or maybe I just didn’t care. I was lost in the frenzy, answering her only with louder, sharper cries. The room reeked of rot and fear. The mirrors reflected every gruesome detail of my feeding. When I was first dumped on Sapphire Isle, I couldn’t even swallow this kind of filth. The first time I saw a plate covered in sour sludge and crawling bugs, I retched so hard I nearly vomited bile. But refusing to eat meant two days locked in a pitch-black, moldy cell, starving until I couldn’t see straight or stand. To survive, I had no choice. With shaking hands, I forced the slop into my mouth. Every bite was a nightmare. The stench invaded my mouth and nose, but hunger was a sharper pain. Day after day, year after year, I adapted. Somehow, I got used to the unbearable taste. Anyone who disobeyed on the island was dragged into the lab. They held me down and injected strange chemicals. Cold scalpels sliced into my skin, leaving a fire of pain behind. Little by little, they reshaped me into something barely human, into a sea lion. When they finally dumped me into the sea lion enclosure, I had to learn fast, mimic them, or get attacked. I mimicked their movements, how they tossed their heads, how they slapped the water with their fins. Slowly, I learned all the humiliating little tricks. The keepers would blow their whistles and toss out dried fish. I had to perform like a circus animal, balancing balls and jumping through hoops for a bite to eat to keep from starving. Now, faced with this tray of rotting meat, I devoured it like it was a feast, letting out low, contented grunts just like the sea lions. Savannah stared at me, watching me gorge myself. Her disgust twisted into something else, panic. Suddenly, she rushed forward and knocked the tray from my hands, screaming, “Maxwell, stop it! Just stop! Please!” Her voice trembled. The arrogance was gone. “That’s enough. That’s enough,” she choked out. Tears welled in her eyes. Her chest heaved with emotion. She looked at me like something had finally snapped inside her. “Why are you doing this? You hurt everyone, but more than that, you’re destroying yourself!” She locked eyes with me, stunned, confused, like she didn’t recognize me, like she was looking at a stranger. Nicholas cowered behind her, pale as death, lips trembling too hard to speak. Isabella slumped to the floor, her eyes vacant. “How did it come to this…” she muttered. I didn’t hear them. I couldn’t. My mind was somewhere else entirely as I bent down to gather the spilled food, still making those guttural sea lion sounds. Savannah’s eyes reddened. She reached out as if to stop me, but the moment her fingers brushed my skin, she recoiled like she’d been burned. Tears finally spilled down her cheeks. “What happened to you?” she whispered. “What the hell did they do to you…”

After they turned me into a sea lion, they often sent me to a dark, hidden underground chamber. There, the elite, those with twisted tastes and limitless power, looked at me like wolves, their eyes gleaming with sick delight. I crawled on all fours, dragging my injured body across the cold floor like a real sea lion. Every movement tore at wounds that had never healed, the pain so intense I almost blacked out, but I couldn’t stop. If I wanted to survive, I had to keep performing. I lifted my torso as high as I could, flapping my arms like flippers, letting out those sharp, high-pitched sea lion cries. The more I screamed, the more excited they became, laughing grotesquely. One of them, a fat woman with layers of makeup and perfume thick enough to choke on, stomped up to me, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and yanked my head up. I whimpered, pain burning through me, but I still forced myself to nuzzle her leg like a begging dog. She laughed, coarse and cruel. Her grip got even tighter. Her other hand roamed my body, nails scraping across my skin, leaving bleeding scratches behind. Others cracked a whip across my back, shouting obscene orders. I had no choice but to obey. I did every humiliating, sick move they demanded, choking down my shame. Over and over, I rolled across the ground, dragging my belly across the cold, hard floor, barking and cheering on cue, matching their laughter with my own false joy. Every action crushed a little more of whatever pride I had left. My head felt foggy. The memories of being forced to please them clung to me like rot. And now, instinct kicked in, I crawled toward Grace, head lowered. Because if I pleased them, I got to eat. I let out a muffled whimper and crawled to Grace’s feet on all fours. My hand trembled as I slowly reached for her skirt. My fingers were shaking from fear… and habit. Just as I was about to grab her leg, Grace jumped back like I’d burned her. “Maxwell, are you out of your mind?!” Her voice cracked with terror. Her eyes bulged like I was some kind of monster. Nicholas stood behind her, his expression flickering with something between glee and horror, and then he quickly covered his eyes, pretending to be scared. Isabella and Connor were frozen, faces pale with shock. Their mouths opened, but no sound came out. Grace’s reaction stunned me. I froze in place and let out a confused, helpless sea lion cry. My mind went blank. I didn’t even know what I’d done wrong, just that the way they looked at me made me scared. Savannah looked like she’d seen a ghost. Her eyes went wide, bulging with disbelief. She stormed over, yanking me to my feet and asking, “Maxwell, look at yourself! Do you even know what you’re doing? What the hell have you been through all these years?! “Do you even remember who you are? You’re a Lawson. You’re the heir to a legacy!” Her eyes were burning with fury and shame. “How could you stoop this low?! How could you crawl and grovel like this?! You’ve completely disgraced the Lawson family!” They locked me in a small, pitch-black iron cage, soaked in the stench of rotten seawater and blood. The so-called researchers wore white coats and emotionless masks and performed inhuman experiments on me as they carved into me like a specimen. They injected strange drugs into my body and cut and reshaped me with machines. The pain never stopped. Little by little, they turned me into a sea lion. Savannah had sent me here for Nicholas. She’d abandoned me to this hell without a second thought. But now? Now, she acted like she couldn’t bear the sight of what I’d become. A staff member turned to run. “You! Stop right there!” Savannah’s voice boomed. “I sent him here to reflect and reform, not to become this freak!” Free Point In a panic, one of the staff members started spewing nonsense in a desperate attempt to cover himself. “Ms. Stanton, he’s not as innocent as you think.

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On my son Lucas Williams’ seventh birthday, my husband, Asher Williams, stood us up again because of his adopted sister, Sofia Robinson. I tried to hold him back. “Just wait a bit. Lucas has been looking forward to your birthday present for a long time. You’ve never accompanied Lucas on his birthday. Please stay here this time.” Upon hearing this, Asher immediately turned stern. “Lillian Scott, can’t you stop being so unreasonable? “It’s not easy for Sofia to raise a child on her own. If I don’t go and take care of her, who will? What’s more, what does it matter if we celebrate the birthday or not? Just tell him to go to bed early.” He left me and Lucas behind once again for Sofia, and this time, my heart went completely cold. Once again, right in front of me and Lucas Williams, Asher Williams picked up his coat and walked out the door without looking back. I had lost count of how many times he had deserted our family for Sofia Robinson. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back as soon as I deal with things on Sofia’s end. I’ll try my best to be back in time to cut the cake with Lucas,” he said. I knew that once he left, he might be gone all night and might not even come back for several days. Lucas tugged at the hem of his coat and asked softly, “Daddy, will you come back later?” Without turning his head, Asher replied, “Of course. Even if I can’t make it back today, I’ll take you to the amusement park.” But for Lucas’ birthdays in the past six years, he had been absent every single time. I had married Asher right after graduating from college. Back then, he was gentle and charming, and he took meticulous care of me. Although our marriage was a business arrangement, we had dated for two years before our marriage. After getting married, we had a plain but happy life for a while, and I found out I was pregnant the following year. I could still remember how excited Asher was when he first learned he was going to be a father. His eyes were red with joy as he held me and promised to treat me well for the rest of his life. But ever since Sofia came back, Asher had changed. He became busier and busier, came home later and later, and showed less and less concern for me. Even on the day I gave birth, he left me because of a phone call from Sofia and didn’t show up again until Lucas and I were discharged from the hospital. In the eight years of our marriage, I had to juggle work, take care of the child, and manage everything at home. But Asher never seemed to notice how hard I was working and was completely devoted to his adopted sister. Now, the house was quiet again, and he missed even our child’s once-a-year birthday. Looking at Lucas, who was disappointed and trying hard to hold back his tears, I picked up my phone and dialed Asher’s number, my hands shaking. It was my last attempt to save this marriage. “Asher, can you come back now? Today is Lucas’ seventh birthday. He has been looking forward to your birthday present for a long time. “You’ve never celebrated Lucas’ birthday with him. Please come back and spend some time with him this time,” I pleaded. On the other end of the phone, Asher’s impatient voice sounded. Through the receiver, I could also hear the laughter of Sofia and her son, Carter Robinson. Asher shouted, “Lillian, I’ve told you many times. It’s not easy for Sofia to raise a child on her own. Lucas is young and doesn’t understand me. Don’t you understand me either? “What does it matter if we celebrate this stupid birthday or not? Just tell him to go to bed early and don’t call me again.” With that, Asher hung up the phone directly. My heart sank to the bottom. It wasn’t the first time that Asher had abandoned me and Lucas for Sofia. I had already gotten used to Asher’s absence from our home. I pulled myself together, coaxed Lucas to cut the cake, and accidentally saw Sofia’s Instagram. In the photo, Sofia was holding Carter, and Asher was standing behind them. The three of them were smiling happily. In Carter’s hand was the limited-edition model that Lucas had been longing for and that Asher had promised to give him a long time ago. Just yesterday, Lucas had secretly told me that Asher had promised him a surprise for his birthday. But now, that surprise was on someone else’s Instagram. When Lucas saw this Instagram post, the tears that he had just held back started flowing. He cried, “Mommy, does Daddy not like me? Why is he always not at home? Why did he give my birthday present to someone else?” Looking at Lucas’ red eyes from crying, I said in a hoarse voice, “Lucas, let’s forget about Daddy, okay?” Lucas nodded and threw himself into my arms. “Daddy always breaks his promises and makes Mommy unhappy. I don’t want such a daddy.” I hugged him and told the nanny, Emma Thomas, to help us pack our things. It was time for me and Asher to end this.

In the eight years of our marriage, I had been taking good care of the family wholeheartedly. At home, I prepared three meals a day for Asher, who was very picky about food, and helped him match the clothes for various occasions. At work, I was personally in charge of the cooperation projects with the Williams Group and tried my best to maintain the relationship between our two families. After Lucas was born, I learned carefully how to take care of a kid and spared time from my busy work to accompany him. But Asher was always absent when I and the child needed him. He always said that I should be understanding of Sofia, the single mother, but he never realized that over the years, I was more like a single mother than Sofia. After all, having a husband like him was no different from having none at all. In recent years, even Lucas didn’t ask me as often as before why his daddy wasn’t coming home. I knew that the decision to get a divorce this time was triggered by Sofia’s Instagram post, but what disappointed me most was Asher’s actions. I carried Lucas and the packed luggage, took a look back at the house where I had lived for eight years, and then resolutely turned around and closed the door. This time, we wouldn’t be waiting foolishly for Asher to come back anymore. The next day, I learned from Emma that Asher didn’t come back all night. So, I asked my assistant, Freya Taylor, to send the drafted divorce agreement to the Williams Group and have Asher sign it. I moved back to the villa where I had lived before marriage with Lucas. Without having to cook for Asher, I didn’t need to get up early. I just waited for the family chef to prepare breakfast. After having breakfast and sending Lucas to school, I went straight to my company. My company had recently won an important project, which was a great opportunity for me to shift my attention. Just as I was looking through the project materials and listening to the report from the project manager, Adam Bell, Asher stormed into my office with a gloomy face. He looked annoyed and was holding the divorce agreement that I had sent him in his hand. Asher shouted, “Lillian, just because I didn’t accompany Lucas on his birthday, you want to divorce me? “You’re using divorce to threaten me just because you can’t stand Sofia, right? I don’t understand. You’re also a woman. Why do you have to make things difficult for a single mother like her?” Adam left tactfully. I gave Asher a cold glance. I questioned, “Are you saying that me asking my husband to come back and accompany our child on his birthday is making things difficult for Sofia? “Over the past few years, everyone in our circle knows that you and Sofia seem more like a real couple than I am with you. Whether it’s for business or personal reasons, you’ve been embarrassing me and the Scott family. Why should I waste any more time on you?” Asher was taken aback for a moment. I didn’t know which words hit the mark, but a flash of guilt crossed his face. He said in a rare soft tone, “Lillian, what do you mean by a real couple? Sofia is just my sister. You’re always having wild thoughts. “Sofia called me last night because her son had a fever. As an uncle, I had to go and check on him. “It’s already so hard for her to raise a child as a single mother. If I don’t take care of her, what can she do?” Asher looked exhausted, and there was some stubble on his chin. He looked like he had taken care of his sick nephew all night. If I hadn’t seen Sofia’s Instagram post last night, I might have believed his lies. I sneered, “Asher, do you want me to make it even clearer? “Sofia is twenty-eight, not eight. If she’s sick, she can call a doctor. If her son has a fever, she can take him to the hospital. “Even if she needs help from family members, why does she always come to you instead of your parents?” After hearing this, Asher didn’t get angry. Instead, he smiled, “Come on! I know you’re angry because I didn’t accompany you and Lucas on his birthday last night. I promise I won’t do it again in the future. “Our wedding anniversary is next month. After I’m done with this busy period, I’ll make it up to you and Lucas.” I tapped the table impatiently and interrupted Asher, “You don’t need to talk so much. Just sign the papers, and then no one will care who you take care of in the future.” Then, I called Adam, who was waiting outside, back in. “Your idea is good. Just go with this direction and prepare a plan.” Being ignored by me, Asher was furious and tore up the divorce agreement. “Lillian, I won’t agree to the divorce. Take a few days to calm down. I’ll pick you and Lucas up when you’ve cooled off.” After saying that, he turned around and left. Looking at the shredded paper on the floor, I rubbed my forehead and called Freya, ordering, “Hire a few more private detectives and keep a close eye on Sofia and Asher.”

Asher’s concern for Sofia had long gone beyond what a brother should feel for his sister, and the way he doted on Sofia’s son was just plain creepy. If he didn’t like Sofia, why would he care more about Sofia and another man’s son than his son? I’d had my suspicions before. But with Lucas being so young, I didn’t dare to take that risk. I was afraid that because of my decision, Lucas would face a broken family before getting much fatherly love. But seeing Lucas disappointed time and time again when Asher stood him up, I knew I’d been dead wrong. Letting Lucas keep hoping for something from such an absent father was the real harm to him. With that thought, I clicked on the video the private detective had just sent. It had been taken in my company’s underground parking lot. Asher was leaning against his car, lighting a cigarette. Then, his phone rang. As soon as I heard that ringtone, I knew it was Sofia. He’d set a special ringtone for her so that he would never miss her calls. Asher said, “Sofia, don’t worry. Lillian won’t stay mad at me for long. Don’t feel bad. “Lucas is fine, too. I’ll buy him a gift later to make it up to him. Okay, I’m coming back right away.” At this moment, the pain of my nails digging into my palms couldn’t stop my anger. Who did Asher think he was? Did he believe he could make this divorce thing disappear by buying us some random gifts after ignoring me and Lucas for a few days? I told the private detective to speed up the investigation on Sofia, especially to dig into her life before she came back to the country. After sorting that out, I called my parents, Finley Scott and Matilda Scott, and told them I wanted a divorce from Asher. Matilda sighed, “Lillian, you finally see things clearly. What’s the Williams family’s stance on the divorce?” “Asher won’t agree. I’ve already sent people to look into him and Sofia.” I replied, “I’m planning to send Lucas to stay with you guys for a while. I might not be able to take care of him recently.” Matilda agreed right away, “Since you’ve made up your mind, go for it. No matter what you decide, we’ve got your back.” Hanging up, I felt a bit better. I knew that no matter what choice I made, Finley and Matilda would always support me. After sending Lucas away, I threw myself into sorting out the divorce settlement and the new project. One day, right after work, I got a call from Asher’s mother, Arabella Williams. She asked, “Lillian, why’d you move all your stuff out? I came to see Lucas, but he’s not here. Are you throwing a tantrum? “Did you and Asher fight? Can’t you two talk things out like adults? Why do you always have to threaten separation?” I didn’t feel like explaining but just said flatly, “Asher and I are getting a divorce. And whether I’m just throwing a tantrum or not, you, the Williams family, know well.” Free Point Arabella’s voice immediately turned shrill. “Divorce? How could you even think of it? Do you know how much the Williams family would lose if you go through with this?” Realizing her words were too harsh, she softened her tone. “What I mean is, our two families have been working together for years. A sudden divorce would tank our business. “I know Asher is busy at work and can not take care of you. But he’s just trying to give you and Lucas a better life. As his wife, you know how hard he is, right? “Have you ever thought about Lucas? He’s just a kid. What’ll happen to him if you two split?”

Arabella pretended to be reasonable, but every word was an accusation to me. I knew that in her eyes, I wasn’t even as good as her adopted daughter, Sofia. But over the years, the Williams Group had been going downhill. Without the support of the Scott family, it would’ve gone bankrupt ages ago. Asher’s parents knew perfectly well that Asher and Sofia were in the wrong, but they thought they had me cornered because of Lucas. As long as they had him, they thought they could keep milking the Scott family for benefits and taking advantage of us. So, even when I said I wanted a divorce, Arabella was so sure that just mentioning Lucas would make me back down. Arabella kept saying on the phone, “Alright, Lillian, I know you’re mad. I’ll scold Asher and make him take you and Lucas on a vacation.” Then, Asher’s father, Alfred Williams, took the phone and said in a solemn tone, “Lillian, you’re sensible, and the Williams family owes a lot to you. “But you should cut Asher some slack. You know he only likes you. He just looks after Sofia a bit more, but she’s his sister. “For my sake, drop this talk of divorce. You and Asher are married. What grudges can’t be settled overnight?” I knew their real goal was to protect the Williams family’s interests, which was why they were hitting me with such words. I said coldly, “I’ve made up my mind about the divorce. The Scott family and the Williams family won’t have any ties from now on. “Thanks to your son’s actions, Lucas and I are already used to life in a single-parent family. He might as well have been dead these past few years.” As soon as I finished speaking, both of them on the other end were stunned, not expecting me to be so firm and decisive. They’d always thought I’d keep swallowing my anger for Lucas’ sake and let them push me around. But this time, I’d prove them wrong. “Lillian, what do you mean? Asher treats you so well. How could you curse him? “He just looks after his sister a bit more. How dare you want a divorce? You’re being incredibly selfish!” shouted Arabella. She didn’t even bother to hide her true feelings anymore and lashed out at me. It was ridiculous how, even though Sofia and Asher had gone too far, I was always the one getting blamed in the end. It wasn’t the first time in the past few years that Asher and his parents had sided with Sofia and accused me, the only outsider, of being too petty to accept Sofia. Sofia had shown up when I was thirty-two weeks pregnant with Lucas. That was the first I’d heard of Asher having an adopted sister who’d married and moved abroad.

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On the day of our engagement, suddenly, a video popped up on the big screen. In it, my boyfriend’s secretary, Debby Clark, was being dragged into the toilet and was getting beaten and verbally abused. Debby, all bruised and battered, rushed towards me crying and pleaded, “Ms. Quincey, I’m so sorry. I won’t talk to Mr. Pierce anymore. Please tell my colleagues to stop bullying me.” My boyfriend, Caleb Pierce, was really pissed off. He announced right then and there to call off the ceremony and threw me into an illegal coal mine to dig coal, thinking it would make me more gentle and obedient. While he took Debby traveling all around the world to unwind. The men in that illegal coal mine were like a pack of beasts. As soon as they saw me, they were all drooling over me. I was chained up in a pitch-black cave and forced to get pregnant over and over again. Three years later, Caleb finally remembered me and asked, “Jessica Quincey, do you regret it?” I just numbly knelt down. Caleb was quite satisfied. But what he didn’t know was that my body had been completely ruined. I only had five days left to live.

When Caleb showed up with his bodyguards, it was just the end of the shift at the illegal coal mine. The men hid in the coal-cinder caves, watching the luxury car of the Pierce family pass by, whispering among themselves. Terry Morrison, the manager of this coal mine, bowed and scraped in front of Caleb. “Mr. Pierce, over these three years, we’ve disciplined Jessica exactly as you ordered. She’s really obedient now. She definitely won’t resist you anymore.” Caleb nodded in satisfaction. Then I was taken out of the coal cave. It was a sweltering summer evening, but I was still wearing the sweater I had when I first came to this illegal coal mine. I stood in front of Caleb in a sorry state. My cheeks were sunken, and I’d lost a lot of weight. Just a short while ago, several men had just left my bed. At the moment, my legs were extremely sore. Barely had I stepped out of the cave when my legs gave way uncontrollably, and I crashed to the ground. The sharp-edged gravel instantly cut my calf. I gasped in pain. But Caleb frowned instinctively. “I thought you’d realized your mistakes in these three years. Turns out you just can’t change your ways. All you can do is play the poor-me card. Debby was bullied and beaten by you before and got depression, but she wasn’t as fake as you.” Terry immediately smiled obsequiously and said, “Mr. Pierce, if you’re not satisfied with Jessica, why not leave her here for further discipline? I promise you, this time I’ll make her completely submissive.” Caleb fell silent, looking at me with a scrutinizing and contemplative gaze. He was actually considering whether to leave me here. I looked at him, and my already broken heart couldn’t help but ache again as if a sharp dagger had stabbed into my chest and was churning my flesh. Blinking my dry eyes, I struggled to get up and knelt down in a humble position, pleading, “Mr. Pierce, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me.” My forehead hit the ground, and the sharp gravel hurt my skin, but the pain was far less intense than the humiliation of having my pride broken and my dignity trampled underfoot. Caleb was a bit surprised. Apparently, he wasn’t used to my humble attitude. I was definitely not like this before. Caleb reached out to help me up, but I flinched and instinctively backed away. He got a bit irritated and pushed me away forcefully. “Jessica, don’t act like someone has abused you.” My body was already weak. With his strong push, I was pushed out and hit the ground heavily. My ankle made a cracking sound. I curled up in pain, unable to speak. The black coal cinders all over the ground covered me. My face and hair that I had specially washed to greet Caleb were covered with dust again, as dirty as a homeless madwoman. Caleb was stunned. He didn’t expect that a little push from him could cause me so much harm. He was about to explain something when a few coughs suddenly came from the car in the distance. Caleb frowned, and his guilt turned into displeasure. “Debby came to pick you up even though she’s sick. She’s so nice to you. How could you have done such beastly things to her? Get up now and go apologize to her.” I endured the pain and tremblingly got up. Three years ago, at my engagement ceremony, Debby accused me of being jealous. She said that just because she talked to Caleb a few more times, I instigated the company employees to bully her. Debby showed the scars on her body and cried her heart out at the engagement scene. Caleb was furious. He announced on the spot to cancel the engagement and threw me into the illegal coal mine, saying I should change my temper. But I had never done those things to hurt Debby. Swallowing the blood in my throat, I limped towards the car. My legs hurt so much that after just a few steps, I fell to the ground again. The loose sweater slipped off my skinny shoulders, revealing a large area of my skin. The men in the coal cave burst into lewd laughter. Caleb’s face turned gloomy, and he slapped me directly. “Jessica, have you no shame? You’re not even wearing underwear in public. Don’t act like a slut expecting to seduce men all the time.” I clutched my clothes tightly as desolation hit my heart. My underwear had been torn to pieces in the first month I was sent here. In the past three years, I hadn’t stepped out of the coal cave once, and there was no chance for me to buy new ones. My embarrassment was caused by these men, but at this moment, they all looked at me with disdainful eyes, as if I were a born slut. I bit my lips in humiliation, trying hard not to let the tears fall, and dragged my injured leg to the car. Just as I touched the car door, a woman’s voice came out. “Mr. Pierce, have you picked up Ms. Quincey?” The car door opened. Debby was wearing a high-end little cocktail dress, looking cute and pretty. But when she saw me, she shrank her neck like she was frightened, with a look of timidity on her face. I also trembled instinctively. Everyone said that Debby was fragile but kind. Even though she was almost driven to suicide by my “bullying” back then, she never took any revenge on me. Only I knew that it was her idea to throw me into the illegal coal mine. All the humiliation I suffered was instigated by her. I ended up like this all because of her. Forcibly suppressing the sarcasm and grievance in my heart, I knelt down numbly. I said, “Debby, please forgive me. It’s all my fault, every single mistake. “I was vain and vicious. I took advantage of my position and instigated the company employees to bully you. “I deserve it. I should die. I shouldn’t have bullied you.” “Ms. Quincey, what are you doing? Get up on your knees. I’m just a secretary. How could you kneel to me?” Debby was like a frightened little rabbit and quickly came to help me. But as soon as she touched my hand, she let out a scream and pulled her hand back abruptly. Caleb’s eyes turned cold. He kicked me away, then got into the car and quickly checked Debby’s body. “Jessica, you’re such a jinx. Look what you’ve done. Debby is allergic just to touching you. You’re so dirty. You’re not allowed to get in the car. Wrap yourself in a plastic bag and get into the trunk,” he said. My body was already at the limit. With his kick, my ribs seemed broken, too. But even though I was pale with pain, no one cared about me. The bodyguard stuffed me into a woven bag like an item and threw me into the trunk. In the darkness, Caleb’s gentle care for Debby became even clearer. I stared blankly at nowhere, and the tears I had held back for so long finally slid down silently. Before I left, the doctor who secretly treated me told me that I had a cervical infection and erosion as well as kidney failure. According to his diagnosis, I could live at most five days. In five days, I wouldn’t have to endure this humiliation anymore. Five days later, even if Caleb searched the whole of River City, he wouldn’t be able to find me because I would be dead by then.

It was already three hours later when we got back to Pierce Villa. I had been curled up in the small trunk for a long time. As soon as I put my feet on the ground, my legs were so numb that I almost fell. So I instinctively grabbed the small tree beside me and finally managed to steady myself. When Debby saw this, she was almost in tears. “Ms. Quincey, I know you don’t like me, but you can’t damage my wisteria. Mr. Pierce and I planted it with our own hands.” Her eyes turned red, and tears started streaming down. I was stunned and looked at the wisteria tree beside me. In my memory, there should have been a swing here that Caleb built with his own hands to make me happy back then. But now the swing was gone, and Caleb’s love was gone, too. The wisteria had just lost a few insignificant little flowers because I leaned on it for support. Without any warning, Caleb rushed over and yanked me away from the tree. He roared, “Jessica, I knew it. I knew you would bully Debby as soon as you got back. “I’m telling you, although I can’t cancel the engagement with you, you’ll never be the hostess of the Pierce family. “Get back to your room. Even looking at you makes me sick.” I was thrown aside by him, and my back hit the elaborately arranged rose flower wall. A section of the flowers and leaves collapsed because of that. Debby bit her lip and was crying so hard that she could barely breathe. Caleb hugged her as a comfort while giving me a cold, sidelong glance. “Debby has asthma. Are you happy making her cry like this? I think you’ve had it too good there, that’s why you’re so out of control. Today, no, you don’t need to come for meals until the day after tomorrow.” Upon hearing these words, my stomach twitched in pain instinctively. The work in the illegal coal mine was physically exhausting. Not providing food was the easiest way to control someone. After I was thrown into the illegal coal mine, Terry was quite respectful to me in the first few days. But when he found out that Caleb didn’t even call to ask about me, he was certain that I was a worthless stupid woman. I was locked deep in the coal cave and became a tool for those men to vent their lust. I tried to commit suicide countless times but failed, and what I got in return were beatings and “discipline” again and again. To make me surrender, Terry once didn’t give me food for ten consecutive days, only giving me a cup of water each day. I became skin and bones, and my stomach problems got worse. During the toughest times, it felt like my stomach acid was about to burn through my stomach and intestines, and I was rolling on the ground in pain. Caleb and I grew up together. He clearly knew that I would get a stomachache if I didn’t eat. Feeling my back, which was bleeding from being pricked by the rose thorns, I lowered my head numbly and obediently. “Yes, Mr. Pierce.” The utility room at the corner of the villa was where I would stay tonight. It was dark and cramped, filled with all the old junk of this house everywhere, and there was a single bed in the corner. The servant, Maggie Robinson, secretly told me that ever since I was driven away by Caleb three years ago, Debby had moved into Pierce Villa. Caleb claimed to compensate her for the evil deeds I had done to Debby. When Caleb’s grandfather, Charles Pierce, was still alive, he doted on me the most. Even though I didn’t come often, he still reserved the largest and best room in the Pierce Villa for me. But after Debby moved in, Caleb gave my room to her. I hurriedly asked Maggie what had happened to my old things. “They were all packed and thrown here by Mr. Pierce,” Maggie said. After Maggie left, I endured the pain in my body and started rummaging through the piles of old furniture. I first found a teddy bear. One of its eyes was missing, its pretty little dress was dirty, and its belly was torn open by someone, with cotton sticking out. I remembered the gentle look on Caleb’s face when he gave it to me. He said, “Jessica, you’re afraid of the dark. When I’m not around, let this teddy bear be by your side instead of me.” But later, he threw me into the illegal coal mine for three whole years. I struggled and cried hysterically in the darkness, but he never looked back at me again. Tears welled up, and I quickly wiped them away. Then I found a wrinkled school uniform jacket. I remembered that I suddenly got my period on the way home from school that year, and my pants were stained by the blood. The teenage boys on the road were all laughing at me. I lowered my head, feeling ashamed and furious. But then a jacket was suddenly wrapped around my waist. I looked up and saw the ferocity in young Caleb’s eyes. “Whoever laughed at you just now, I’ll go smash their mouths,” he said. Scenes from the past flashed through my mind, and in the end, all that was left for me was the darkness in the room. But it didn’t matter anymore. The current Jessica was already used to the darkness, and after days and days of humiliation, she had lost her sense of shame and sensitivity. Tears flowed even more fiercely, but I didn’t stop what I was doing. The pain from my broken ribs and sprained calf made my movements extremely slow. My body was severely exhausted. Every time I took a breath, I could taste the blood welling up in my throat. My forehead was burning hot, and my vision was gradually blurring. Just when I could barely hold on, I finally touched that thing. My USB drive. It had the evidence that I hadn’t had time to give to Caleb back then, proving that Debby had staged the bullying herself. After finding the USB drive, I could no longer hold on and passed out in pain on the bed. In a daze, the door of the utility room was suddenly pushed open. Someone strode in. Free Points

That man seemed to be Caleb. He was dressed in a sharp suit, his shirt was spotlessly white, and he held his chin slightly up, just like the proud Caleb in my memory. Suddenly, I recalled the first time I saw him when I was a kid. My grandfather, Frank Quincey, took me to Pierce Villa to visit Charles, his old friend in arms. Caleb was sitting in the pavilion and playing chess with Charles. At that time, he made a promise to me that he would treat me well forever. But later, when Debby framed me in front of so many people at the engagement ceremony, Caleb pushed me to the ground without hesitation. He said, “Jessica, Debby said before that you didn’t like her. I endured it. I thought it was just some petty squabbles between women. “But this time you’ve really gone too far. You actually instigated the company employees to bully her just out of jealousy. “You don’t really think that just because Mr. Quincey asked me to marry you before he died, you’ve been elevated from your original class, do you? You make me sick.” In less than a day, all the employees who had picked on Debby were fired, and before I could hand the evidence I found to Caleb, I was sent to the illegal coal mine. There, I was treated like an animal, and my health was completely ruined. “Jessica, don’t pretend to be asleep. I know you’re awake,” Caleb said with a cold face, carrying a tray of delicious-smelling food. “Debby had a nightmare because of you again. I should never have brought you back.” He kicked the teddy bear away irritably. “As long as you sincerely admit your mistake and crawl on your knees from here to Debby’s room to apologize to her, I’ll give you food. You’ve always wanted to marry into the Pierce family, right? After you apologize, I might even let you stay here for the rest of your life,” he said. I opened my mouth. My mind was drowsy from the high fever, and for the first time, I didn’t obey him. “I… don’t want to stay here. I want to go home. Grandpa, I haven’t seen him for three years…” Caleb looked very displeased. He wanted to drag me out but was disgusted by the dirty dust and sweat on me. “You’re ungrateful. Then don’t eat a single bite. Starve to death,” he roared. My lips trembled, and tears rolled down. “Fine.” In four more days, I’d be dead as he wished. Caleb really did what he said and never came to see me again. I curled up in bed and slept for a whole day and night with a lot of sweat. The wounds on my back and calf split open again because of my unconscious tossing and turning in my dreams. Blood and sweat soaked the quilt. During this time, a servant came to knock on my door and brought me a soft silk blanket. I was flattered, but the servant told me that Caleb had built a luxurious manor for Debby in the suburbs, lavished with all kinds of things. All of Debby’s things had been replaced with new ones, and this was what she didn’t want. I lowered my eyes and remained silent. On the third day, the wounds on my body not only didn’t heal but showed signs of rotting and suppurating. They were swollen and itchy. The worst thing was that the blanket stuck to the wounds, and it took me a long time to tear them apart with my teeth gritting. But this made the scabs break again. They were not serious wounds, but the blood just wouldn’t stop. I lay on the bed, icy all over, feeling like I was really going to die. But before death, I had to see Frank. Frank was in good health. Three years ago, when Debby caused a scene at my engagement party, it was Frank who stopped Caleb from hurting me with his cane. Frank had always demanded to check the surveillance to prove my innocence, but unfortunately, he had no power or influence and was nothing in front of the Pierce family after Charles passed away. Caleb sent me away behind Frank’s back. Frank didn’t know where I was. In the past three years, I hadn’t sent him a single message. He must have been crazy looking for me. On the fourth day, I didn’t even have the strength to move. Maggie saw how pitiful I was and secretly slipped in with medicine and bread. While I was wolfing down the food, she quickly took off my clothes to apply medicine for me. Maggie touched my bony body and couldn’t help crying. “How could Mr. Pierce be so cruel? What kind of suffering has he put you through all these years? Jess, if it’s really that bad, just run away.” With tears in her eyes, she said, “I’m on shift at midnight tonight. Everyone will be asleep then. I’ll open the back door for you. Just live your life from now on and never come back.” I forced myself to perk up and pleaded with her to find me a set of clean clothes and some makeup.

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On the day of my birthday party, my grandfather, Harvey Macleod, asked me which guy from the Cameron family I was going to marry. I didn’t hesitate for a second and picked Arthur Cameron from the Cameron family. My family’s elders were all shocked as hell. After all, everyone in our circle knew that the heir of the Macleod Group was head over heels in love with Charles Cameron, the eldest son of the Cameron family, and would rather die than marry anyone else. In my previous life, I did get married to Charles. But just three months later, I caught Charles having an affair with my illegitimate cousin, Eliza Macleod. At that moment, his eyes were full of tears, and he begged me for forgiveness. “I’m begging you. It was just an accident.” I softened my heart, but Harvey still found out about it and had Eliza sent far away to a foreign country. Charles thought it was my doing and hated me with a passion. In the following few years, the elders in my family passed away one after another. Our company always got beaten to the punch in the market, and our top-secret documents were stolen. I was hit and killed by a car on the day I found out I was pregnant. Given a second chance at life, I decided to let them have their love. But I never expected that when the news of my engagement was announced, Charles burst into the engagement party and begged me to marry him.

As soon as I stepped out of the study, I saw Charles Cameron. He was sitting in the middle of the crowd, decked out in a designer suit, but his eyes kept drifting towards the door. When his friends saw me, one of them nudged him hard. “Here comes your groupie… Oops, I mean, your fan.” Charles gave me a dismissive glance. “What are you doing here?” he said, sounding disappointed. In my past life, I would’ve rushed over and tried to smooth things over with him. But the image of that truck slamming into me was still fresh in my mind, so I just replied coldly, “It’s my birthday party. Why wouldn’t I be here?” Charles instantly flew off the handle when he heard how icy I sounded. “Violet Macleod, what’s your deal? Looking for a fight? I took time out of my schedule to come to your party, and this is how you act? Just because you ran to your grandpa doesn’t mean we’re getting married.” One of his friends chimed in, “Violet, what’s your problem? Apologize to Charles! If you hadn’t shamelessly pestered Charles every day, he wouldn’t have bothered with you.” I was speechless. “If you’re not happy at my party, feel free to leave. And as for my wedding plans, they’ll be announced at my grandpa’s 80th birthday party next month. It’s none of your business, so don’t bother asking.” Although I intended to marry Arthur Cameron, I had not yet asked him. Though in my previous life… I couldn’t be so hasty as to announce it here now. “Wedding plans?” One guest perked up. “Sounds like their grandfathers are finally ready to step down. We’ll finally know who’s taking over the Cameron Group.” My grandfather, Harvey Macleod, and Frankie Cameron, Charles’ grandfather, had been best friends their whole lives and should have retired ages ago. Since I was the only daughter in the Macleod family, they’d made a deal that whoever I married would get a 20% share of the Cameron Group from Frankie. In my previous life, with the 15% Charles already owned, marrying me made him the boss of the Cameron Group. Things were about to change big time for the Cameron Group. His friends started cheering. “Charles, you’re gonna be the top dog!” Charles looked proud. “Violet, just because I’m marrying you doesn’t mean you’ve won. I can’t stand how smug you look. “I learned my lesson from last time. I’ll marry you, but there’s no way I’ll become a part of your family. Before we marry, you’d better give your poor sister a good job.” I was about to tell him it had nothing to do with him when I realized that he’d been reborn, too. In my previous life, it was a servant of the Cameron family who tipped me off about his affair with Eliza. And now, he was still up to the same tricks. I was about to kick him out when I heard a timid voice behind me. “Violet?” Eliza Macleod came over, looking weak, with bruises all over her face. Everyone started whispering. Charles rushed to her, looking heartbroken. “What happened? Who did this to you?” Before Eliza could answer, Charles turned around and glared at me. “Violet, how dare you play these dirty tricks again?” I tried to explain, but Eliza interrupted me, “It’s nothing serious. I just tripped on the way here. Today’s Violet’s birthday. Even though she’s never liked me, I still wanted to wish her well.” Charles shot me a look of disgust. “Violet, you could never be as kind as she is.” Eliza grabbed Charles’ arm. “Don’t be mad, Charles. I’m sure one day Violet will forgive me.” Charles wrapped his arm around her protectively. “Let’s go see a doctor right away. I don’t want you getting hurt worse.” As they walked away, he shot me a warning look. “Violet, keep your hands off Eliza. If you mess with her again, our engagement party will not happen on time.” With that, he dragged Eliza away.

That night, the birthday party was in full swing, but Eliza and Charles were nowhere to be found. They didn’t show up until the party was almost over and only my close friends of the same generation and a few close businessmen were left chatting. Eliza had changed her clothes. Her face was flushed, and her lips were swollen. Charles looked like he was on cloud nine, and there were faint red marks peeking out from his open shirt collar. Everyone knew what they had done and kept looking at me, while my friends just shook their heads, looking like they wanted to say something but held back. In my previous life, I would’ve stormed over and smacked Eliza. But this time, I just picked up a cup of coffee from the table and took a sip. Charles stood protectively in front of Eliza, waiting for me to blow up. When I ignored them, though, he started scowling, clearly annoyed. Eliza pulled Charles in and started kissing him right there as if no one else was around. Charles didn’t stop her and even let her sit on his lap. It was their business, and I couldn’t care less. But my best friend, Sienna Smith, couldn’t take it anymore and yanked them apart. “Eliza, Charles is practically Violet’s fiancé! You’re so shameless.” Before Eliza could respond, Charles exploded. “Sienna? Last I checked, the Smith family has a bunch of projects funded by the Cameron family. How dare you lecture me? Violet hasn’t said anything. Who are you to butt in?” “Charles, watch your mouth,” I shouted. Sienna was kind to me, and I wasn’t about to let him trash-talk her. “The leading man at the Cameron Group hasn’t stepped down yet. What makes you so sure that I’ll pick you and that you’ll get that 20% stake?” Charles stared at me, then burst out laughing. “Are you trying to play hard to get? Everyone knows you’re crazy about me. Who else is there? One of my sisters has married off overseas, and the other has locked in her room making art all day. And my little brother’s in jail doing time. You wanna join him?” Then, he thought of something and added, “Look, Violet, whatever beef our families had is old news. Your mom’s gone, and no amount of holding grudges will bring her back. Let it go, for everyone’s sake. Eliza’s innocent in all this.” Innocent? I almost laughed out loud. When my mom, Amelia Macleod, was pregnant, Eliza’s mom, Ivy Wilson, showed up at our door with Eliza. She claimed my dad, Blake Macleod, had knocked her up and ditched her, and she called Amelia a homewrecker. During the fight, Ivy pushed Amelia down the stairs, and Amelia and the baby died. But it turned out that Eliza wasn’t even Blake’s kid but was my deadbeat uncle’s, and Ivy was just a cocktail waitress. Amelia and the baby were the real victims. Lost in thought, I didn’t notice Charles grinning. He thought it was my acquiescence and happily said, “Oh yeah, happy birthday.” With that, he added, pulling off his tie and tossing it at me, “Here. It is for you.” Eliza said in a loud voice, “Charles, do you think she’ll like it? She might blame me for stealing her gift again.” As she spoke, she tugged at her collar to show off a necklace. Charles shrugged. “Don’t worry. She doesn’t like anything but what I’ve used. You didn’t steal anything. Once I give something to you, it’s yours.” They snickered as the tie smacked me in the face. It stung like a slap. In my previous life, I had indeed enjoyed collecting things that Charles had used, including the ring he wore when we met, the tie from our wedding, and the watch from his big promotion. I kept them in fancy boxes, thinking they were precious mementos. He laughed at me and said they were all rags that were worn once and thrown away, and that I was the only one who considered them a treasure. Mortal things were precious because they were endowed with feelings, and he didn’t love me, so he naturally wouldn’t understand. I sighed, picked up the tie, and chucked it in the trash can, saying, “Trash belongs in the trash.” Charles went crazy. “Fine, Violet! Our wedding’s getting put on ice!”

That night, Eliza and I got home together, and she had a smug look. “Violet, so what if you marry Charles? You can have his body, but you’ll never have his heart. Oh, maybe he won’t even let you touch his body either,” she said. Without Charles around, she finally dropped her innocent act. “I made your mom dead, and I can sure as hell steal Charles, the man you love the most. Just wait, Violet. Everything that’s yours will end up being mine eventually.” Eliza thought she could get on my nerves, but I just gave her a cold glance. “Then I wish you could move out of the maid’s room soon,” I said. After that, I ignored her and walked straight into the mansion. Harvey came to talk to me and said that Arthur needed some more time to think it over. Charles probably almost forgot that he had another younger brother. Frankie had a daughter who had given up her inheritance rights to become a cop because she had fallen in love with a policeman. Later, they both died in the line of duty, leaving behind only their son, Arthur. Frankie and his daughter had had a huge falling-out because of that marriage decision. After she died, Frankie felt remorseful. But Arthur didn’t go back to the Cameron family very often. With my reminder, Frankie felt that he owed Arthur. Even if Arthur didn’t marry me, Frankie would still leave him a portion of his property. Charles was dead set on getting the Cameron Group, but he had no idea that he could never get it all. I was looking forward to seeing how Charles would fare in this life. On the day of Harvey’s 80th birthday, all the big shots in our circle showed up. To make sure the party went smoothly, I checked Harvey’s health with the doctor one more time. When Eliza saw me there, she walked straight towards me. These past few days, Charles had taken Eliza to a bunch of luxury stores. I checked her social media account, and every single fancy Instagram post was screaming about how close they were. When she saw me, she came over and smiled, “Violet, Charles is such a great guy. He took me to buy so many luxury things. And not only that, he even measured me himself and said he was going to order a custom-made dress for me.” Seeing I ignored her, she continued, “Charles also said that even after you two get married, I shouldn’t be shy around him. We’ll be family, and he should do things for me.” Eliza kept interrupting my conversation with the doctor. I turned around and was about to tell her to buzz off. But when I saw the brooch on her chest, I froze. That brooch was the birthday gift my parents had given me when I was a kid. They loved each other deeply. Amelia had designed the brooch herself, and Blake had found the best craftsman in Winussland to make it. It was a symbol of their wish for me to have a happy and fulfilling life. Later, after that horrible thing happened, Amelia died, and Blake lost his will to live and never came out of his room. So, I never received a birthday gift from them again. There was only one such brooch in the world, and I didn’t even want to wear it myself. I grabbed Eliza’s collar, pushed her into the corner, and looked down at her. “Where did you get this brooch?” Suddenly, Eliza started choking up. “Violet, even though you’ve always hated me, I’ve always thought of you as my dear sister. Charles just bought me a few clothes because he felt sorry for me. You shouldn’t hit me just because you’re angry.” I wasn’t falling for her act. I didn’t ease up my grip and said viciously, “Tell me. Where did you get the brooch? Who gave it to you?” Eliza just stared at me with widened eyes. I was so disgusted that I tried to snatch the brooch, but another hand grabbed my wrist tightly. A cold voice came from behind me. “Violet, what are you doing? Do you want to hit her right in the open?” Charles stood protectively in front of Eliza and glared at me. “Is this how you, the Macleod family, treat your kin?”

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The day my ex-boyfriend, Spencer Drayton, became the world boxing champion was the same day I, Madeleine Ford, got my terminal diagnosis. During the live broadcast interview, the host asked Spencer who’d been his rock during the hardest times. He called my number. “Back then, you dumped me because you thought I was a nobody, got rid of our kid, and ran off with someone else. Any regrets now?” I glanced at the date the doctors predicted I’d die and laughed, a wild, almost freeing sound. “Maybe we should just get back together. I get a champion boxer boyfriend. You get a five-year-old son. Win-win.” He hung up instantly. On the broadcast, Spencer’s laugh was ice-cold. “Thanks to my ex for giving me this humiliation. It’s what drove me to where I am today.” I smiled through my tears, wiping them away. He had no idea. If I hadn’t walked away, he would have died in that ring. A friend request popped up on my phone. The profile picture was of my ex, Spencer. After a moment’s hesitation, I hit accept. Instantly, a fifty-thousand-dollar transfer notification followed. The message attached: [I want to see the child.] It took me a long moment to process what he meant. A knot of complicated feelings tightened in my chest. I accepted the money, then typed back: [Okay. Where are you?] He dropped a pin, a private, members-only club. I transferred the funds straight to my adopted son Theo Ford’s account, pulled myself together, grabbed my purse, and headed for the club. As I approached the private room, a familiar voice drifted out. Peeking through the door crack, I saw Spencer standing tall and straight. Seven years had passed. He looked more mature, more grounded, though his features were fundamentally unchanged. But the woman beside him wasn’t me anymore. From the way he was dressed, it was clear he’d just finished a livestream and rushed straight here. His new girlfriend, Tessa Sutton, had thrown him a victory party here, celebrating him becoming the youngest champion ever. Spencer cradled Tessa’s face, brushing a tender kiss across her forehead. I snapped my head away, a sharp pain lancing through my heart. All I wanted was to leave right then and there. Suddenly, the door was yanked open. Startled, I looked up. Spencer stood there, his face a mask of indifference. His cold gaze swept over me, head to toe, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “After all this time, not even a hello before leaving? That’s a bit rude, don’t you think?” I stared at him, a thousand unspoken words catching in my throat. I swallowed them down. What came out was, “You wanted to see the child, right? Can you come with me now?” Spencer froze. Then raw fury ignited in his icy eyes. He slammed me against the wall, his hands digging into my shoulders as he growled, his voice low and furious, “Seven years ago, you vanished without a word, and now this is the first thing you say to me?” A sharp, throbbing ache radiated from where his fingers pressed into a bruise on my shoulder. I gasped against the pain but showed a brittle laugh. “Mr. Drayton, are you afraid Ms. Sutton might get jealous? I’m sure she would be delighted to hear I have a child, wouldn’t she?” I aimed the last words at Tessa, who had followed him out and now stood possessively in the doorway. Shock registered on both their faces. Pain flickered in Spencer’s eyes, mixed with something unreadable. Before he could speak, Tessa glided to his side, looping her arm through his, staking her claim. She shot me a sharp look, her voice dripping with mockery and pity. “Darling, I heard Ms. Ford has been all alone, you know. “Raising a child by herself all these years… it must have been terribly difficult. Perhaps the poor boy’s never even met his father. Her asking… She’s probably just trying to keep the child happy, don’t you think? “After all, she’s not like me. I have a man to take care of me, time for shopping, trips… living life to the fullest. “Which reminds me. I suppose I owe Ms. Ford a thank you for being so cruel back then. If she hadn’t been, I never would have met such a wonderful man, would I?” Faced with Tessa’s smug display, I said nothing and offered no defense. My mind flashed back seven years. Spencer was just a hungry young fighter then, fresh off a win, heading into the finals. And me, on the eve of his biggest fight, leaving him with nothing but a note and a medical report from my abortion. He was crushed, lost the finals, and spiraled into a year of self-doubt. He almost got kicked out of the gym.

My thoughts snapped back to the present as Spencer leaned down to kiss Tessa’s forehead again. His eyes swam with unmistakable affection. “Honestly? I’m glad she was so heartless back then. Otherwise, I never would have found my life’s greatest fortune. “That couture gown you wanted? It’s hanging in your closet. Stop trying to save my money.” He released me and laced his fingers through hers. Finally free from his grip, I felt the room tilt. I stood there, staring at their intertwined fingers, a tightness forming in my chest. A wave of dizziness made my vision blur, and I felt like I was suffocating. I had zero interest in witnessing their perfect love story. I turned to leave, stumbled, and pitched forward, hitting the carpet hard. My purse flew open, scattering pill bottles everywhere. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tessa’s red stiletto quickly disappear beneath the hem of her dress. “Oh, goodness, Madeleine! Are you alright? Clumsy me, I didn’t see you turning and must have tripped you! I am so sorry.” Her tone held zero actual apology. Spencer started to reach for me, but Tessa’s sharp gasp stopped him. He pulled his hand back. “My God, Madeleine! You’re dying? No way! You seem perfectly healthy!” Spencer snatched up the medical notice that had fallen out, his eyes landing on the words Critically Ill. Fury contorted his features. “Madeleine, have you no shame? Stooping this low just to get my sympathy! “After all these years, you haven’t changed a bit! Still full of cheap tricks!” I struggled upright, looking at Spencer’s powerful, healthy body with a stab of envy. I yanked the notice from his grasp, plastering a smile on my face as I slowly gathered the pills, my voice soft and sweet. “Oops, you caught me. So, Spencer… feeling generous enough to spare some charity for a poor, pathetic woman like me?” Tessa dabbed at crocodile tears, leaning dramatically into Spencer’s chest. But the look she shot down at me was pure spite. “Darling, Madeleine must be telling the truth. “Think about it. If she hadn’t left you, she wouldn’t be facing this karma now. We should help her. She’s so terribly pitiful.” Every word was a poisoned dart, reminding Spencer how I’d supposedly ditched him when he had nothing. The fire in Spencer’s eyes turned to ice. “I don’t waste my kindness on just anybody.” He wrapped an arm around Tessa’s shoulders and turned away. She made a show of pleading my case until he silenced her with a kiss. She shot me a final, triumphant glance over his shoulder. I picked up the last flattened pill box and tucked it into my purse, then pushed myself to my feet, leaning heavily on my throbbing knee. As their figures vanished into the elevator, I pressed a hand to my violently trembling chest, gulping for air. Systemic lupus erythematosus… My organs were shutting down, one by one. Infections were spreading. My clock was running out. And he was perfectly healthy. This stable, healthy life he had, I’d sacrificed everything for it back then. And he still had no idea.

Back then, Spencer was boxing’s rising star, an undefeated dark horse tearing through the ranks straight to the championship final. The betting odds against him hit an insane 170:1. Someone powerful got nervous. They cornered Spencer with threats, bribes for the whole nine yards. They ordered him to take a dive in the final round. The carrot, a ten-million-dollar check, would be his the moment he agreed. Spencer took the check. Then he walked straight to the authorities with the check and a recording of the conversation, blowing the whistle on them. That was Spencer then, pure integrity, disgusted by the corruption of fixed fights. Even though the money involved was huge, because no actual deal was finalized, the authorities only issued a stern warning, no real punishment. But Spencer had made powerful enemies. They didn’t come after him directly. Instead, they went for his coach, Cole Locke, the gym owner. I never learned the specifics of their conversation, but from that day on, Cole started working on Spencer. Trying to persuade him, manipulate him. He even stooped to using me. I was a month pregnant by then. Spencer refused Cole point-blank. “Cole, I get it. I really do. But my kid’s about to be born. I don’t want him growing up hearing whispers, carrying the shame of a father who threw fights.” “If we keep it a secret, who’s gonna know? Besides, think about the money, not just your rep! Look how thin Madeleine’s gotten! She needs proper food now she’s pregnant, and babies cost a fortune! You want them stuck in that crappy little apartment forever?” Spencer’s eyes blazed. “If I win the championship, the prize money will fix everything!” Cole threw his hands up. “Get real, kid! You’re a rookie! How are you gonna beat a champ with ten years under his belt? You’re gonna lose anyway! Since it ends the same, why not take the cash and lose?” Spencer wouldn’t budge. The conversation ended badly. Meanwhile, I was tied up in some empty room, watching my fiancé’s determined face on a grainy monitor. He wasn’t wrong, not for a second. My heart swelled with pride for him. But then they brought him in, the champion Spencer was supposed to fight, and showed him to me. A chilling wave of dread washed over me. As Spencer’s partner, I’d done my homework. While he trained, I studied his potential opponents. The boxer about to face Spencer in the ring nicknamed the Death Truck, was known for his explosive power, which he used to violently knock his opponents down. His opponents rarely walked away. Most ended up crippled. Some didn’t end up at all. Spencer couldn’t beat him, not like this. I knew it with chilling certainty. He didn’t have that killer instinct, that utter disregard for another human life. If they met in the finals, Spencer wouldn’t just lose. He’d likely be maimed or, worse, die. So, I made a choice. I would take the fall, wear the shame. My baby needed money. I needed money. He had to lose, but not like that, not broken and bleeding. He had to walk away healthy, with a future. So, I took their money and agreed to their terms. The day before the fight, I left the note and the clinic receipt. He trusted me, believed I loved him unconditionally, and I would never leave. That betrayal hit him exactly as hard as I knew it would. As I had expected, he was still sluggish when he stepped into the ring and was easily knocked down. The opponent kept his promise, leaving him with only a few light injuries to ensure that his future career wouldn’t be affected. Otherwise, according to their original plan, they would have completely sidelined Spencer. I was quite satisfied with this deal. But later, whenever I saw him on screen or on the field, sweating and full of energy, I couldn’t help but feel a subtle, dull pain in my heart. Yet, at the same time, I was happy. After all, he was finally shining in the world he loved. My phone buzzed. Caller ID showed a law firm. A man identifying himself as a lawyer informed me that the fifty thousand Spencer had sent was technically company funds, co-owned with Tessa.

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To help his adopted sister, Rosalind Sterling, get taller, my brother Ashton Sterling forced me, Seraphina Sterling, to give her my legs for grafting. He found a preacher, a man calling himself a True God, who hacked my legs off with an axe while I was still conscious. Worried his precious Rosalind might feel guilty, Ashton then ordered someone to shove dog legs into the bleeding stumps, claiming they were specially made, lifelike prosthetics for me. The agony was unbearable. My wounds weren’t treated, weren’t even cleaned, left to fester along with the filth from my loss of bodily control, the stench sickening. But Ashton forbade the caregivers from helping me. “Still got the energy to scream? Means it doesn’t hurt enough. No medicine for her for a few days. Let her learn her lesson.” Near death, I used my last ounce of strength to drag myself off the bed, crawling towards the door, wanting only to beg Ashton for a shred of dignity in my final moments. But he kicked me away with cold eyes. “Disgusting. Don’t scare Rosalind.” Later, when he heard wild dogs had dragged my body away, Ashton scoured the mountains and knelt in every church, desperate just to find my bones, to bring me home.

When my adoptive mother, Lucinda Fairfax, returned home carrying my ravaged remains, bones gnawed clean by wild animals, Ashton was in the middle of ordering men to destroy our home, Lucinda’s and mine. The inside was already smashed to pieces. The stray cats I’d taken in were terrified, fur on end, hiding in corners. Lucinda rushed inside, shielding the cats like a mother hen protecting her chicks, pointing a trembling finger at Ashton as she cursed him, “These little ones were the last thing Seraphina cared about! They’re all she had left! “You monster! You already killed her! Isn’t that enough?” Ashton sneered, “Tsk, still playing the dedicated cat lover? Fake death, huh? Even if she were really dead, I wouldn’t donate a penny to this broken place. “The legs she gave up were too skinny anyway. Tell her to crawl back out here and saw off another section for Rosalind, or else I’ll kill these pests!” Lucinda swayed on her feet. She clutched the bag in her arms tighter, whispering, “She’s gone. She’s already dead! “She’s right here, in this bag! If you don’t believe me, take it and get it tested! Just please, leave these kittens alone! Seraphina won’t rest in peace if you hurt them!” For a fleeting second, Ashton seemed moved, but then he violently swatted the bag away. “Trying to trick me with a bag of pork?” Lucinda’s eyes were red as she scrambled to protect my remains, but Ashton stepped forward, grinding the bloody fragments under his heel. He grabbed Lucinda by the hair. “Old hag, hand her over, now!” Tears streamed down Lucinda’s face from the pain. One of the cats darted forward anxiously, only to be kicked away hard by Ashton. That was the first cat I ever rescued. She was fifteen years old. I wanted to pick her up, to soothe her, but my spectral form passed right through her again and again. Just then, Ashton shoved Lucinda away. Lucinda was in too much pain to cry out, but she still struggled to crawl over, gathering my scattered remains back into the bag. “Seraphina… Seraphina… I’m so sorry…” Seeing this, Ashton let out a cold laugh. “Still acting? I bet Seraphina learned how to ruthlessly bully Rosalind from an old hag like you! “If she’s dead, I’ll set off fireworks all night to celebrate one less menace in the world!” Just as he finished speaking, his subordinate, Cole Banks, walked in and reported, “Mr. Sterling, we haven’t found any trace of Ms. Seraphina Sterling!” “Ha, very well.” Ashton laughed, choked with anger, “Let’s see how long she can hide!” With that, he dragged Lucinda to the pigsty entrance and ordered his men to dump a bucket of pig feed over her. “Seraphina’s remains, huh? Still pretty fresh. What, couldn’t you even bother to make your scam look realistic? “So precious, are they? Let’s give the pigs a treat!” He then emptied the contents of the bag into the pigpen and tossed Lucinda aside. “If Seraphina doesn’t crawl out by sunset tomorrow, I’ll turn this place into a cat graveyard!” As he left, he spat into the pigpen. His followers did the same, one after another. One man even urinated directly onto the remains. Lucinda, despite being at her absolute limit, shielded my ravaged body with her own, letting the urine soak her completely. The cats meowed incessantly. A few, passing near where my spirit stood, let out mournful cries.

That night, Lucinda packed her bags ahead of time. She didn’t dare gamble with the cats’ lives. But just as she was about to load the cats for escape, their terrified screams echoed from the yard. Lucinda rushed out frantically, only to find Ashton standing there with an electric shock baton, watching her with vicious eyes. “Where do you think you’re going?” Lucinda weakly opened and closed her mouth. “What will it take… for you to leave us alone?” “Hand over Seraphina.” At his words, Lucinda’s eyes reddened again. She looked close to breaking. “Seraphina is dead! “You killed her!” Ashton stared coldly at Lucinda, then scoffed, “Old hag, I’ve already exposed your act. Stop pretending! “She played the cat lover, slept with rich old men for money… If she died, wasn’t it all for nothing?” I stared blankly at Ashton, my ghostly heart aching. Lucinda couldn’t hold back anymore and screamed at him, “Seraphina is your sister, the one you lost for ten years! How dare you speak such nonsense about your own sister? “Do you have any idea what she gave up for these cats? She’d rather starve herself…” Ashton interrupted Lucinda with a vicious slap, “I only have one sister, and her name is Rosalind.” Beside him, Rosalind heard this and clung to Ashton’s arm coquettishly. “Oh, Ashton, Seraphina would be so sad to hear you say that. It’s my fault for taking her place… I should go apologize to her. I’ve learned all my manners now…” Ashton pulled her back protectively. He gently wiped the corner of her eye, his own eyes full of concern. “Rosalind, you’re too kind. If it weren’t for Seraphina, you never would have suffered so much out in the countryside.” “Seraphina only wanted what was best for me, too.” Rosalind covered her mouth with a delicate cough, spitting blood into her palm. Seeing the blood, Ashton panicked. “What’s wrong?” Rosalind refused to speak. He immediately dialed a doctor, frantic. After hearing the diagnosis, that I had supposedly poisoned Rosalind, he exploded with rage, “That bitch! “I was actually considering giving that bitch a shred of dignity! But she refuses to learn! Fine, then they can all just die!” He stormed towards his car, ignoring Lucinda’s desperate attempts to block him, and slammed his foot on the accelerator, aiming straight for the cats huddled together. Most of the cats were old or disabled. Lucinda threw herself in front of them multiple times, only to be hit by the car, spitting blood, collapsing, unable to get up. All she could do was watch the cats shriek in terror. I threw my spectral self in front of the car, but I couldn’t save them. “Ashton! Please! Don’t hurt them! Don’t…” Suddenly, Cole ran out, waving frantically at Ashton. “Mr. Sterling! I just unlocked the old hag’s phone! I found Ms. Seraphina Sterling’s death certificate! It looks like… she really is dead!” Ashton’s eyes widened, and his foot eased off the gas. He looked utterly disbelieving, but just then, a new notification pinged on his phone. It was a bank transfer confirmation with five hundred thousand dollars received. The sender was me. But how could a dead person transfer money? At this, Ashton’s disbelief instantly curdled back into white-hot fury. “Dare to mess with me? “Seraphina! Well played! “You guys! Get the bulldozers! Bury this entire place! I’m turning it into a graveyard right now!” At his command, the machines roared to life, tearing down our home. “No! Don’t do this…” I sank to my knees, begging him, pleading with him not to hurt Lucinda and the cats. But Lucinda and my beloved furballs were buried beneath the dirt and rubble. I collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably. I murmured, “I’m sorry. “It’s all my fault you suffered.”

I had no choice but to follow Ashton. Back in the car, Ashton carefully covered Rosalind with a blanket. Noticing bloodstains on the hem of her skirt, he saw that the wounds on her legs were oozing pus. “Seraphina’s legs are as cheap and nasty as she is! She must have pulled some trick! Why else would they work fine for her but cause you so much suffering!” Rosalind consoled Ashton dutifully, “Ashton, it’s just my bad luck. Don’t blame…” Before she could finish, she fainted. Ashton panicked, running several red lights to rush her to the True God preacher’s place, which seemed more like a strange church than a clinic. After examining her, the preacher looked gravely at Ashton. “Ms. Rosalind Sterling’s issue is simple. Limbs work best when they share the same origin. Her legs were replaced, but her hands weren’t. They don’t match. This causes a conflict. “It won’t affect her lifespan, but the wounds will frequently become inflamed. Of course, the best solution would be to replace her hands as well.” Ashton frowned. “Why didn’t you mention this before…” Rosalind tugged at his sleeve weakly. “Seraphina just lost her legs… even with prosthetics, losing her hands too would drastically impact her life. “I can endure it. I have more than enough love already. Seraphina has repaid any debt she owed me. It’s okay if I die a little sooner.” Ashton gently took Rosalind’s hand, rubbing it tenderly, his heart aching for her. “I will provide whatever you want. “Seraphina is nothing but an ungrateful viper! She’s a menace to society anyway. Just making her give up her hands… she owes you far more than that. Even her life wouldn’t be enough to repay you. Consider it her way of earning some good karma.” But I didn’t owe her anything. I was the true heiress of the Sterling family, but I was switched at birth in the hospital. Ashton found me when I was twelve, claiming to be my long-lost brother. He promised to make up for those twelve lost years, promised to make me a happy princess. At first, he did just that. Back then, when Rosalind secretly arranged for others to bully me, Ashton investigated thoroughly and immediately sent Rosalind back to her biological parents. Because her own family favored sons over daughters, Rosalind endured three years of abuse there. Ashton felt guilty. His way of easing his guilt was to sacrifice me. Just then, Ashton’s voice broke through my thoughts. “By the way, Rosalind’s heart hasn’t been feeling well lately. Master, can Seraphina’s heart be transplanted to Rosalind as well? “Don’t worry. I’m Seraphina’s legal guardian. As long as I sign the consent, she won’t dare refuse.”

Half an hour later, Ashton drove towards the hospital. At the parking gate, two security guards changing shifts were chatting. “Heard we need to beef up patrols now, especially on the wards with patients who don’t have family visiting.” “That girl who had the accident…” “Don’t even mention it. The human body with dog legs… nearly scared me to death!” “Those dog legs were jammed right into her thigh stumps, wired tightly together with steel wire! The bone inside the flesh was practically sticking out! Gave me nightmares for days!” “Heard her family’s loaded, but they wouldn’t even cough up the five hundred thousand for proper treatment. By the time they finally scraped it together, the girl was already gone.” Ashton’s hands clenched on the steering wheel. He stared at the guards, his voice tight with fear. “The girl you’re talking about… her name wasn’t… Seraphina, was it?” One guard glanced at him. “Don’t know her name. But the ones who picked up her body were two huge, thuggish-looking guys. Probably her brothers or something.” Ashton let out a breath of relief. Just then, his phone pinged. A message from Rosalind with a link to my supposed Twitter account. The post had countless likes. It showed someone who looked vaguely like me, partying hard at a nightclub. Rosalind’s voice message followed. “Ashton, I’m so envious of Seraphina. Will I ever be able to dance freely like her? Will I ever be truly happy?” “Slut!” Ashton spat the word, completely missing that the face in the video only bore a slight resemblance to mine. “That damn bitch Seraphina! I’ve been looking everywhere for her. She faked her death to mess with me, and now she dares to provoke me! “Go grab her cheap mother. I’m making them pay today!” Before he could finish, one of his subordinates rushed in. “Mr. Sterling, bad news! Ms. Rosalind Sterling’s legs are bleeding heavily again! She’s refusing treatment, and… she slit her wrists!” Ashton sprinted into the hospital room in terror. “Rosalind! What happened? Don’t scare me…” “I’m fine… I just… I just feel like I can never be as happy as Seraphina…” Rosalind stood up, showing a weak, apologetic smile, blood seeping through the bandages on her wrists. “Maybe it’s better if I just die.” With that, she collapsed onto the floor. Ashton watched in horror as she was rushed into the emergency room. He sank to his knees, his eyes wide with disbelief. “She dares provoke Rosalind! “She deserves to die!” He looked up at Cole, who stood nearby. “She wants to play games? Fine. I’ll play. “Dig up every piece of dirt on Seraphina. Leak it all online. I want her infamous across the entire internet!” But Cole couldn’t find any dirt on me. Instead, he carefully edited photos of Ashton abusing the cats, removing context, and posted them on the official Sterling Group website. Ashton even made a video. “Bullying her sister, terrorizing classmates, shamelessly sleeping with businessmen, abusing animals… a person like this does not deserve to be part of the Sterling family! “If anyone sees her, please contact me immediately! Generous reward offered! “Let’s make sure this trash gets what she deserves!” The internet exploded in outrage. “FindTheEvilSeraphina” started trending everywhere. Just as Ashton was reveling in his apparent victory, a major online influencer tagged him. The video showed Lucinda kneeling in front of the Sterling Group building. Behind her, a banner read: [Exposing the inhumane Sterling family, who forced Seraphina to death.] Bound to Ashton, I followed him as he went, my spectral form arriving alongside him at the Sterling Group building.

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My husband’s mother had been out in the fields when she accidentally stepped on an old landmine from the battlefield. The community police asked me to find my retired husband, who was a bomb disposal expert, to defuse it, but I shook my head and refused. In my past life, I ran 6 miles to town to save her, dragging my husband, who was on a date with his first love, out of the restaurant, begging him to save her. She was safely rescued, but his first love was dragged into an alley by her ex-husband and beaten to death. My husband praised me for what I had done in front of others, but on the anniversary of his first love’s death, he used the very landmine he had unearthed to blow me to pieces. “Why wasn’t it you who died? Go to hell and apologize to Sarah!” This time, my husband finally had a pleasant dinner with his first love. But when he learned what had happened at home, he was driven mad with regret. ***** “Mia, don’t come any closer, stay away from me!” Hearing the familiar voice, I suddenly opened my eyes. Standing before me, my husband’s mother, Ella Clark, was crying but still insisted on pushing me away. “I’m getting on in years, and I’m not as nimble as I used to be. If this landmine goes off, I don’t want to drag any of you into it.” Upon hearing this, the police quickly pulled me back. “Mia, isn’t your husband a retired bomb disposal expert? Where is he? Get him here quickly!” Hearing the repeated urgings, I tightly clenched my hands, barely holding back tears. “He went to the town with Sarah. If I go get him, he probably won’t come back…” The neighbors who had followed the police came to a halt upon hearing this, all looking awkwardly at each other. The affair between my husband, Samuel Clark, and Sarah Harris had already caused a huge scandal in town. Today was our wedding anniversary, yet he took all the money from home, saying he needed to buy Sarah some skincare and take her to the fanciest restaurant for dinner. The atmosphere around me was heavy. A young neighbor, seeing my troubled expression, sighed, “Mia, don’t worry. We’re quick. We’ll find him and bring him back! “Take care of his mother, and leave it to us!” Without waiting for the police to speak, the group of neighbors dashed off. I lowered my gaze, finally accepting the truth of my rebirth. Of course, Ella was aware of the disgraceful things her son had done and looked at me with a face full of worry. “Mia, Samuel’s actions are my fault. I didn’t educate him properly. I’m so sorry for you. “When he comes back, I’ll make him sever all ties with that little slut!” My throat tightened with sorrow, and I couldn’t hold back the tears. Even though Sarah had dumped Samuel twice, he still wanted to drag me down with her over a made-up accusation. “How could such a man ever sever ties with Sarah?” I thought. Just as we comforted and encouraged each other, the neighbors, covered in sweat, came running back. Everyone’s eyes turned toward them. But behind them was nothing. Samuel hadn’t come. Breathless and furious, the neighbors finally spoke up. “Samuel seems to be out of his mind, shopping for skincare and clothes with that shameless Sarah at the mall!” “We tried everything to get him to listen, but the bastard just wouldn’t believe us!” “Do you know what he said? He said we were sent by Mia to try to trick him into coming back, claiming Mia wanted to save money for herself and was lying to him!” “How can there be such a son in the world? His mother stepped on a landmine, and even if he has doubts, he should come back immediately to check on her!” “And that Sarah, what a piece of work! She had the nerve to make us out to be Mia’s lovers with just a few words. It’s maddening! How can someone be so shameless?”

After venting their frustrations without holding back, the neighbors suddenly remembered that Samuel’s mother was standing right in front of them. Tears streamed down Ella’s face, her eyes clouded with sorrow. Her lips trembled for a long moment before she barely managed to speak, “Did that ungrateful man really say that? “Mia, in this life, I owe you an apology. I’ve ruined your life. I’m useless, but I’ll use this life to make it up to you.” She was so overwhelmed by the shock that she was on the verge of breaking down. Under the heavy silence of the onlookers, I gritted my teeth and said, “Ella, this isn’t your fault. It’s Samuel. He’s lost his way. I’ve never blamed you! “If it weren’t for you feeding me when I was little, I’d have starved to death long ago. I don’t want you to apologize. I want you to live a good life!” When I was very young, my parents died in a flood. I was alone. It was Ella who adopted me, giving me food and raising me until I grew up safely. Years ago, Samuel was in a relationship with Sarah. But Sarah, dissatisfied with Samuel being just a bomb disposal soldier with no future, left him a letter and ran off with a wealthy man from the town. Since then, Samuel was deeply hurt and turned to me for comfort. Ella had always liked me for being hardworking and capable, urging me to agree to marry him. I married Samuel with gratitude in my heart, but then Sarah returned. Samuel wanted a divorce, but Ella firmly opposed it. The whole town was talking about it. With Sarah’s instigation, Samuel believed it was me who was causing trouble, and he hated me for it. To get back at me, he and Sarah would go to town every day, eating and drinking without care, wasting money recklessly. My emotions were in turmoil, but I forced myself to comfort Ella. Seeing she finally calmed down, I reached out and took her rough, weathered hand. “Ella, your health isn’t good. You won’t last much longer. “Let me switch places with you, okay?” As soon as those words left my mouth, the crowd that had come to help erupted in protest. “Mia, think this through. This is a landmine left from the battlefield. If something goes wrong, even if you survive, you’ll be left crippled. Your whole future will be ruined!” “You’re so young, and you can read. Don’t risk your future like this!” Ella’s tears wouldn’t stop. “Mia, I raised you, but it’s only because your parents saved me from the flood all those years ago! “I’m old, and if I die, so be it. Don’t make things worse!” I held onto her hand, refusing to let go. “I can’t just watch you die. If you won’t switch, I’m not going anywhere. We’ll both be blown to pieces together!” After my pleading and threats, Ella finally agreed to switch places. The community police, seeing they couldn’t convince me, moved back with the crowd for safety’s sake. Back when Samuel and I were close, he’d once told me about how a teammate in his unit had to replace someone who stepped on a landmine. I carefully taught Ella the steps, moving my foot gingerly. It wasn’t easy. My legs felt like they were going to give out. But now, I was beyond caring. The only person who had ever been kind to me was Ella, and I couldn’t bear to watch her get hurt. After a long, painful silence, Ella and I successfully swapped places. She wiped her tears and looked at me, stamping her foot in frustration. “Mia, wait here. I will personally go and get that bastard back!” Seeing that I had actually swapped with Ella, the neighbors’ eyes were filled with admiration. The neighbors who had just caught their breath now spoke up again. “We’ll take you there. You need to teach Samuel a lesson. He’s gone way too far!” The group quickly helped Ella down the road, disappearing from sight. I stood in silence with the community police, waiting for what felt like an eternity before they finally came back.

However, just like last time, they still hadn’t brought Samuel back. As soon as Ella saw me, her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground. “Mia, I’m so sorry. That ungrateful man, he has no humanity!” Seeing Ella cry so uncontrollably, the neighbors couldn’t hold back their anger. “Samuel’s gone mad! He doesn’t even trust his own mother!” Hearing their angry complaints, I barely pieced together what had happened in town earlier. Apparently, after buying the skincare and clothes, they had gone to a restaurant. As the neighbors arrived, they were feeding each other and exchanging sweet nothings. Seeing Ella, Samuel immediately threw down his fork. “Mom, can you stop following Mia’s crazy antics? She sent someone to say you stepped on a landmine. If you really stepped on a landmine, how could you have walked all the way to town like this? “I just wanted to have a meal with Sarah. Can’t you leave me alone?” Ella was furious. She flipped the table and tried to drag Samuel back. Seeing Ella’s expression, which seemed genuine, Samuel finally started to believe a little. But just as he was about to leave, Sarah grabbed his other hand. “I know Mia doesn’t like me, can’t stand how Samuel is always with me, but Mrs. Clark, you can’t joke about things like this. “The battlefield’s been cleared so many times, how could there still be landmines?” As a result, no matter how much Ella swore and pleaded, Samuel wouldn’t believe her. Ella, enraged, tried to strike Sarah, but Samuel blocked her and walked away without sparing her a glance. Hearing this, the police’s face turned pale. At that moment, my hope was completely shattered. Our village was remote, and only Samuel had the skills to defuse bombs. If he didn’t come, I had no way out. I stood from dawn until dusk, and Ella fainted from crying several times, only to be forced back home by the neighbors to rest. In the middle of the night, I could barely feel my legs anymore. My body felt numb and heavy, and I knew I couldn’t hold on any longer. With tears in their eyes, the neighbors looked at me as I spoke in a hoarse voice, “Please, get me some paper. I want to write a farewell letter.” The police, fighting back tears, sent someone to get it, and my neighbors rushed off, also crying. Just then, a row of torches suddenly lit up in the distance. “Is this where the landmine was found? We’re a trained team, and we’ve brought in a bomb disposal expert!” Everyone rushed to greet them. I felt as though I had been given a second chance at life. My body went weak, and I nearly fell to the ground. The neighbors, concerned for my safety, rushed up from either side to support me. “Mia, hang in there. Who cares if that idiot Samuel won’t come, there is someone here who will save you!” “Mia, you’re kind and beautiful. There’s always a way out!” They had spent the whole day with me, filled with worry and fear. There was finally hope. Their faces lit up with joy. But as the team approached, everyone’s smiles froze. “Samuel?” Samuel looked at me, equally surprised. “Mia, have you lost your mind? “You’ve made such a scene just to get me back, even bringing my leader into this mess!” Beside him, Sarah, wearing new clothes, smiled provocatively. “Mia, Samuel and I really don’t have anything between us. Is this your way of getting the leader to punish him? “You can’t always be so reckless. Don’t you care about your husband’s future?” As Samuel listened to Sarah, his face twisted in anger. He reached out and grabbed me. After standing for an entire day and night, my body was completely exhausted. As Samuel suddenly grabbed me, I lost control and lurched forward. The neighbors screamed in panic, and the community police rushed forward without hesitation. At that moment, their movements seemed to slow down, and the last thing I saw was Samuel’s expression of utter disgust. In the final second, I closed my eyes, thinking, “We’ve lived two lifetimes as a married couple with hearts far apart. And today, we die together. Fate is a cruel thing.” Free Point

The explosion that everyone expected did not happen. The scene was eerily quiet. I didn’t know how long it took, but I finally mustered enough strength to open my eyes. That was when I realized that a man was holding onto my legs with all his might. My body felt numb. My upper body was leaning forward, and my legs were firmly pressed down by him, yet I was still standing there as if nothing had happened. A few military officers reacted first, hastily helping the man up. “Mr. Foster, have you gone mad? This is a real war zone, a deadly minefield!” “How could you be so reckless? If it had exploded, what would you have done?” The man, Luke Foster, was cursed out thoroughly, but he didn’t care. “Then what do you suggest I do? This is an innocent life, how could I just stand by and watch her die right in front of me?” As he spoke, everyone’s gaze turned toward Samuel. Samuel was unnerved by their stares and looked helpless. “Are you all idiots? How can you all be so manipulated by this woman? “I’ve been here before. I’ve cleaned this place. There are no landmines here! “Mia, stop acting, apologize, and explain to everyone now!” He said through gritted teeth, and Sarah, standing beside him, looked utterly innocent. “Mia, doesn’t everyone in the village know you’re jealous of me? You’re just making up excuses to get Samuel to come back! “Now that you’ve gotten what you wanted, can’t you just admit it?” I nearly died, and I was still in a daze. Seeing that I refused to speak, Sarah began to cry. “Mia, it’s my fault, is that enough to make you happy? “I shouldn’t have gone to town with Samuel, I shouldn’t have made you jealous. I’ll leave, is that okay with you?” With that, Sarah turned to walk away. Samuel clenched his fists tightly and pulled her back. “Sarah, you didn’t do anything wrong, it’s all this woman’s fault. “Mia, I married you because my mom forced me to. How long are you going to keep holding onto the title of my wife?” As he spoke, he reached out to grab me, but his hand never made contact. Instead, Luke seized his wrist. “Mr. Foster, you’ve been deceived by this scheming woman! “This woman is a master of manipulation. I’ll file for a divorce immediately. This doesn’t concern you, so just leave.” Luke’s face was cold as he gritted his teeth. “Samuel! Even if she’s not your wife, even if there’s only a one-in-a-million chance, even if this landmine is a dud, human life is at stake. You have to save her first! “Have you forgotten the values you were taught in the military?” He then shifted his gaze to Sarah. Sarah, frightened by the coldness in Luke’s eyes, took a step back and weakly collapsed into Samuel’s arms. “Samuel, I see it now. “No wonder so many people are willing to act with Mia. It’s all because of him.” Although Sarah didn’t make it explicit, everyone present understood her insinuation. A few young neighbors couldn’t hold their temper any longer and immediately spoke up for me. “Sarah, I think you’ve lost your mind. Every time you open your mouth, you spread lies.” “Mr. Foster is someone we met on our way here. This is our first time meeting him today. There’s no relationship!” “Stop dirtying everything with your own filth. If you’re trash, don’t think everyone else is too!” This statement didn’t spare Sarah any dignity, and she burst into tears right there.

Samuel was heartbroken. In front of everyone, he pulled Sarah into his arms to protect her. “Enough! Are you all done yet? “From the beginning, the only person I’ve ever loved is Sarah. If it weren’t for Mia constantly stirring things up and my mom forcing me to marry her, I never would have married her!” To defend Sarah, Samuel publicly belittled me, leaving me utterly disrespected. If this had happened before, I would have been devastated and tried to explain myself endlessly. But after narrowly escaping death twice, my mindset suddenly changed. Whether Samuel loved me or not no longer mattered. I had saved Ella with my own life, almost died at his hands, and no matter how much debt I owed, it was paid back. I remained silent while they argued loudly. Samuel was convinced I was acting. Seeing everyone standing up for me, he pointed at me, demanding that I admit my fault. “Mia, you always talk about repaying kindness. Why aren’t you doing that now? “Today, if you admit that you were just acting, I’ll consider the debt repaid. I won’t use your money again from now on. Isn’t that enough?” I listened to his words, and my heart grew colder. Samuel spent all his salary on Sarah, yet it was never enough. To provide a good life for Sarah, Samuel had begun eyeing the small savings I had slowly accumulated. I didn’t eat meat, didn’t buy vegetables, didn’t buy new clothes, and the little bit of money I saved was taken by him to spend on another woman. Naturally, I wasn’t happy. Yet every time we argued, Samuel always managed to force me into submission. “Mia, don’t forget who raised you. “You ate my family’s food, use my family’s things. Don’t you think you owe us something?” “If it weren’t for me and Ella taking care of you, do you think you’d still be alive to argue with me here?” ***** Every time he brought this up, I would be left speechless. “But Samuel, when the flood came, my parents died saving your family!” I thought.

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Before my rebirth, Lucas and I were childhood friends. He was the brightest star in my life. Ten years later, we got married in the most beautiful cathedral in the city. Everyone said we were a match made in heaven. He was the heir to the Carter Group, but he always said he wanted to pursue freedom. So, I took on all the responsibilities for him. That autumn, I was kidnapped in a setup. He rushed into an abandoned factory to save me but was forever lost in the fire. My father-in-law knelt before the memorial tablet, coldly saying, “It’s all because you insisted on taking control. You killed my son!” For three whole years, I worked tirelessly to clear my name, finally waiting for the truth to come to light. On the deck of a cruise ship, I saw Lucas. He was gently wrapping a scarf around Rachel’s neck, with a two-year-old daughter in his arms. He turned to look at me, his eyes cold: “Emily, you were just a stepping stone for me to escape my family. You were never my true love.” As a huge wave capsized the ship, I returned to ten years ago, the day he first proposed to me.

I slowly walked down the stairs, holding onto the railing. Lucas was standing at the bottom, holding a cup of milk tea. “Remember your favorite caramel macchiato? I had someone buy it from the mall across the street.” He smiled as he handed me the milk tea, his other hand holding my favorite Japanese takeout. I let him lead me to the Bentley parked at the entrance, my heart churning with indescribable emotions. His palm was warm, but this temperature felt unfamiliar to me. Among the many potential suitors, I chose Lucas not only because we grew up together. More importantly, he wasn’t as worldly and smooth as other rich kids. He was always like an unrestrained youth, with light in his eyes and dreams in his heart. “Emily, why are you so absent-minded today?” He reached out to touch my forehead, his eyes full of concern. “Lucas, tell me, will you always be this good to me?” Holding back tears, I asked him this question seriously for the first time. He was stunned for a moment, then showed an indulgent smile: “Silly girl, for the past ten years, I’ve only had eyes for you. Don’t you understand that yet?” He pulled me into his arms and whispered in my ear: “In my heart, you’ll always be the most special person.” At this moment, I suddenly had a glimmer of hope. Perhaps the 28-year-old Lucas didn’t yet know he would change his heart, didn’t yet know he would use an explosion to escape. In this do-over, do we still have a chance to rewrite the ending? As long as I don’t take on the responsibilities he doesn’t want, don’t let him fake his death to save me. I leaned on his shoulder, listening to him hum our song. Before the party started, I was touching up my makeup in the rest room when my assistant rushed in panic-stricken: “It’s terrible! Mr. Carter is beating someone downstairs!” When I reached the hall, the usually gentle and refined Lucas was gripping Ryan’s neck, his eyes terrifyingly red. “I’ll fucking teach you to dare lay a hand on her again!” He punched Ryan in the face, “If you dare touch her, I’ll make you regret being born!” Ryan was already beaten bloody, and the guests were all backing away in fear. In the corner, a girl in a champagne-colored dress was curled up on the ground, sobbing. I rushed forward to stop Lucas: “Calm down first. There are so many people watching. We can settle this privately.” When he calmed down a bit, I walked over to the girl and offered her a handkerchief. “Are you alright? Do you want to go to the upstairs rest room?” She looked up at me, her eyes misty with tears. My heart suddenly tightened. That face, that alluring tear mole, wasn’t she the woman from Lucas’s new family in my past life?

In that instant, I felt the whole world crumbling. Lucas pushed me away forcefully, so hard that I stumbled back and hit the decorative cabinet behind me, cutting a gash on my arm with the glass. “How could you talk to her like that? Do you know how scared she is right now?” He stood in front of Rachel, glaring at me fiercely. “A girl gets bullied, and not only do you not comfort her, but you question her like this? Where’s your conscience?” I bit my lip, enduring the pain in my arm. “Lucas, don’t get so agitated. There are so many people watching. We need to be reasonable.” He sneered, his eyes full of unfamiliarity. “Emily Shaw, when did you become so snobbish?” “For the sake of appearances, you don’t even have basic sympathy? I really misjudged you!” He took a deep breath: “I’ll give you one day. By tomorrow, I want to see the truth!” With that, he took off his jacket and gently draped it over Rachel’s shoulders, carefully supporting her as they left, without even a glance at me. I stood there, watching my fiancé blow up at me for another woman. The whispers of the guests around me were like countless knives, cutting into my heart. The wound on my arm stung fiercely, but I knew this wasn’t the time to treat it. I forced myself to apologize to Ryan, arranged for someone to take him to the hospital, and then retrieved the security footage to clarify the truth. After dealing with all the guests and calming everyone’s emotions, it was already late at night. I could finally check my wound. The blood had long since congealed, and my clothes were stuck to the flesh. The security footage showed that the so-called harassment was just Ryan’s sleeve accidentally brushing against Rachel as he turned around. Lucas didn’t come back all night, only sending a cold text message: “Sorry, I was impulsive.” The next morning, I had just finished processing the termination paperwork for a batch of unqualified interns. Lucas barged into the office, his face ashen: “Why did you fire Rachel? Just because of yesterday’s incident?” The employees outside all stopped their work, pricking up their ears to eavesdrop. I looked up at him: “Lucas Carter, do you defend her so much because you’ve known her for a long time?” His expression froze, then he quickly put on a gentle smile: “Emily, are you jealous?” He tried to take my hand, but I avoided it. Not long after, he came in again carrying a large bouquet of roses. “Don’t be angry anymore. Rachel is my cousin. I just sent her home last night.” “Can you let her stay for my sake?” I sneered: “So now I need your approval to deal with unqualified employees?” “Before you questioned me, I didn’t even know her name.” He frowned at me: “Emily, you’ve been well-off since childhood. How could you understand her difficulties?” “She still needs this salary to take care of her sick grandmother.” His tone was full of reproach: “You’re already so excellent. Why can’t you give her a chance? Do you have to be so ruthless?” I stared blankly at this unfamiliar man before me. So in his eyes, my excellence was an innate privilege. So my efforts should all become stepping stones for others. So my happiness should all be given to that pitiful girl.

After that argument, I took a long leave and didn’t go to the company for fifteen whole days. Partly to sulk with Lucas, and partly to think about whether I should withdraw early to avoid repeating the mistakes of my past life. During this time, Lucas avoided me, but Mrs. Carter called every day asking me to come back to the old house for dinner. After much hesitation, I finally went. As soon as Mrs. Carter saw me, she took my hand sympathetically: “Oh, Emily dear, it’s all that silly boy’s fault for not knowing better. Don’t take it to heart.” “Mommy promises you, I won’t let any improper person enter our Carter family.” “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely stand up for you!” I held the bird’s nest soup Mrs. Carter had personally stewed for me, listening to her gentle words, my heart filled with mixed emotions. Just then, Lucas walked in with Rachel, laughing and chatting. In the short half month since I’d last seen her, Rachel’s fragile aura had completely disappeared, replaced by undisguised smugness. She smiled at me sweetly: “Sister-in-law, hello. This is a handmade aromatherapy candle Lucas and I made together. It’s a bit flawed, but I still wanted to give it to you.” Lucas stood beside her, silently allowing her behavior. I held up the bird’s nest soup. Even the scalding porcelain bowl couldn’t thaw the coldness in my heart. Mrs. Carter immediately darkened her face: “How rude! Giving someone a gift, and you choose a defective one? What were you thinking?” Rachel hurriedly took off the sapphire necklace from her neck: “I’m so sorry, sister-in-law. This necklace is a royal heirloom from the British royal family. I’ll give it to you as an apology!” That necklace, called “Destiny”, was personally bought by Lucas at an auction in London last year. I had naively thought he would put it on me at our wedding. It turned out that in his heart, the real “Destiny” was Rachel. I silently looked at the necklace, not reaching out to take it. Mrs. Carter pulled Rachel away: “Girl, come with me to look at the garden. Don’t always cling to Lucas. He’s about to get married.” Lucas sat down across from me, poured himself a cup of tea, his lips curled in mockery: “Looks like you still can’t let go of your status in this family. Even if you don’t go to the company, you still come to curry favor with my mom.” “Don’t worry, the position of future Mrs. Carter belongs to no one but you. Who else could please my mom so well?” I had never seen him look at me with such cold eyes. Tears welled up in my eyes: “Lucas, you won’t even give me the most basic kindness anymore?” He glanced at me, continuing to drink his tea leisurely. After finishing his tea, he went upstairs without looking back. Late at night, I was clearing my mind in the gazebo in the backyard when I suddenly heard whispers coming from the nearby rose garden. Rachel’s coquettish voice came through: “Auntie doesn’t seem to like me very much. What should I do?” Lucas chuckled: “My mom even dislikes me. In her eyes, there’s only Emily, the perfect daughter-in-law.” “Then in your heart, who’s more important, me or her?” Rachel pressed. Lucas laughed softly: “You’re always so greedy.” Rachel clung to him persistently. “The first time I saw you, I was moved by your innocence. The next time we met, I was conquered by your passion.” “No one in this world can compare to you. Happy now?” “As for Emily, she’s just like my mom. What’s so interesting about that?” “After we’re married and someone’s helping me manage the family business, I can take you traveling around the world. Don’t be angry, okay?” Before he finished speaking, the two were already kissing. I stood in the darkness, tears silently falling, feeling utterly ridiculous. So whether in this life or the last, I was just a bargaining chip for him to gain freedom. He deceived me clear-headedly, while I foolishly believed in this dream.

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Henry brought a woman home and ordered me to cook for them. The woman giggled, nestling in his arms. “Honey, who is she?” “Her? The housekeeper,” Henry replied dismissively, looking at me. I clutched my stomach and limped into the kitchen. Henry, this will be the last meal I cook for you. After three years of marriage, Henry and I had become bitter enemies. He had someone else in his heart. I was drugged and sent to his bed, and by cruel coincidence, his true love Zoe saw us. The shock sent Zoe running out, where she was hit by a car and died. Later, when I became pregnant, Henry proposed with bloodshot eyes. On our wedding day, he gripped my throat and hissed, “Aria, you’ll spend your whole life atoning for this!” I became Mrs. Grant in name only. In our first month of marriage, Henry crushed my family’s company, forcing my parents to move to low-income housing. In the second month, I lost my first child. Henry felt a twinge of guilt but quickly found another woman to vent his frustrations, complaining about my weak body. This is our third year, and I’ve been diagnosed with lymphoma. Years of emotional suppression and stress had taken their toll. By the time the illness found me, it was already in the late stages. Looking at the diagnosis report, I felt relieved. Death would finally bring peace, wouldn’t it? Coming out of the kitchen, Henry glanced at the three dishes and soup on the table with disdain. “Is this even edible?” I remained silent, taking a bite of each dish to show him it was fine. But a sudden wave of nausea made me cover my mouth and rush to the bathroom, throwing up everything. The pain was excruciating, and my nose started to itch. Seeing the blood in the toilet, I felt dizzy. By the time I cleaned up and came out, they had already gone upstairs. This was Henry’s new girlfriend for the month, bearing a striking resemblance to Zoe. Who would have thought that it was Zoe’s family who drugged me that night? The intended target wasn’t Henry, but Zoe’s brother. Somehow, they entered the wrong room, though Henry never believed me. Taking a deep breath, I went upstairs. Laughter echoed from the master bedroom. Not wanting to disturb them, but running out of time, I had no choice but to knock. A furious shout came from inside: “Get lost!” I flinched but persisted. Henry finally snapped, flinging the door open with a menacing look in his eyes. Behind him on the king-sized bed, the woman wore only revealing lingerie, looking seductive. “Aria, do you have a death wish?” Henry snarled. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. “Would you be sad if I died?” “You’d be better off dead! If there’s nothing else, get out of here!” I blocked the door. “There is something. Once you sign this, I’ll leave.” I handed him the divorce papers I had prepared. He barely glanced at them before throwing them back at me. The sharp edge of the paper cut my eyebrow, making me wince in pain. “Want a divorce? Keep dreaming! You haven’t finished atoning for your sins!” “Since you won’t leave, come in and watch!” He yanked me inside. Right in front of me, he tore off the woman’s last shred of modesty and started kissing her passionately. I turned away, feeling my insides churning violently. Unable to hold back any longer, I doubled over and vomited again. Henry’s brow furrowed, his actions coming to an abrupt halt. Before he could explode in anger, I covered my mouth and ran out. The salty, metallic taste in my mouth was becoming hard to disguise. If he had been more attentive, he would have noticed the blood seeping through my fingers. A loud crash from behind made me quicken my pace. Back in my room, I cleaned myself up, took my medication, and lay down. I messaged the doctor, asking to increase the dosage—I was losing control. Just as I sent it, the door was kicked open. Henry stormed in, yanking off my covers and pinning me down. “You started this fire, now you put it out!” he growled, pressing me hard against the bed. I gasped in pain. “Henry, you’re disgusting!” “Disgusting? I’ll show you what’s really disgusting!”

He was ruthless. I bit my lip, my whole body feeling like it was being torn apart. Henry seemed to notice my discomfort and coldly said, “Don’t like it?” “Henry, let go. I need to throw up.” Henry’s face darkened, his dark eyes filled with anger. Just as he was about to speak, I couldn’t hold back anymore and turned my head, vomiting again. The acidic bile made Henry recoil in disgust. He cursed, quickly getting up and slamming the door as he left. As air rushed back into my lungs, I let out a long breath. I got up and went to the bathroom, but couldn’t bring anything else up. After cleaning up, the room still reeked. I threw away the bedsheets and moved to the guest room to lie down. Pain crept in bit by bit. Henry’s face loomed large before me, and then everything went black. When I came to, I was in the hospital. The smell of disinfectant brought me back to reality. “I…” I tried to speak. “You’re awake? That’s great! I’ll go get the doctor!” The young nurse excitedly went to call the doctor. I rubbed my temples, wondering who had brought me here. It couldn’t have been Henry, and there was no one else at home. As I pondered, the doctor came in. Charles nodded at me. “It’s good you’re awake. I called you but got no answer, so I went to your house. I heard a loud thud inside, thankfully I called the police, or we might have been arranging your funeral by now.” I finally understood—it was him. “How did you know where I live?” Charles smiled. “Don’t forget, I’m your attending physician. Your address is in your file, and I needed to do follow-ups. When there was no response to the follow-up, I went to check on you. Luckily, I made it in time.” I couldn’t help but smile, touched that someone cared so much about me in my final moments. “Thank you.” “Don’t mention it. By the way, I notified your family. Henry Grant, your husband, right?” “What?!” I was shocked. If he knew I was here… Never mind, it doesn’t matter now. I don’t have many days left anyway. I lay in bed as Charles examined me, then said solemnly, “What would you like to eat? I’ll go buy it.” “Anything is fine. I don’t have much of an appetite anyway.” It was early morning, and my stomach was empty, but I didn’t feel hungry at all. Charles left, and Henry came in shortly after. Seeing me lying in bed, his anger dissipated, replaced by shock. “Aria, how… how did you end up like this?” I opened my eyes groggily, seeing Henry standing before me. I managed a smile. “You’re here.” Henry’s face was full of horror. “You… you’re really sick?” “Yes. Henry, let’s get divorced.”

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