After a decade as Adam Carter’s secret lover, I was still just a plaything to him. He only spent nights at my place, rushing back to his wife at dawn. I thought his devotion to me was genuine, until I smashed a wine bottle over his wife’s head and he went berserk. With one slap, he extinguished the last shred of conscience I had. Adam Carter, are you ready to face our revenge? Adam Carter slapped me hard across the face. The force of the blow made my head spin and my ears ring as I stumbled sideways. I steadied myself against the wall and slowly sank to the floor. Something glinted as it fell – the earrings I had just bought yesterday. But the man who had lovingly put them on me was now frantically embracing Zoe, checking her injuries with concern. Watching Adam’s nauseating display of false affection, I almost laughed out loud. He and Zoe had been married for ten years. I had also been his secret lover for ten years. For a decade, he catered to my every whim and showered me with affection. His only request was that I not interfere with his wife Zoe. Not only did I ignore his wishes, I deliberately provoked Zoe by smashing a wine bottle over her head. Crimson liquid trickled down her face. Zoe wasn’t particularly attractive and had a meek personality. Even after being assaulted, she just stood there helplessly. It wasn’t until Adam rushed in and embraced her that she timidly spoke up. “Adam, who is she?” Adam glanced back at me huddled in the corner, his expression dark. “Just some crazy woman.” The side of my face that he had slapped began to burn. I silently watched as he led Zoe out the door. When he bent his head towards her, the tenderness in his expression made him look like the perfect husband. I felt utterly pathetic. After they had gone, I finally picked myself up off the floor. But as soon as I stepped outside, I saw a figure standing around the corner. Adam had always been handsome and charismatic, the center of attention since childhood. No wonder Zoe and I were both so captivated by him. He walked towards me, his features coming into focus in the dim hallway. Looming over me, he leaned down for a kiss. His lips tasted of roses – Zoe’s favorite perfume. Suddenly nauseous, I pushed him away. How could he do this? One moment tenderly comforting his trembling wife, the next passionately kissing his lover. “Stop it,” he said. Adam was never good at sweet talk. The countless times we argued, he would just flatly say the same thing: “Ava, stop making a fuss.” But I wasn’t his obedient wife who followed his every command. I was the seductress who had thrown herself at him. It all started when I was truly desperate, flinging myself onto his car on a cold, rainy night to seduce him. I knew he had just gotten engaged to the wealthy Chen family’s daughter. His own net worth was over 100 million. As I lay on the freezing ground, I was still calculating how much money I could extort from him when I heard the car door open. Designer shoes splashed through puddles, the water droplets glittering like tiny crowns. For some reason, I started laughing. It took me a while to look up and see Adam standing there with an umbrella. After that night, I had two jobs – officially Adam’s assistant, but really his mistress. Adam was skilled in bed and extremely generous. In the past, I could barely make $800 in three months of work. Now Adam would casually hand me over $20,000. But after being his mistress for ten years, he still treated me like a cheap whore. Adam only spent nights at my place. Before dawn, he would get dressed and rush back to his home with Zoe. He said he needed to make breakfast for Zoe. The housekeeper’s cooking didn’t agree with her stomach, so she wouldn’t eat and would get stomach pains. Without fail, every single time. Even though I knew Adam was probably just keeping up appearances for the business partnership with the Chen family, he still insisted on making Zoe breakfast. Even after Adam had completely taken over Chen Corp, he still persisted in making breakfast for Zoe. I could no longer deceive myself.

I’ve gone crazy, pretended to be sick, thrown tantrums – nothing could stop him from returning to Zoe’s side. He would only say to me, “Ava, stop making a fuss.” Then he would lean down to kiss me before rushing off like the wind. Back at home, the unfinished wine still sat on the table. The sweet aroma of alcohol hung in the air as Adam took off his coat and went to the kitchen to get some ice to press against my face. “Aren’t you going to comfort your wife?” I asked, staring at his long eyelashes as he bent over me, feigning nonchalance. “She’s much more obedient than you.” The words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat. The warm yellow lamplight enveloped us as I listened to his breathing, suddenly feeling empty inside. Ten years. I had devoted ten years of my time and energy to Adam Carter, thinking it would soften his heart. But his heart remained as cold and hard as ever. “Let’s break up,” I said. His hand on my cheek paused for a moment as he looked at me steadily. I hated that expression of his the most – aloof and callous. In an instant, it transported me back to that stormy night thirteen years ago. My body started trembling uncontrollably. I shook off his hand and turned away, hiding my vulnerability in the shadows. Adam just thought I was having another outburst. He was used to me threatening to break up whenever I was upset, only to be appeased with some money. So easy to placate. That night, Adam still slept at my place. He held me close as he slept soundly, moonlight flowing like the tide over his hair. His brows, his eyes – I had gazed at them for ten full years, each time etching them into my memory with a hatred that cut to the bone. A faint vibration interrupted my thoughts. Adam’s phone lit up, displaying just one word on the screen: “Nian”. “Hello?” I answered the call. The urgent tone on the other end suddenly fell silent. After a long pause, Zoe’s trembling voice came through. “Is…is this Ava? Is Adam there? Can you ask him to take the phone? I…I think I’m having a miscarriage…” I turned back towards Adam, at a loss for words, and met his still slightly dazed gaze. When he finally registered what Zoe had said, his expression changed. He snatched the phone from me, his voice barely containing his anger – directed at me. “Why did you answer the phone?! Haven’t you upset her enough already?” His grip on my wrist was so tight it felt like he would crush the bone. I trembled, feeling the blood in my heart run cold. I watched him hurriedly throw on his clothes and rush out the door, his face etched with anxiety that seared my vision. I collapsed onto the floor, letting out a bitter laugh as I looked down at the angry red marks on my wrist. I remembered my first miscarriage. I had also made a phone call then, forcing Adam to come back from the villa where he was cooking for Zoe. I had been even more ruthless back then, sitting calmly on the sofa as I watched the pool of blood spread. Only when it was certain the baby couldn’t be saved did I finally call Adam. The anxiety on his face when he arrived was identical to just now. As if he had divided his love equally between Zoe and me. But how can one heart love two people? He was false and pretentious, unable to let go of either Zoe or me. I felt exhausted and cold. I curled up on the carpet and fell asleep until the sky began to lighten, but there was still no sign of movement outside the door. Adam wouldn’t be coming back. I sat in our spacious home, looking around, and realized for the first time how many traces of Adam there were. The mugs on the kitchen island – we had picked them out together as a couple. Adam had scoffed at such childish things, but still used the silly cartoon rabbit mug to drink alcohol. In the fridge, half was filled with his liquor, half with my calcium milk drinks. He had mocked my habit, but would silently restock the milk each time. And the wall of perfumes he had collected for me, the ring designs he had personally sketched… My phone lit up as the long-awaited message finally arrived. It was a photo from Zoe. Adam’s handsome profile was buried in the snow-white bedding, one hand tightly gripping Zoe’s pale, slender fingers. The smile on her face was gentle and serene as she gazed directly at me through the screen. “I told Adam you scared me into miscarrying.”

Children had always been a sore spot for Adam. He found them troublesome, but couldn’t do without one. After all, his business empire needed a legitimate heir. Adam was the typical rich second generation. Spoiled by his family since childhood, he excelled at smoking, fighting, and racing cars. It wasn’t until he got into trouble and his family had to cover it up that he finally cleaned up his act and took over the family business. But Adam had a younger half-brother from his stepmother, ten years his junior, who was about to come of age and take on responsibilities. The two were at odds, destined for a fight to the death. Adam’s father favored his younger son and had always been strict with his eldest. As luck would have it, several major business partners withdrew their investments at this time. Adam was overwhelmed, barely able to come home once in a while after working late into the night. Seeing his son’s career setbacks, Adam’s father began gradually handing over control of the company to his younger son. Adam fought this for a long time before his father finally relented slightly. He could have the company, but Adam needed to produce an heir first. After all, he was already in his mid-thirties with no children, inevitably raising doubts about whether Adam had some hidden condition. If that were the case, the company would naturally go to his brother, who would inherit after Adam’s death anyway. I had miscarried once a year ago. And now Zoe, who I had just hit over the head with a wine bottle, had been frightened into miscarrying. The heavens were not on Adam’s side. I almost wanted to applaud. I thought Adam would stay at the hospital with Zoe for a long time, but he called me very soon. “Come to the hospital,” he said. His tone was so cold it seemed to seep through the phone. I carefully applied my makeup and walked to the hospital room in high heels, only to be hit in the face with a heavy medical chart as soon as I entered. “Apologize,” Adam commanded. He stood imposingly by the hospital bed, his gaze ice cold. Zoe leaned against the bed, her small face pale as paper, her eyes glimmering with laughter. This wasn’t the first time I had seen Zoe. Before smashing the wine bottle over her head, before I knew Adam had a wife, I had hidden in corners many times, watching her like a voyeur. She liked to wear cream-colored sweaters, gently taking Adam’s suit jacket. She loved rose-scented perfume, subtle and elegant. When Adam held me at night, the rich scent of roses would envelop me. She enjoyed doing small crafts. Adam still wore the red string bracelet she had made on his wrist. Adam was covered in traces of her. This woman asserted her dominance without a sound. I tried to deliberately ignore these things, but they only became more glaring. Especially when Adam stood beside her. I clutched my stomach where the medical chart had struck me, meeting Adam’s warning glare. …I couldn’t fight back. I wasn’t ready to openly defy Adam yet, so I could only swallow my pride and apologize to Zoe. “I’m sorry, Miss Chen. I was wrong.” Hearing me give in, Adam also relaxed. He turned and took Zoe’s hand, his face full of tender caution. “It’s my fault. You focus on getting better. I’ll end things with her. From now on, we’ll have a good life together.” A faint smile bloomed on Zoe’s pale face. Like a delicate white flower swaying in the wind. I rolled my eyes, but she immediately caught it. “Adam, can you ask her to leave?” Adam obeyed her every word. I don’t know where she got such charm. “Go outside…handle some company matters. Don’t disturb me unless it’s important.” Adam’s phone was tossed into my arms. I got up, limping towards the door. As I was leaving, I turned back and waved the phone at Zoe. She lifted her head from Adam’s embrace, her eyes curving into crescents. Silently signaling to me with her gaze. The corners of my mouth twitched upwards. — The plan had succeeded. [Cut-off point] Because Zoe had always been in poor health, this miscarriage took a severe toll on her already fragile body.

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It was a Sunday evening when I got a call from Lucas while having dinner. “Ava, I’m sorry. I cheated again.” I calmly put some vegetables into the pot and replied, “Buy me a car to apologize, and we’ll move on.” Lucas fell silent for a moment before dropping the bomb. “She’s pregnant.” I stopped eating and stared at the bubbling broth. “Oh, that won’t do. You’ll have to add an apartment too.” … After my face was registered for the lock of the 4,600 square foot penthouse downtown, the keys to a white Cullinan also arrived in my hands. Lucas, my fiancé, truly lived up to his reputation as the cream of the crop among the city’s second-generation rich. This time, his mistress was a stunning woman named Mia, who confronted me aggressively. “Break up with Lucas! He loves me!” “While you were sitting at home alone, we were kissing by the lake! He took me horseback riding and we made love passionately every night at the resort! That’s when the baby was conceived…” What a riveting love story. If I’d come across it on TikTok, I’d have given it a like. My gaze lowered to Mia’s slightly protruding belly beneath her heaving chest. I’d seen many mistresses before. But one coming to confront me while pregnant? That was rare. She was the second. The first was me. I looked at her, my expression unchanging. “Miss Mia, don’t get carried away. Lucas is young and likes to play. When he’s tired of someone and wants to get rid of them, he hands them over to me. You’ve entered the after-sales stage.” Lucas’s pinned post on Instagram was our engagement photo, and he always wore the Harry Winston wedding ring on his left middle finger. Anyone still throwing themselves at him would be treated as “asking for it.” “As for the authenticity of the child, I’ll take you for a paternity test tomorrow. Once we have the results, we can discuss compensation.” Mia slammed the table and stood up. “Ava, are you even human? You’re talking about me and my baby like we’re commodities.” I remained as calm as still water. “Being a mistress comes with its own treatment. Miss Mia, if you could reach Lucas and make him take responsibility, would you be sitting here for three hours waiting for me?” Mia’s expression faltered, and I delivered my final blow gently. “Coincidentally, Lucas always uses protection when he sleeps with others. I never give him condoms that are more than six months old, and I insist that he confirms the other person’s health status before sleeping with them. How strange that this time there was an accident?” Hearing this, Mia was not only shocked by the content of my words but also showed a moment of panic. Her fingers, gripping the cup, trembled and turned white. “Maybe… it was just bad luck…” Her voice trailed off, quickly swallowed by her cup. I smiled without speaking. Her phone rang. Suddenly, Mia’s gloomy face brightened. “I’m not afraid. You can check all you want. But I’m telling you, if the report shows it’s really Lucas’s child, you’ll have to step aside and break up with him!” My eyes darkened. This idiot Lucas really fell for it. Mia pressed her advantage. “Ava, if Lucas really loved you, he wouldn’t have slept with someone else. You’re so calm about his cheating, do you really love him?” I thought to myself, youth is beautiful, still believing in love. Adults are all about mutual benefits and satisfaction. I stood up, gathering my things to leave. “Since Miss Mia is determined to take my place, I wish you success. However, from now on, you won’t be dealing with me, but with William.” Hearing this name, Mia’s whole body tensed. “William… you’re going to hand me over to him?” William, the undefeated killer in the business world, was Lucas’s older brother and the most outstanding young CEO in the city. He doted on his playboy younger brother Lucas the most. Those who dared to scheme against his brother were always ruthlessly dealt with. Seeing Mia’s fear, I gave examples of William’s skillful methods of causing “accidental” bloodshed. Mia’s features crumpled as she protected her belly. After an internal struggle, she decisively grabbed me. “I choose to negotiate with you…” I wiped away her tears. “Alright. I’ll help you get the maximum financial compensation.”

After transferring the seven-figure compensation to Mia’s account, I received a message from Lucas. He invited me to a party tonight, saying there would be new people. I stood outside the private room for two minutes. Lucas was sitting in the corner of the sofa, his arm around his childhood friend Rachel as they played a game. When Rachel got tired, she clung to Lucas’s arm and whispered in his ear. Lucas smiled, gently pinching her cheek. The ambiguity was thick in the air. Someone like Mia had probably been forgotten long ago. Lucas’s philandering was like a powerful air conditioner that suddenly cuts off. A person who’s gentle to everyone is actually cruel to everyone. Fortunately, I was even more gently cruel than him. Just as Rachel was about to lean in closer to Lucas, I pushed open the door. Lucas’s face lit up with joy, and he immediately stood to greet me. Rachel’s face darkened, and she furiously tapped on her phone. “Ava, I’ve missed you so much. Thank you for your hard work. When we get home, I’ll make it up to you…” Lucas’s sweet talk came as naturally as breathing. I let it go in one ear and out the other, never taking it seriously. “It wasn’t hard. But in the future, you need to be more careful and avoid these accidents. I can help you keep things under control, so they won’t reach your parents’ ears.” I was always generous and considerate. No matter how many women Lucas flirted with outside, I never cried, made a scene, or acted out. I even took the initiative to clean up his messes. His friends were dying of envy. But I simply didn’t love him. Lucas led me to a secluded corner of the room. “Ava, let me introduce you to a new friend. He’s one of my brother’s business partners, and I’ve been asked to entertain him recently…” As the neon lights flashed by, they illuminated two faces from deep in my memory. My college first love and his affair partner. It took all my strength to clench my fists and not make a sound, but I still showed the biggest loss of composure in nearly three months. “Noah, did you see that? Ava’s expression just now was so ridiculous, still as stupid as ever…” Contemptuous, frivolous, malicious female voice. I once broke down and cried under such a voice. Now, it only took me two seconds. I took the initiative to raise my glass and greet them with a smile. “Hello, I’m Ava, Lucas’s fiancée.” Zoe, wearing a wine-red spaghetti strap dress, turned her head haughtily, disdainful of me. Instead, it was Noah, hidden in the darkness, who accepted my toast. His voice was low and bewitching. “Lucas is lucky to have such a good fiancée.” Compared to before, Noah had become more sophisticated and less cold. Lucas joked, “Brother Noah, are you envious? I can introduce you to some quality girls. Someone as outstanding as you doesn’t need to hang onto a crooked tree. Find someone you can show off…” A blatant insult to her face. Zoe finally realized and glared at Lucas. Lucas didn’t flinch, smiling softly and innocently. Zoe had miscalculated. Lucas might seem good-natured, but he was actually sharp-tongued, playing dumb to outwit others. Zoe had offended me, so he targeted her. The air froze. Noah smoothly mediated the situation. “Thanks for your kindness, Lucas, but I’m a man of singular taste. Once I’ve found someone I like, I don’t change easily.” “New clothes might be nice, but old friends are irreplaceable. The more people you meet, the more you miss the sincerity and companionship of your first love.” He seemed to be defending Zoe, but his gaze fell on my face. I turned away, pretending to look at my phone. Suddenly, there was a loud noise at the door. Usually, I deal with one mistress a month, but today I’ve encountered three in one day. The girl standing at the door with her arms crossed and glaring was Ella. Two months ago, I had seen her at Lucas’s friend’s rock climbing gym. That day, Lucas had complimented her a couple of times, and Ella had blushed, finding ways to talk to him. After lunch, Lucas told me he was going to the hotel next door to take a nap. Not long after, Ella disappeared too. I pretended not to see or hear anything. Rachel couldn’t find Lucas, so she asked me. I said I didn’t know. Rachel was frantic: “Ava, can’t you control him more?” I never controlled Lucas; in fact, I indulged him. Men can’t be controlled; the more you try, the more they resent you.

Tonight, Ella came in full force. I stood up, wearily going to meet her. “Miss Ella, if you have something to discuss, let’s go outside…” Ella, taller than me, took advantage of my attempt to reason and slapped me to the ground. “Ava, haven’t you overstayed your welcome in the Lucas family? I’ve done my research, you’re quite the gold-digger. You even seduced the boss of a finance company before, your reputation is in tatters, everyone wants you gone…” The crowd gasped, and discussions broke out. It was like having a bucket of ice water dumped on me in winter. My heart clenched, and the light in my eyes went out like a switch. That suffocating feeling of being overwhelmed came rushing back. Before I met Lucas, I had been struggling in that kind of darkness, lost and confused. Ella turned and changed her demeanor. She grabbed Lucas and pleaded earnestly. “Lucas, don’t be fooled by Ava, she’s no good. Her mother is just an ordinary worker from Xinjiang, and her father died fifteen years ago.” “She has neither background nor connections, but she’s beautiful. Women like her have no bottom line, they’ll do anything to climb up, using men as stepping stones.” “She’s only close to you for your family’s money. Break up with her…” Another one trying to force me out. But this time, she was going through Lucas. Before I could counterattack, Lucas laughed. He looked at Ella with curved eyes, but there was coldness deep within. “Miss Ella, have I offended you somehow? Why are you slandering my beloved fiancée?” Ella was stunned, suddenly feeling uneasy, and waved her hands repeatedly. She had underestimated my relationship with Lucas. I was the daughter-in-law recognized by the Lucas family, with interests aligned with Lucas. My face was his face. Ella’s foolish public exposure, her self-righteous good intentions, were actually trampling on his face. Lucas looked up at me, his lips silently forming two words. “Get up.” Behind Ella, I was already at arm’s length, my eyes bloodshot. Grabbing that flamboyant high ponytail, I directly hit her head with the bottle of Dom Pérignon in my hand. “Ah!” Ella screamed, followed by other girls screaming, mixed with Zoe’s cold laughter. “Don’t go over there.” Lucas sternly warned others not to move. “Can’t you see your sister-in-law is angry about being wrongly accused?” Sometimes, I felt Lucas and I were a perfect match. I unconditionally tolerated his philandering, and he stood by my side and defended me without limits. Ella panicked and was about to explain. I quickly stunned her with another bottle. Straddling Ella, I slapped her face one after another. “This is for spreading rumors about me, this is for making up stories, this is for repeatedly trying to ruin my relationship with Lucas…” Apart from Ella’s whimpers and the crisp sound of slaps, the room was silent. More than a dozen people looked at each other with complex expressions. Until someone abruptly applauded. “Bravo, bravo, Miss Ava is truly impressive, it’s quite an eye-opener…” I suddenly came to my senses and stopped my actions. The one applauding was Noah. He walked step by step into the light. Phoenix eyes, thin knife-like lips, a slightly aquiline nose. His mouth curved up, but his eyes were full of mockery. Every move exuded a dangerous aura. “I’m becoming more and more interested in Miss Ava…” Noah and I looked at each other across the space, separated by four years. After a long while, I was the first to look away. I forgot to manage my expression, leaving indifferently. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lucas following me. I deliberately waited a while at the elevator, but no one came. I laughed self-mockingly and pressed the elevator button to go down. I dialed William’s number; I wouldn’t turn to him unless absolutely necessary. “Hello, big brother, help me deal with someone named Ella.” “…Yes, I did delete everything back then, I don’t know where she dug up the dirt, she publicly exposed my affair with Jack…” Downstairs, I bought a milk tea to ease my anxiety. Behind me, a black G-Class drove up. Noah’s well-defined face was gradually revealed by the car window, which had tinted film on it. It wasn’t hard to imagine his purpose for the tinted windows. In the past, Noah and Zoe were like dry tinder, ready to ignite at any moment, and they had played in all sorts of places. While they were recklessly indulging, I was making soup for Noah and ironing his shirts. The man’s slender knuckles knocked on the car window: “Let me take you home.” I held back the nausea rising in my throat: “No need, Lucas will be down soon.” Noah pretended to think for a moment. “What a pity, Grace is very clingy, she won’t let Lucas come down easily tonight…” I was surprised. I had heard of Grace, she was a famous escort. Thinking back, she did seem to be in the private room earlier. So, Lucas’s footsteps were held back by her. In just a second, I reacted: “You arranged this?” Noah chuckled softly, getting out of the car himself to pull me. “Don’t worry, Grace has a clean health check report.” He came closer, I stepped back. I turned and ran back towards the building. Noah didn’t waste words, his large hand caught my waist and locked me in the car. ———- This is the breakpoint ———- Seeing the car drive out of the city center against my will, I was both anxious and angry, desperately calling Lucas.

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I was kidnapped. But my kidnapper turned out to be my future husband. So the question is, should I call for help first, or should I call him “honey” first? After my dad refused to pay the ransom. I could only weakly ask, “How about… I offer myself instead?” “Boss, this is the Winter’s kid!” a voice said as the blindfold was pulled off my head. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I began to assess my surroundings. It was clear that I had been kidnapped. But when I focused on my captor, I was shocked to realize it was my future husband! Well, a 10-year younger version of him. Liam Reeves frowned slightly as he got a clear look at my face. He turned to the chubby guy beside him and said, “Wasn’t the Winter’s kid supposed to be a boy? How did it turn into a girl?” “That boy was surrounded by bodyguards, it was too risky,” the chubby guy explained with a dejected look. “But I found out this girl is also Old Winter’s daughter!” Liam scrutinized me, bending down slightly to meet my eyes. “Little girl, we don’t want to hurt you. But your dad has gone too far. As long as he pays the ransom, we’ll let you go. Nod if you understand!” I nodded frantically! When the phone call connected… “I have your daughter Zoe. Prepare $500,000, or you know the consequences!” “Daddy, save me…” I cried pitifully and helplessly, following Liam’s instructions. My dad very decisively — hung up the phone. Liam, not giving up, called again. My dad was decisive once more: “No money. Take the girl if you want!” This behavior was so typical of my dad. Liam and I exchanged an awkward glance. I tentatively suggested, “How about… I offer myself instead?” Liam looked at me like he’d seen a ghost. The chubby guy laughed and said, “Sis, you’ve got guts!” What could I do? After all, he was my future husband. I had to pamper him.

Liam coldly ordered, “Lock her up!” So I was untied and locked in a room. From what I could tell, we were in the countryside, probably at Liam’s grandparents’ old house. I could even see some of his childhood photos. Who would have thought that my husband was so… adorable as a child. Although I was kidnapped, the fact that it was him made me not feel scared at all. I had just been reborn, so I might as well take this chance to rest and sort out my thoughts. I carelessly took off my shoes and socks and lay down on the bed. Liam and I had an arranged marriage, but that was ten years in the future. By then, Liam had become a renowned business tycoon, while the Winter family was in decline due to my father’s extravagance. For the sake of benefits, my dad decisively chose to sell his daughter for glory, and I was naturally the one being sold. Liam’s father had been driven to death by my dad, so I always felt that he married me only for revenge. But at that time, I had no choice but to agree to this marriage. After getting married, Liam and I maintained a cold and distant relationship, not interfering with each other’s lives, like strangers living under the same roof. It wasn’t until I was kidnapped by his business rival and he risked everything to save me that I finally saw his true feelings. After that, we broke down the barriers between us and began a sweet and passionate married life… Perhaps I had to experience being kidnapped once to truly become his wife?

“Wake up, wake up!” In my dream, the past and present intertwined. Looking at Liam, I instinctively grabbed his hand and softly whined, “Honey, I’m hungry.” Liam was once again stunned by my bold words. The chubby guy, on the other hand, couldn’t stop praising me, “Sis, you’re really something! You’re really getting into character!” Liam, somewhat irritated, frowned again and said to the chubby guy, “You, get out!” Then he coldly said to me, “Get up!” I got up reluctantly, taking my time to make the bed. I showed no signs of the fear a kidnapped person should have. Liam stood with his arms crossed, frowning as he looked at me, his eyes full of assessment. I looked up at him, full of obedience. “Don’t think you can get away with this kind of trick!” “Mm-hmm.” Please don’t let me get away. “Didn’t you say you were hungry? Come out and eat!” “Okay.” I gave him a sweet smile. Whether in the future or now, my husband is always so adorable.

The so-called meal was actually just two cups of instant noodles. Looking at the mushroom chicken flavor in front of me, I instantly felt full. Then I glanced at his beef flavor noodles… “I want yours.” “What right do you have to make demands as a hostage!” “You’re right, but I still want yours.” “Damn it,” Liam cursed. “I’ve already eaten from mine.” “I don’t mind!” “You…” Liam took a deep breath and reluctantly pushed his beef noodles towards me. I really dislike instant noodles, but I was indeed hungry, so I had to eat in small bites. Liam seemed unable to stand the way I ate and urged, “Hurry up and eat. Finish quickly and leave!” “Ah? That doesn’t seem right!” “What else then? You can’t be exchanged for money, what use is keeping you here — to steal my noodles?” I immediately put on a pitiful look and pushed the noodles in front of me towards him, “I’m not eating anymore.” “Damn it.” “You shouldn’t curse, you know.” “You dare lecture me!” I continued to act like a poor, helpless little thing. “This is ridiculous!” Liam cursed under his breath, but still pushed the noodles back to me, “Hurry up and eat.” I ate less than half a bowl before putting it down. Liam frowned as he looked at me. “I’m full…” “We’re in a poor rural area, this is all we have.” “Mm, I don’t mind.” I smiled at him and said, “But you should eat less instant noodles, it’s not good for your health.” After all, you’ll die of stomach cancer at a young age, leaving me a widow, which isn’t a good life. Thinking of that, I immediately realized I should urge my husband to eat well and have regular check-ups. I can’t let that tragedy happen again! Perhaps my concern was too obvious, as Liam seemed a bit uncomfortable. “Don’t you think you should act more like a hostage?” “Theoretically, I should, but you…” “What about me?” I looked at him with a coy expression: “I like you, you know!” “Clang!” Liam’s chopsticks fell, his expression shattered. Perhaps he had never seen such a bold hostage before, he seemed a bit scared.

Liam was a bit speechless, “What, hostage falling for the kidnapper, not following the usual script?” “I might have Stockholm syndrome.” “You actually know what that is!” “Wow, you’re so smart!” The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. “Um… I know you, we went to the same high school.” I blinked at Liam with starry eyes, trying hard to show my sincerity. Of course, I didn’t know all this information from the beginning, but discovered it when sorting through Liam’s things after we got married. It turned out he had been paying attention to me since I entered high school, silently protecting me. Later, when he insisted on marrying me, it was purely because he liked me. How could I miss out on such a good husband! Sure enough, a suspicious blush flashed across Liam’s face. Based on my understanding of my future husband, I continued to push forward. “I also know that time when I was being stalked by a creep, you helped chase him away, and then you kept secretly walking me home. I know everything you did.” I looked at my husband, who I had lost and found again, and poured out my heart: “Liam, I like you.” Liam looked very calm, but his reddening ears betrayed his emotions. He turned away strategically, coughed, and pretended to be indifferent, “Do you think it’s appropriate to say these things now?” “Why not?” Liam looked at my innocent face and sighed quietly. “I’ll take you back first thing tomorrow morning.” “Ah… but I don’t want to leave you. I haven’t seen you for so long since you went to college. How’s college? By the way, you haven’t dated anyone, right?” “Don’t you think you’re overstepping?” “Can’t I reasonably claim the rights of a secret admirer?” “Why are you so troublesome!” “You’re the one who kidnapped me and brought me here, you have to take responsibility!” “I…” “So that means I still have a chance, right?” “You…” Liam was suddenly rendered speechless by me. Of course I knew he hadn’t dated anyone, I just regretted not meeting him earlier in my previous life. Now that I’ve been reborn, I must cherish this opportunity! Perhaps the burning love in my eyes was too pure, Liam seemed unable to handle it. He put on a cold and heartless facade and pushed me into the bedroom, commanding, “Go in and stay there, don’t talk.” “Okay, honey!” “Don’t call me honey!” “Okay, future boyfriend.” Liam: Are young girls nowadays all this bold?

I had taken a nap after they brought me back in the afternoon, so now I was bursting with energy to the point of wanting to tear the house apart. Plus, with the person I’d been thinking about just outside the door, I was feeling restless. Although it might be a bit early to get intimate with my husband now, it didn’t seem entirely impossible. Thinking about our shameless married life before, how should I deal with this blushing and heart-pounding feeling! Although the mirror showed a high school student, the soul inside was actually that of a woman in her 30s. Especially after Liam passed away, I had been quite lonely and cold. Now I was at that age where I felt like a hungry wolf. No, no, I can’t get carried away! I patted my face to dispel these wild thoughts, and decisively decided to take a shower to cool down. Now that I’ve been reborn, I can’t let the previous tragedy happen again. ———-This is the breakpoint———- First was Liam’s dad. From what I knew, it was because my dad owed his family a large sum of money for a project that Liam’s father had a heart attack. He was now in the hospital waiting for surgery fees, money was a big issue.

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When I was seventeen, the boy I liked committed suicide. His blog was made public online. In millions of posts, his hidden sorrow and feelings for me became known to thousands. At the end, he wrote: “Only you can save me.” That night, I went back to the day we first met and hugged him. The usually aloof and proud boy fumbled: “Classmate, this isn’t appropriate, is it?” Zack died. I heard the news while squeezed in a crowded subway during rush hour. Next to me were two high school girls in uniforms, whispering to each other. I caught some fragments: Zack, sleeping pills, Chris remembered. These keywords connected together easily made me think of something unpleasant. There was a moment of ringing in my ears, and I turned my head to look at the two girls. Perhaps frightened by my blank stare, one girl hesitated: “Sister, do you like Zack too?” I was stunned by this question, nodded, and the girl immediately showed a sympathetic expression. “My condolences.” What a pity, only after you died did I have the chance to say I liked you in front of others. The topic of Zack’s suicide had already risen to number one. His good friend Chris made all the private posts on Zack’s blog public according to Zack’s last wishes. I scrolled through his blog posts one by one. He wrote about how painful it was in his creative process, how difficult it was to maintain his sharp edges in the entertainment industry. My heart seemed to feel the same pain. In these articles, he kept reminiscing about a person called ‘Lily’. What a coincidence, we have the same name. If I didn’t know that I had almost no contact with Zack during high school, I would have thought it was me. But when I saw the last post, my tears instantly dried on my face. “09/02/2014 Today, a classmate listened to my original song seriously. What a strong sense of achievement! I really want to hold a concert and sing just for her.” “I’m thinking, even if many people don’t understand me, what does it matter? As long as I’ve been treated seriously by one sincere gaze, I’m lucky.” “If there ever comes a day when I want to give up, only Lily can save me.” In an instant, the hundreds of articles with ‘Lily’ in them had an answer. ‘Lily’ was me. My heart started beating uncontrollably, but what followed was a deep sense of helplessness. If… if I had been a little braver back then, could I have saved him? The dead are gone, and the living still have to go to work tomorrow. I looked at the redness under my eyes in the mirror and sighed. Zack… I hope in your next life you can be an ordinary but happy child. That night, I dreamed of Zack. In the dream, the sky was orange-red like an oil painting. I stood on the playground, with unfamiliar classmates playing basketball in the distance. Everything was so familiar. Eight years ago… Just then, a guitar sound came from behind me, accompanied by a boy’s low singing. In an instant, I suddenly froze. This scene, I would never forget in my life. It was because I accidentally heard Zack’s original song that I started to have a crush on him. The voice from behind continued, and I turned around stiffly, staring at the boy in front of me. Zack was only seventeen at that time, his face still had baby fat, his hair fell on his forehead, and his eyes were pure. His temperament hadn’t yet developed the melancholy of his post-debut days. Sensing my burning gaze, he stopped. “Classmate…” He was about to say something when he suddenly stopped. My tears also instantly slid down my cheeks. Zack stood up, put everything else aside, and fumbled in his pants pocket to find a pack of tissues. “I don’t think I was singing a sad song, was I?” He handed them to me: “Or do you have something upsetting you?” From Zack’s personal diary, I knew that Zack had also fallen in love with me at first sight because of my appreciation for his music. I threw aside my former reserve and shyness, and suddenly hugged Zack’s waist without warning. “Zack… you’re still alive… that’s so good.” I said these words chokingly. Zack raised his hands the moment I hugged him. Behind us, many classmates started whistling teasingly. “Classmate, this isn’t appropriate, is it?” Zack’s ears turned red, and he stood stiffly, not daring to move. I let go, took out a jade pendant from my neck. This jade was given to me by my grandfather at a scenic spot when I was a child, saying it could bring safety. It had always been with me, and I indeed had been healthy and safe since childhood. Now I laid this jade in front of Zack. “It’s for you.” Since it could protect me, it could protect you too. After all, it was in my dream, I could do whatever I wanted. Zack’s ears turned red, a bit bewildered by my behavior. “This…” His clear eyes seemed to have a glimmer of water, his hand took it. “Thank you then…” He gripped my jade in his palm, tightening it. When he looked at me again, his gaze was a bit serious. “Classmate, have we met before?” I paused, shook my head, and tried hard to suppress the sourness in my heart to give him a smile. “Maybe, just seeing you, hearing your music, I felt a special sense of familiarity.” When I first met you, it was like reuniting with an old friend. My consciousness gradually recovered, and when my eyes opened, my face was cold. Indeed, dreaming of Zack still makes me sad. When I arrived at the company, the atmosphere was gloomy. As soon as I sat down, a colleague came over. “Have you seen Zack’s public blog?” My heart was suddenly pierced by a thorn, but I still nodded strongly. The colleague immediately opened up. “I didn’t expect Zack to have so many painful aspects inside.” “And, I didn’t expect such a handsome guy would have unrequited love.” “But that girl must have liked him too, right?” “Otherwise, how could she directly give Zack that jade pendant?” In an instant, my eyes suddenly widened, and even my breathing became heavy. “What did you just say?” As I said this, I opened Zack’s blog and turned to the last post. “A jade pendant?” The colleague’s words suddenly came out, and I also saw the content in Zack’s blog post that wasn’t there yesterday. “This girl suddenly cried when she saw me.” “She took off her jade pendant without saying a word, her neck instantly turned red.” “But when I asked for her name at the end, she ran away without saying a word.” But this… was what I did in my dream… “How is this possible?” I muttered to myself, and my colleague’s eyes showed a bit of confusion. “Didn’t you see the news? Zack was clutching this jade pendant when he died.” “But you have the same name as this girl, it’s really such a coincidence.” If I understand correctly. Last night’s dream really gave me a chance to save Zack. But why… did he still commit suicide? I was so uncomfortable at my workstation that I could hardly breathe, hating myself for not seizing the opportunity. Back home, after a simple wash, I fell into a dream again. This time, I must hold onto him. Today’s dream scene was on a dark path outside the school gate. It should have just missed the crowd after the evening self-study session, now there were very few people on the small path. I wonder which scene of me and Zack this is? Suddenly, I heard an angry shout from the alley beside. “Don’t touch my guitar.” In an instant, I had an impression. In the second year of high school, there was a nasty off-campus fight incident involving Zack. To say it was a fight, it was almost one-sided with him being beaten. The cause was that Zack accidentally discovered his classmate being extorted for protection money by boys from a vocational school. So he took his classmate away. Zack had quite a few brothers, so those people were wary of Zack and let him go at that time. Later, they found a few small-time thugs from society and took Zack to a small alley when school was over. I heard they smashed Zack’s guitar that he had used for a long time, and Zack was outnumbered. Afterwards, Zack bought a new one, but obviously, every time he played the guitar, his expression wasn’t as immersed. So, this was Zack. And at this moment, I was just a seventeen-year-old girl. I thought calmly, every time Mr. Harrison was on duty, he would stay in the office for a while after the evening self-study session. The school, now with only a few lonely lights, became my reassurance. I first hid to one side and called the police. Then I sent a message to Mr. Harrison: “Mr. Harrison, there are students from other schools extorting our school’s students at the school gate.” After sending the message, I stuck to the wall, covering my breath. Now in the alley was an oily voice. “Actually, we don’t have to touch this, but you have to apologize to my brother.” “Why should I?” A sound came from inside, as if someone had hit the wall with the guitar. “Don’t move!” Zack’s voice in the quiet alley was like a whimpering lion. ———-This is the breakpoint———- Even though I knew I should protect my own safety, I really couldn’t sit by and do nothing.

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At 28, I took a huge gamble on Nathan Quinn. Six years. I waited for him to graduate, supported his startup, watched him become a tech mogul showered with glory. At the celebration party, he sneered drunkenly, “Sophia Chen? Just an old woman.” Amidst the knowing laughter of the men, I calmly left. Late that night, I returned to the hotel where the party was held. My assistant asked groggily, “Ms. Chen, didn’t you go back to Sapphire City?” “On second thought, I’ll wait until the contract is finalized,” I replied coolly, not letting her detect the trembling and loss of control in my voice. A month later, the deal was done. Back at the company, everyone teased me for losing my edge. But using a month to lick the wounds of 6 years was already my limit. After the new product launch, the company expanded rapidly. Nathan also got a new secretary. She was a bright and lively young woman, very popular at the company. Through bits of gossip, I quickly learned her identity – Olivia Harper, daughter of the CEO of Harper Industries. “Can I call you Sophie? I heard you started as Nathan’s secretary too. Please teach me!” she said cheerfully. Hah, if only she knew I was much more than just a secretary. The girl’s smile was dazzling, almost blinding. My gaze grew distant. “Sophia Chen? Just an old woman.” The words echoed in my mind like a curse. Nathan came over and patted my shoulder, frowning slightly. “What’s wrong, Sophia? Too tired from the business trip? Go home and rest.” “Hmph, you must be exploiting Sophie too much,” Olivia pouted, playfully punching Nathan’s arm. “Mind your manners,” Nathan chuckled, flicking her forehead. Their easy intimacy made my 6 years of companionship seem like a joke. It was as if I was the one who didn’t belong.

Coming out of the restroom, I found Olivia waiting by the sinks. I turned on the faucet. Her voice and the sound of running water mingled. “Nathan’s agreed to date me. He doesn’t want to hold you back anymore.” Hold me back? When Nathan and I first met, he used to hold me and say that often. He hadn’t said it out loud in nearly two years. Hearing it from Olivia’s mouth was certainly novel. “Let him tell me himself,” I said, turning to leave. The girl quickly moved to block my path, eyebrows raised high. “Sophia Chen, don’t be obtuse. You’re 6 years older than him, almost 40. Do you really think you’re still good enough for Nathan?” “Miss Harper, you seem quite knowledgeable. Surely you’re above using age as an argument,” I replied. “You’re all washed up but still acting tough. If 6 years ago you had—” I laughed, looking into the girl’s bright eyes: “If 6 years ago I had followed the normal path of marriage, I might be divorced with kids by now.” “Or a nagging housewife begging my husband for money.” “Now I have a successful career and enjoyed Nathan’s most vibrant 6 years.” “Miss Harper, toughness isn’t about words.” Olivia’s eyes widened, at a loss for words. I gently pushed past her and walked away. I don’t deny her youthful vitality. But she shouldn’t presume to challenge my composure and calm. At my age, grace is etched into a woman’s bones. Still. Nathan Quinn, oh Nathan Quinn. If you want to break up, why go through this charade? Didn’t we agree that even if we parted, we’d give each other dignity? I am a gambler, true. But I have no regrets about my bet, and I’ll bear the consequences. I thought you understood that.

Nathan’s business engagements grew more and more frequent. He didn’t even react when I moved back to my small apartment. Perhaps he truly didn’t know. Or maybe he just didn’t care. It seems waiting for him to come talk to me is unlikely. I returned to our home, still dark and empty. After asking around, none of our colleagues knew Nathan’s whereabouts. I made some inquiries and finally learned he had gone to a dinner organized by Olivia. It made sense – newly successful, he was eager to join high society circles and expand his network. Olivia was the perfect secretary to give him the best entry ticket. I pushed open the door to the private room. The pulsing music and interweaving lights inside made me catch my breath. A group of young men and women were dancing, singing, playing drinking games, shouting. It was absolute chaos. Olivia and Nathan were dirty dancing on a small stage, with the crowd below cheering and clapping. Nathan saw me first. He stopped, rubbed his nose awkwardly, looking quite uncomfortable. “Sophia, you’re not asleep?” He waved at me, then quickly smiled as if nothing was wrong. “Hey Quinn, who’s that? Your girlfriend? Doesn’t look like it. Don’t tell me it’s your housekeeper,” one of the men jeered drunkenly. There was clear malice in his tone. I instinctively looked at Nathan. His hand was on Olivia’s shoulder, but his eyes looking at me were unfocused. Dark and deep. In the end, he didn’t speak up to clarify my identity. Olivia clung to his arm, tilting her head to look at me. “Sophie, women over 30 really shouldn’t stay up late. It’s hard to recover the next day. Nathan will be home soon.” With that, she waited expectantly for my reaction. I just smiled and calmly looked at Nathan. “It’s the weekend tomorrow. You’ll be home, right?” “Mm,” he grunted in response. I nodded and turned to leave without hesitation. The moment the door closed, I immediately heard Olivia’s disgruntled voice. “Ugh, what an act. I really hate that high-and-mighty attitude of hers.” “Nathan Quinn, is that your type? You have strange taste. What were you thinking?” someone loudly chimed in. “Oh please, Nathan just feels obligated to her. If I were Sophia Chen I would’ve left long ago. I don’t know what she’s thinking, coming here to embarrass herself!” Having been shut down by me last time, the young girl was eager to get back at me. That competitive spirit was truly laughable. But walking down the dim hallway of the club, I paused to look at my reflection in the mirror on the wall. It vaguely showed my face – no cracks, no grimaces, no shame or anger. Just a hint of disappointment amidst the calm. I was disappointed. Nathan had become a stranger to me. No longer the fresh-faced smile, no longer the familiar gaze. He had gained the worldliness and reticence of a mature man. I glanced back at the private room one last time. He still hadn’t come out. He had probably truly forgotten that today was our 6th anniversary. I had hoped to part ways amicably today, while also secretly wishing for a chance to reconcile. Perhaps Olivia was right – I was being stubborn after all. What did 6 years matter? When a woman clings to old sentiments rather than dreaming of a beautiful future, It already says everything, doesn’t it?

On Sunday, I went to our home as agreed, carrying a large suitcase. But it was Olivia who opened the door. With a victorious attitude. Nathan was in the kitchen wearing an apron, cooking breakfast. The aroma filled the house. “We knew you were coming, so Nathan and I went grocery shopping early. Look, are these the dishes you like?” Olivia pointed at the table. But I was scrutinizing her, trying to decipher the deeper meaning in her words. Wearing pajamas, her clothes from last night in a pile, cartoon slippers, early morning grocery shopping. All these details unmistakably revealed: They had slept together last night, and it wasn’t the first time. Though I had expected it, my heart still ached uncontrollably. Nathan had finally taken that step. And despite knowing I was coming over, he flaunted his new relationship in the home we had shared for 6 years. He was determined not to give us a chance to talk privately. I set down my suitcase and asked directly, “Nathan Quinn, I know our accounts are complex, but this isn’t necessary. What, are you afraid I’ll eat you alive?” He didn’t used to be like this. Once bold and unstoppable. Now all that remained was weighing pros and cons. He frowned, looking displeased. “Sophia, when did you become so confrontational and petty? Olivia drank too much last night and was afraid of getting scolded by her dad if she went home, so she crashed here.” I took a deep breath and said calmly, “Fine. We need to talk. Is Miss Harper sober now?” Olivia looked shocked, pointing at herself. “Are you kicking me out?” I didn’t speak, just looked at Nathan. “Let’s eat first. There’s too much for just us,” Nathan finally suggested as a compromise. “I won’t! It’s just a breakup, what’s there to discuss? Sophia Chen, what are you trying to do?” Olivia angrily spoke first. She turned and plopped down on the sofa in a huff. “I really don’t understand. Why make this so complicated? Sophia, couldn’t you just pack up and leave quietly? Why create trouble for us?” “I swear, is this what all you older women are like? Pretending to be calm while clinging on endlessly. If you want something, just say it outright!” Nathan’s face darkened. “Enough!” he snapped. “You’re yelling at me? What’s enough? Look at what she’s doing! If you can’t handle losing, don’t play! You’re just taking advantage of his guilt! When will this ever end?!” Olivia seemed to have a belly full of grievances to vent. Her voice was loud and shrill, her eyes reddened. She glared defiantly at Nathan with wide eyes. Youth is wonderful – even anger and scolding seem like displays of affection. From our first meeting, her fighting spirit has been strong. Again and again she launches fierce attacks against me. I almost started to doubt if I truly was being unreasonable and annoying. I crouched down to gather some old items from the coffee table, speaking calmly. “Miss Harper, it’s been 6 years. I want to say a proper goodbye to Nathan, to settle things. I don’t think that’s unnecessary.” “Hmph, still pretending. I know exactly what you’re up to,” she scoffed. I smiled slightly. “Even with pets, there are feelings. When they die, I would bury them and hold a ceremony.” “Sophia!” Nathan yelled angrily, coming over to grab my hand. I continued, “I may not be a qualified current partner, but I’m certainly a qualified ex. It’s better to speak face-to-face and clear things up. You wouldn’t want Nathan and I to keep entangling endlessly, would you?” Olivia’s expression fluctuated as she looked at us, finally biting her lip and sitting down reluctantly. “Fine! I hope you keep your word!” Fighting back the sourness in my heart, I began going through things with Nathan point by point to draw clear boundaries. From emotions to belongings to financial interests, from company shares down to a single sock, I made detailed and clear divisions. Cutting off all excuses for either of us to look back. Ever since he said those words – “just an old woman” – I had been going through our 6 years of memories one by one in this unfamiliar city, severing each tie. Just waiting for this day to face Nathan. Back then I was willing to risk everything for Nathan Quinn. Now I can also cut my losses and set sail anew. I looked calmly at Nathan. “I suppose I should say that for 6 years, I’ve been preparing at every moment. Nathan, I should thank you for never lulling me into complacency.” “Sophia Chen, you—!” Nathan exploded in anger, grabbing me roughly and even raising his fist. Olivia also looked at me in shock. I stood my ground against Nathan, not giving an inch. But in a hidden corner of my heart, a storm was raging. I won’t bow my head, I won’t submit, I won’t act like someone who’s been abandoned. That’s the only dignity I have left after choosing to be a gambler! I knew deep down that I didn’t have the courage to try again. Nor did I have the capital to cling on endlessly. Leaving gracefully was the most perfect ending I could give to this relationship. As for the guilt that Olivia kept emphasizing Nathan felt towards me, hah. I really don’t need it. Accompanying Nathan to where he is today won’t change because I shed a few more tears or showed a bit more reluctance to part. I let out a soft snort and pushed Nathan away, going to the bathroom to gather my toiletries. I had already moved the larger items like clothes and shoes back to my small apartment. The furniture and decor I had added to the home I had already had the moving company take away. These small items were just my last excuse to come back. Now I didn’t need that anymore. The bathroom door suddenly closed and Nathan barged in, holding me tightly. He whispered in my ear, “Sophia, do you really have to leave?” The smell of alcohol on him made me uncomfortable. I turned my head away, using my elbow to keep distance between us. “No need to feel guilty. The company shares will let me live very comfortably for the rest of my life.” “Six years, though we didn’t reach our destination, I’m still free. I’m still grateful that you rescued me from arranged dates back then.” Nathan tried to say something but I covered his mouth. He looked at me dejectedly, finally saying, “Alright, it’s my fault. I’ll attend the dinner with your parents as we agreed. I won’t make things difficult for you.” I stared at him steadily. How could he say that with such a tone of bestowing grace? “Nathan, you no longer have the right to sit at my family’s dinner table.” I swept the cosmetics off the counter with a clatter and turned to leave. “Then how will you explain to your parents? Wait for me, okay Sophia?” He grabbed me reluctantly, his tone meaningful. But I just found it laughable. In our 6 years together, he had never said “wait for me.” Now that he’s successful and famous, he asks me to wait for him. “I’ve already left my resignation letter on your desk. Let me know soon whether you’ll pay out my dividends or buy me out.” That elaborate meal ended up going cold and uneaten. Just like my relationship with Nathan Quinn. All that effort to prepare, and in the end we didn’t even get to enjoy it. Going downstairs, I realized it was pouring outside. Thunder and lightning raged.

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My father made a will. Whoever between my brother and me has a child first would inherit his entire estate. So I secretly poked holes in all the condoms. But unexpectedly, my boyfriend had been secretly replacing my vitamins with birth control pills. Yet I still got pregnant. Only the child isn’t his, and he doesn’t know. My brother and I don’t have much of a relationship. He’s ten years older than me. Because my father was a womanizer, my mother took the money and ran after giving birth to me. My father dumped me on my brother, who in turn dumped me on a nanny. Even when he saw me covered in bruises, he would just pretend not to notice. As for my father, he was rarely home. But after this unexpected addition to the family, he became extra cautious, always careful not to leave any more children behind. I later learned that was because my brother had threatened to throw any more kids my father brought home into the river. My brother always kept his word. As he got older, his intimidation only grew stronger. Sometimes even my father was afraid of him. Recently, my father was diagnosed with kidney disease. This man who had lived a life of debauchery suddenly wanted a grandchild. So he told my brother and me: “Whoever has a child first before I die will inherit my entire estate.” My brother is now thirty-four, already the youngest and most successful CEO in the city. And my father’s assets are probably at least ten times his. My brother isn’t married, but he has many mistresses. I only have one boyfriend.

My brother has better odds than me. I can only get pregnant myself, while he can cast a wide net. My only advantage over him is time. Using the excuse of feeling unwell, I dragged my boyfriend Liam to the hospital and got a full body check-up. As I expected, he was very healthy, with high sperm motility. After all, his stamina was terrifyingly good. As for me, due to long-term lack of exercise, my immune system was weak, so I was prescribed some vitamins. I didn’t plan on telling Liam about wanting a child. He had always been very careful with protection. When I tentatively asked if he was afraid of me getting pregnant, he weighed the pros and cons for a long time. “Aria, my career is on the rise right now. If you have a child at this time, I won’t have enough energy to take care of you.” “Also,” he hugged me and kissed the top of my head, “I want to wait until we’re married and settled down before having a baby.” Liam has a kind of charm that makes everything he says seem sincere. But this also makes him very stubborn. If I told him the truth about the situation, he would definitely drag me to get married right away. Then I’d have no way out. If Liam couldn’t do it, I wouldn’t be able to find someone else. This inheritance would be like handing it over to my brother on a silver platter. That’s impossible. Even if the chances are slim, I have to fight for it. Liam, no matter how hard he works, could never earn half of my father’s assets in his lifetime. The family business, passed down for generations, combined with my father’s business acumen, has expanded overseas. But he’s selfish, never giving my brother or me any advantages. He didn’t even give my brother a penny to start his business. He also knows my brother doesn’t like me. I reasonably suspect that this inheritance competition is just his way of keeping my brother in check. No matter how much he stirs things up, he shouldn’t think about riding roughshod over him. “What are you thinking about so intently?” Liam came out of the shower, his hair half-dried and falling over his forehead. He was wearing thin lounge pants, shirtless, making me feel a bit hot and bothered. Liam smiled and pinched my face, touching his nose to mine. “Thinking about it?” I swallowed hard. Actually, I wasn’t very enthusiastic about doing this. On the contrary, it was Liam who, no matter how busy, wanted to do it at least four times a week. So, how could I inconspicuously increase the frequency on this basis? I wrapped my arms around Liam’s neck, pulling him to the bed, closing my eyes to kiss him. As my hand went to pull at his pants, Liam buried his face in my neck and chuckled softly. “Why so passionate tonight?” He looked up at me. Somehow, I couldn’t see any humor in his eyes. But before I could think too much about it, he reached out and grabbed a condom from the drawer. He flipped me over, my back to him. Hearing the rustling sounds, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Every time I looked into Liam’s eyes, I always felt like he could see right through my little schemes.

The next day at work, I was reporting my brother’s schedule to him. After I finished, he stared at me with an enigmatic smile. “Working hard for the inheritance, aren’t you?” Liam had gone crazy last night, leaving a lot of marks on my neck. Even with concealer, they were still visible up close. “Aren’t you too, brother?” I retorted. He had left work early yesterday to visit his mistress. We weren’t in a secret battle, but an open competition. It’s just that my brother was much more capable than me, having his own big company. I could only be pushed in by my father to be his assistant. “Never thought about trying other men? You trust your boyfriend that much?” “He’s younger than you, brother. You should take better care of yourself.” My brother raised an eyebrow but didn’t get angry. “Good luck to you.” As I was leaving his office, he knocked on the table behind me. “Aria, at five in the afternoon, go pick up Raven.” Raven, a famous model. My brother’s most beloved mistress, with an incredibly hot body. “Understood, Mr. Milo,” I nodded. When I picked up Raven, she greeted me with a warm hug. The first time we met, she thought I was my brother’s new flame. After looking me up and down for a while, she sneered disdainfully: “He likes the innocent type now?” “Can you satisfy him?” Just as she finished speaking, my brother appeared from behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist, his face full of adoration. “What nonsense are you talking about? This is my sister.” Raven didn’t quite believe it, thinking it was an excuse he made up: “Didn’t you say your mother only had you?” “Same father, different mother. My dad brought her back from outside.” “I originally wanted to throw her in the river, but she clung to my legs crying pitifully, so I kept her.” My brother wasn’t lying. When I first came home, he did try to get rid of me by picking me up to throw me away. I cried my eyes out, snot and tears everywhere. So later, no matter how the nanny tormented me, my brother wouldn’t stand up for me. Raven had been with my brother the longest. Later, as she said, my brother did find someone more innocent. She made a fuss for a while, but my brother became increasingly outrageous, having flings wherever he went on business trips, just like our father. Then they broke up, and recently when Raven’s runway video came out, it caused a sensation. My brother watched it for a long time, then went to find Raven every day, coaxing her back. I think Raven must really like him to be able to forgive all that. But this time when we met, the feeling seemed a bit different. After getting in the car, Raven asked flatly, “Where’s Milo?” “He has a meeting, so he sent me to pick you up.” My brother had bought Raven a villa. Raven just made a sound of acknowledgment and fell silent. It wasn’t until I dropped her off that she looked at me, smiling calmly. “Your brother said he wants to have a child with me.” I blinked, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “What do you think about that?” She touched her stomach, “Do you think if I have a child, he’ll settle down?” “Raven, what if he’s saying the same thing to other women?” I didn’t believe for a second that my brother would only pin his hopes on Raven. Raven unbuckled her seatbelt and patted my head. “Aria, I want to believe him one more time.” “He said this time, I’ll be the only one by his side.”

I have to say, my brother really knows how to put on an act. He had me send away all his mistresses except Raven, giving them money, houses, and cars. So when Raven asked me, I could only grit my teeth and nod. I asked her, “Is my brother going to marry you?” Raven was taken aback: “I don’t know, maybe if we have a child, he will. I feel like he’s really looking forward to it.” I watched her smile happily, feeling a bit sorry for her. Wanting a child was true, but marrying her? I didn’t think my brother, with his habitual philandering, would settle down so easily. Sure enough, within a week, my brother had taken on two new girls. There was one he particularly liked, even younger than me, with an air of innocence about her. My brother didn’t hide it from me. Every time, he had me pick them up and take them to his place. His excuse to appease Raven was also very appropriate – the company was expanding its business, so he was genuinely busy. Sometimes, he had me bring the girls directly to the company. My brother wasn’t afraid I would tell on him. Because Liam was his leverage against me. My brother could easily get rid of Liam if he wanted to. The one he particularly liked was called Ivy. Completely different from Raven, with a sweet and innocent look, fair skin, easily embarrassed. My brother dumped all his work on me, leaving me no free time. He himself took advantage of lunch breaks to shut himself in the rest room with the young girl. Hearing those ambiguous sounds, my blood rushed straight to my head. After work, I drove straight to Liam’s company. Seeing me, he was a bit shocked: “Why are you here?” Liam had been avoiding me lately. He even used the excuse of working overtime to not come home. I secretly wondered if I had been too forward. But seeing my brother carrying on like that, I felt inexplicably wronged. I wondered if Liam also had someone else outside. My eyes stung, and tears started to fall. He hurriedly hugged me: “What’s wrong? Did your brother bully you again?” I wiped my tears on his shirt: “Why haven’t you been coming home these past few days?” His voice was gentle: “I’ve been too busy.” “I’m sorry, I’ll come back every day from now on.” Liam’s eyes were full of heartache. I kissed his lips, and he stiffened, grabbing my hands. “Aria, this is the office.” I bit his Adam’s apple, hearing him groan. The kisses continued downward. I slowly unbuttoned his shirt: “Liam, don’t you miss me?” “I do,” his voice was hoarse. He closed his eyes then opened them again. Just as he was about to lose control, he turned his face away with difficulty. “There are no condoms here.” I fumbled around on his body, not caring: “I’m on the pill.” Liam’s breathing grew heavier, his kisses becoming more intense. He still didn’t do it. He patiently took very good care of me instead. When I woke up again, the office was dark, with only light coming in from outside the window.

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After an arranged marriage for business reasons, I suddenly had a 4-and-a-half-year-old son. Before meeting him, I was bitter and resentful. I imagined a “miserable” future where my husband would ignore me and my stepson would pretend I didn’t exist. But the moment I saw that adorable little boy clutching my shirt and timidly calling me “Mommy,” I surrendered instantly. I even asked my husband, “If we divorce, can I keep our son?” My husband: “???” When the company ran into trouble, my father didn’t hesitate to arrange my marriage to a business tycoon who already had a son. Surprisingly, I was perfectly fine with it. After all, I was a firm believer in staying single. If he already had a son, I wouldn’t have to worry about having children in the future. Plus, the guy was a workaholic who never had time for his kid. The boy was mostly taken care of by a nanny. I figured I could just coast through life from now on. My husband was a big-shot CEO, and I wouldn’t even have to raise the kid. The wedding was a small, quiet affair with few guests. Of course, I didn’t see the child there either. True to his workaholic nature, my new husband headed straight to the office as soon as the ceremony was over. As he left, he tossed over his shoulder, “I’ll be busy at work for the next few days. Sam’s already at home. Get to know him when you get back.” Sam Quinn. That was my stepson’s name. After my parents’ divorce, my relationship with my father had grown distant. I didn’t take much from home when I left, just a necklace pendant, and that was it. “Mrs. Quinn, young Master Sam is waiting for you in the living room,” the housekeeper informed me cheerfully as soon as I stepped through the door. Hmm… already trying to assert dominance, huh? Well, bring it on! I can handle whatever a kid throws at me. But… Who was this adorable little dumpling sitting on the sofa?! So tiny! So cute! So soft! While I was still gawking, the little munchkin toddled over to me. In his sweet, baby voice, he said: “Miss… West, this is… a gift… for you… from Sam.” It was a pink teddy bear. Even though the stuffed animal was bigger than him, he was still trying his best to offer it to me. Despite this being our first meeting, he was incredibly friendly towards me. I was so touched that I quickly took the teddy bear and crouched down to hold his chubby little hands. “Wow! Thank you, sweetie! I love it! Your name is Sam, right? I’m your new mom. No need to be so formal, we’re family now. You can call me Mom if you’d like.” Gosh! He’s so adorable! I just want to hug him! This precious boy – my good-for-nothing husband doesn’t deserve him! Neglecting my son like this, how cruel! That’s right, from now on, he’s my own son! The little dumpling seemed surprised by my words. His tiny body trembled slightly, and his fair face turned bright red. He clutched at the hem of his shirt and timidly called out: “M-mom?” After saying it, he shyly lowered his head, stealing glances at me from time to time. Oh my goodness! Forget about the dad, the son is all mine now!! I cleared my throat and gave a serious “Mm-hmm.” Then I turned to the housekeeper who had been standing nearby and said, “I’ll take care of the child from here. You can go about your business.” “Very well, Mrs. Quinn.” This feeling was absolutely amazing! Suppressing my inner excitement, I tried to act nonchalant as I gently picked up the little dumpling. Then, with one arm holding Sam and the other clutching the teddy bear, I headed upstairs. I’d been here a few times before the wedding, so I was familiar with the general layout of this six-story mansion, complete with three elevators and two small gardens. The decor was impressively grand, befitting a tycoon’s home. I brought Sam to the room Nicholas had prepared for me and placed the teddy bear next to the pillow. “Sam, I’m sorry I didn’t prepare a gift for you, but this necklace pendant is very important to me. Would you like to keep it safe for Mom?” “I’ll look at it every day,” he promised solemnly. I put it around his neck, and he looked delighted. “How about you sleep with Mom tonight, and then tomorrow I’ll take you to preschool? Is that okay?” I asked, keeping my voice soft and gentle. If my best friend could see me being this sweet, she’d probably think I was possessed. “Okay,” came another soft reply. He’s just too cute. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice the momentary stiffness that crossed the little dumpling’s adorable face. That night… “…and so the little fox and his mother lived happily ever after.” After finishing the story, I glanced down at the sleeping Sam and quietly set the book aside. Just then… my phone started ringing. I nearly dropped it in surprise and quickly hung up. Hearing Sam’s steady breathing, I breathed a sigh of relief. I tiptoed out of the room and only called back once I was sure Sam couldn’t hear me. “Olivia West, did you just hang up on me?!” the woman on the other end of the line shouted indignantly. “I was putting my son to bed. Besides, it’s my wedding night, for crying out loud. Why are you calling so late?” I replied, exasperated. “Oh, please. Everyone knows your husband isn’t even home. He went straight to the office after the wedding.” “Wait, what did you just say? Son? Since when do you have a son?” The person on the phone sounded shocked. I frowned slightly, “My husband’s son, but he’s my son now too.” It’s normal that she didn’t know; I only found out myself when I was told about the marriage to Nicholas. Nicholas had kept the child’s existence very private. But now the news about the child was public. “And keep your voice down, will you?” I added. “I thought you didn’t like kids. I know you’re alone on your wedding night, so I called to comfort you,” Sophia said bluntly. How was I supposed to know Sam would be so adorable? Though I thought this, I didn’t say it out loud. “What’s up?” I asked instead. “You have to come to the class reunion this Saturday. That little miss perfect is going to be there too. Remember! Dress to impress and show her up!” I could tell from her tone how angry Sophia was; her expression was probably just as ugly. I couldn’t help but chuckle, trying to comfort her, “Come on, it’s been years. I’ve long forgotten about all that stuff.” She just snorted, not saying anything more. We chatted briefly before hanging up. I stood by the fifth-floor window, staring at the sky and daydreaming. Suddenly, I remembered the summer after high school graduation. In high school, Sophia, Chloe, and I were really close friends. At a dinner party after the college entrance exams, the most popular guy in school suddenly confessed to me. Everyone was egging us on, making a big scene. I was annoyed and rejected him outright. What I didn’t know was that Chloe had liked him for a long time and had been pursuing him privately. Because of my rejection, the guy, feeling spiteful, immediately got together with Chloe. People said she only got to be with him because of me. That’s how our relationship started to sour. I thought we’d never see each other again after starting college. But to my surprise, even though we weren’t at the same university, she still spread rumors about me, seemingly determined to make my life miserable. However, she and the popular guy didn’t last long; he ended up cheating on her. I heard Chloe would be at the class reunion on Saturday too. “Argh! So annoying!” I ruffled my hair in frustration. But then again… It’s been such a long time; maybe she’s forgotten all about it. Thinking this, I relaxed a bit. For the next few days, I stayed home with Sam. Apart from dropping him off and picking him up from preschool, I worked on my design sketches. I’m a fashion designer for a well-known brand, and I wasn’t about to give up my career just because I got married. That would be too boring! Lately, because of Sam, I’ve been bursting with inspiration. It would be a waste of my talent not to design! On Saturday morning, I watched Sam quietly playing with his building blocks, a smile blooming on my face. But then I thought about the people I’d have to deal with in the afternoon and couldn’t help but sigh. Why was I going to a class reunion instead of a parent-teacher conference? Noticing my mood change, Sam looked at me worriedly. “Mom, are you sad?” I gently pinched his chubby little cheeks and said, “Mom has to go to a party this afternoon. Can Sam play at home by himself?” After spending these few days together, Sam had grown much closer to me. “Can Sam go too? Sam will be very good,” he promised. Thinking about Chloe being there, I refused. The light in his bright eyes dimmed immediately, “Okay, Sam will wait for Mom at home.” Oh no, here comes the guilt. It wouldn’t hurt to bring Sam along, right? I’d keep an eye on him. If I left him home alone, wouldn’t I be just like his dad? “You can come, Sam. Do you want to go with Mom?” I asked. “Yes~” Seeing his eyes light up again, I breathed a sigh of relief. But why did I feel like I’d just been played? The reunion was held in a private room. When we arrived, it had already started. “Isn’t that Olivia? Why so late? Come on in, we’ve been waiting for you!” As soon as we entered, we were noticed. So much for quietly staying in a corner. I smiled and greeted everyone, then saw Sophia waving at me. I took Sam’s hand and walked over. At this point, everyone else stopped what they were doing. “Olivia’s here. And this child is…?” someone asked. I sat down and lifted Sam onto my lap. Noticing the bottles of alcohol on the table, I frowned slightly. “My son,” I replied. Then I turned to a nearby waiter and asked softly, “Do you have any drinks suitable for children?” “Yes, of course.” After getting Sam settled, I looked at Sophia, “Wipe that look off your face. You’re scaring my son.” Sophia grinned, “Your son is so cute. Does he need a godmother?” She looked suspiciously mischievous. “Get lost,” I said, giving her a disgusted look. Then we started eating and chatting. Soon, a strong whiff of perfume wafted over. The next moment, Sam sneezed. At the same time, a familiar voice rang out, “Olivia, I heard you recently married a man with a child. Are you that desperate? Don’t tell me you’re…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but I knew what she meant. “Chloe Zimmerman, who are you trying to provoke with that passive-aggressive tone!” Sophia’s temper flared up instantly, and she glared at Chloe angrily. Chloe covered her mouth in mock surprise: “Oh, I’m so sorry. Did I hit a sore spot?” I moved aside a bit, covering Sam’s nose, and said coldly: “Chloe, you’d better stay away from us. Can’t you see my son is choking on your smell?” “You!” Her face turned ugly. Then, as if remembering something, she pointed at Sam. “Is this your twice-divorced husband’s child? Little boy, do you really think she likes you? Wait until she has her own child, then you’ll see her true colors!” Her vicious expression was extremely unpleasant. Sam turned and burrowed into my arms. I thought he was scared, which made me furious. I sneered, “Chloe! What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you were coming with your new boyfriend? Oh my! Don’t tell me he cheated on you too?” “Seriously, you’re so pretty. How could anyone not like you?” “He… he just had something to come up today!” Seeing her face turn black as thunder, I knew I’d hit the nail on the head, and I felt instantly better. I waved goodbye to Sophia and picked up Sam to leave. “Well, I’ve made my appearance at the reunion. I have other things to do, so I’m leaving now.” Finally got a chance to attend a reunion, and it gets ruined. I should probably avoid these in the future. As I carried Sam out, I didn’t notice him coldly glancing at the motionless Chloe, then staring intently at my belly. On the way home, Sam didn’t say a word. I thought Chloe’s words had scared him and was about to comfort him when I saw him point his little finger at my belly and say, “Mom.” “What is it, Sam?” After a pause, he asked curiously: “Why will a baby appear in your tummy later?” I was charmed by his innocent question, “Babies grow in their mommies’ tummies, then they’re born, and slowly they grow as big as you.” But it’s not easy to explain this to a small child. “Oh,” he said, wearing a serious expression. I couldn’t help but laugh. Kids are just too adorable. When we got home, I saw an unexpected face. “Why are you back?” I asked. Nicholas looked at me strangely: “This is my home.” Me: “…” I miscalculated. Sam happily ran over to him: “Dad!” I was a bit surprised to see how skillfully Nicholas picked up the child. I had thought a man like him wouldn’t be good at these things.

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I blew my cover in the eighth month of my one-year contract marriage to the CEO. While Ethan Gray was working out shirtless, glistening with sweat, I got distracted by his sculpted body. Absent-mindedly cleaning the floor, I casually tossed something in my way onto the couch. The next second, Ethan’s eyes widened in shock, time stood still, and I froze in horror. Holy crap! I had just tossed a 90-pound barbell! With one hand! My left hand! 0 Ethan Gray had been away on a business trip for over two weeks and finally returned home. Well, “home” might not be the right word – this luxurious mansion in Crescent Bay was just one of many properties he owned. The only difference was that I – his wife in name only – lived here. At that moment, he was working out in the gym, drenched in sweat. I had deliberately changed into a white dress and was slowly wiping the floor with a cloth. He glanced at me and frowned, “You don’t need to do this.” “It’s okay,” I smiled softly, lowering my head slightly. The angle of my lowered head and falling strands of hair were all carefully designed to appear delicate and lovable. “I’m too weak, so doing some housework is like exercise for me.” Since the sugar daddy rarely came home, I had to make sure he saw how hardworking and diligent I was, especially considering the $20,000 he paid me each month! Hearing my explanation, he didn’t try to dissuade me further. “Do as you wish, then.” He continued exercising while I diligently cleaned the floor. Perhaps it was too hot from the workout, so he took off his shirt. From an angle he couldn’t see, my eyes instantly bulged like saucers. That muscular upper body, with well-defined lines and muscles, sweat dripping from his neck down to his chest, abs, and those irresistible V-lines… Ahem… I shook off the inappropriate thoughts and casually tossed something on the floor onto the couch. Wait a minute! What did I just throw?! I snapped back to reality and saw what I had tossed onto the couch. My pupils dilated in shock. Holy crap! I had just tossed a 90-pound barbell! With one hand! My left hand! I was done for. My vision went black, and I don’t know how long it took before I mechanically turned my head to meet Ethan Gray’s dumbfounded face. He looked at me, then at the barbell, then back at the barbell, and finally back at me, his expression bewildered. I forced out a dry laugh, “When did the gym buy foam barbells? I’ll throw it away!” As I said this, I was about to move it. “Don’t move!” Ethan stopped me, walking over with a cold smile. “Do you think I’m blind?” He reached out with his long, strong hand and gripped the bar. Taking a deep breath, he flexed his arm muscles and lifted… But it didn’t budge… Ethan’s face darkened as he stared at me with those piercing eyes. “90 pounds, one-handed. Well done, Zoey!” I wanted to cry but had no tears. My mind raced, but my mouth moved faster than my brain. “Well, is there a possibility that… you’re just not strong enough?” What am I saying?! “No, that’s not what I meant. Let me explain…” He took a step closer, and I retreated a step, suddenly sitting on the couch. He placed his hand on the sofa, trapping me in his arms. His handsome face was cold, his thin lips barely moving, his tone seductive and ambiguous. “Whether I’m strong enough or not, you can find out for yourself.” Me: “…” Where did he learn such a cliché line? I was so embarrassed that my toes curled. He took another step closer, his hot breath on my neck. I could almost see my reflection in his pupils. Goosebumps broke out all over my body. I held back, and held back again, but finally couldn’t resist. I bent my knee, raised my leg, and used all my strength. I kicked him three meters away… “Mr. Gray!” I rushed over to help him, panicking. “Zoey!” Ethan roared in anger, clutching his stomach in pain. I swear I didn’t mean to! It was just a reflex, I swear!!! 0

Ten minutes later, Ethan was lying on the couch, and I was nervously applying ointment to him, my hands as gentle as if I were touching a cloud. Although I didn’t understand why I had to apply it to his stomach, a place he could easily reach himself. But! Looking at those well-defined abs and that smooth, tempting skin, oh my, I could rub it all night without sleep! “Put some strength into it! You need to massage out the bruise. Where’s that strength you used to kick me?” Ethan said with his eyes closed. I couldn’t help but increase the pressure. “This is my stomach, not a washboard. Why are you using so much force!” Ethan yelled again. Too light wasn’t okay, too heavy wasn’t okay either. I got angry too, “Do it yourself then!” Who does he think has no temper? He looked at me straight in the eye, expressionless, and uttered two words, “Dock pay.” “No, no, no!” I immediately put on a smile, “I’ll rub it properly. If it’s really not good enough, I’ll go take a class to learn.” Anything but docking my pay, that’s the bottom line! “Hmph.” He snorted lightly, “Come back to the family house for dinner tomorrow.” “Okay!” My eyes lit up. Originally, Ethan Gray wanted to find someone for a fake marriage to avoid his family’s pressure to get married. I signed a contract with him to pretend to be his wife for a year, with a monthly payment of $20,000. If I had to go back to the family house to deal with his family, there would be an additional bonus. $20,000 was not a small amount, but who wouldn’t want more money, right? To explain how this pie fell into my lap, we need to go back to eight months ago. It was a beautiful sunny day. I was crouching by the roadside, crying my heart out. At that moment, a shiny luxury car stopped in front of me. Ethan Gray, dressed impeccably, got out of the car and gracefully handed me a handkerchief. “Why are you crying?” I sobbed, tears rolling down like broken strings of pearls, “I’m out of money… wah wah wah…” Ethan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said, “I have a job here that pays you $20,000 a month. Want to do it?” “Yes!” I agreed almost without thinking. Ethan smiled, “You’re not going to ask what the job is? Aren’t you afraid I might be a bad person?” I glanced at his car and said softly, “Are there bad people who drive Rolls-Royces?” Then, not forgetting to flatter him, I added, “There probably aren’t bad people who look this good either, right?” In reality, I had sized him up and determined that his build posed no danger to me. No one dislikes hearing compliments. He smiled even more happily, “Very well, come with me.” I hopped into the luxury car, hit by this huge pie, and signed the contract. Later, I asked him why he chose me. Ethan recalled for a while and said, “That day, I had never seen a girl cry so heartbrokenly. You were crouching there, small and vulnerable, looking so fragile that it made people want to protect you.” Fragile meant easy to manipulate, and wanting to protect meant approachable, very suitable. I pondered for a long time and finally understood. CEO × Damsel in Distress, isn’t that a fixed pairing? So, I began to diligently play the role of a fragile flower. Of course, I didn’t dare tell Ethan that the reason I was crying so heartbrokenly that day was because I had beaten up a pervert who was harassing me. He had two broken ribs, and I was bankrupt from the compensation. Ethan kept his promise. Not only did he transfer the money on time every month, but he also let me live in his four-story villa. In just four months, when the contract ended, I would be able to run away happily with the money. Everything was going well, if only I hadn’t lifted that barbell today. 0 “August 20th.” I took a marker and drew an ‘X’ on today’s date. The circled date was the day I first met Ethan, and also… the day when the one-year contract would end.

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The Night Before Divorce Jack begged me for one last time together. I agreed, and we had a passionate night. But the next morning, as I looked down at the extra flesh between my legs, I screamed: “Ah—Jack Bennett! We’re screwed!” Our souls had somehow switched bodies! At that moment, Jack was staring at me with lust-filled eyes in my body. “It’s okay, worst case… we can do it again, maybe that’ll switch us back,” he said. The nerve of him! He had left bruises all over my body last night! And now he has the audacity to suggest doing it again? Besides, it was my first time as a man. I had no idea how to “get the job done.” Furious, I got up from the bed and slapped myself hard twice. It hurt. This wasn’t a dream! “Aria, why don’t we call off the divorce?” Jack tentatively asked. “No way!” I shouted. “You’re dead to me. I don’t want a cheating man!” After getting dressed, I went to the living room. Jack’s mom – my mother-in-law – saw me and said, “Son, you’re up! What about her?” She nodded towards the bedroom. “Still sleeping in as usual! It’s the last day, you two divorcing is for the best! Mom will find you a better girl!” My deteriorating relationship with Jack was largely due to his mom’s meddling! I snapped back irritably, “Let her sleep! What’s she got to do anyway? Are you paying her?” I was usually respectful to my mother-in-law. I had no idea she constantly badmouthed me behind my back. Mrs. Bennett’s face darkened. She jabbed my arm, “What’s gotten into you today? The girl I found for you is a hundred times better than her! Don’t be sad! Out with the old, in with the new!” Just then, Jack shuffled out in slippers. It was my first time seeing myself from someone else’s perspective. I had to admit, my face was quite alluring from this angle. “Shameless hussy!” my mother-in-law muttered under her breath. “Mom, is breakfast ready? We’ve got things to do after eating!” Jack plopped down in his usual seat, just like always. That set Mrs. Bennett off. She marched over to Jack, hands on hips. “Aria! Get up! Is that your seat? You useless woman! The Bennett family must have sinned in our past lives to be stuck with you! No breakfast for you today!” Well, the gloves were completely off now. She had always schemed against me, but at least maintained a veneer of civility before. Now she was openly hurling insults. Jack was stunned by his mother’s outburst. “Mom, no matter what, I’m still your daugh… I mean, daughter-in-law. That’s going too far!” “Aria, come here. I’ll feed you…” I beckoned to Jack. He hesitated, then shot his mother a glare before walking over. Mrs. Bennett didn’t dare stop me. She blustered, “You’re divorcing today! Why are you still coddling her? I’m telling you Jack, you’re too soft!” “Mom, eat if you want. If not, go out. I don’t want to hear all this chatter. Go gossip with Mrs. Johnson next door!” I frowned, pointing at the door. Mrs. Bennett cursed me for being ungrateful, but had no choice but to leave. Jack didn’t know what to say. He obediently sat down as I fed him breakfast. This wasn’t some cute couple’s ritual. He was using my body now, so I had to take care of myself.

We arrived at the registry office. The clerk gave us each a form to fill out. Suddenly Jack started crying, kneeling and clutching my sleeve. “Honey, I was wrong! Please give me a chance to explain! Let’s start over!” “Our souls and bodies are so perfectly matched! Why do you want to divorce me?” “Please don’t divorce me, honey~” Back in college, I was the campus beauty queen. This face could really turn on the waterworks. Several men came over, unable to bear the scene. “Hey man! Your wife is so pretty, and she knows she was wrong. Just forgive her!” “Yeah! If my wife looked like that, I wouldn’t divorce her even if she cheated on me!” “Come on beautiful, looks like your husband’s heart has softened. Get up and go home!” I wasn’t softening! I was just embarrassed! With him saying those things with my face, it made it seem like I was the one at fault! Without a word, I got up and left the registry office. “Jack, what the hell are you doing?! We agreed on the divorce!” I hissed. Jack sniffled, “I never agreed… Besides, we can’t just divorce like this now, can we?” He squeezed the two plump mounds on his chest. He had a point. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in this jerk’s body either. Jack finished groping himself, then came over and put his delicate hand on my belt. “Why don’t we… try again… Maybe it’ll work, then we can divorce after, okay?” I shoved him away. “No way!” But that night, I ate my words.

Back home, Mrs. Bennett saw us return together and her face immediately soured. “Why are you back?!” she snapped. Jack smiled sheepishly, tugging on Mrs. Bennett’s arm. “Mom, Jack’s not divorcing me. Looks like you’re stuck with me!” Mrs. Bennett nearly choked, coughing for a while before jabbing her finger at me. “Son, have you no backbone?! She’s the one who wanted the divorce! Now she says no and you just go along with it?! How did I raise such a spineless son!” I went over and put my arm around Jack’s shoulders. “Mom, I’ll have Mrs. Johnson’s son drive you back to the countryside tomorrow. Go keep Dad company. Let us newlyweds have some alone time!” Jack looked up at me, eyes rimmed with red. After much “persuasion” from Jack and me, Mrs. Bennett reluctantly packed her bags to return to her hometown.

That night, Jack dragged me to take a bubble bath together, even showing me how to wash his body. I realized there were a lot of areas men needed to pay attention to. But I hadn’t forgiven him. I was just doing this to learn how to “get the job done.” Once we finished, I could get back to my own body… Jack even put on the sexy lingerie he had bought for me years ago, his voluptuous figure on full display… “Honey~” Jack bit his lip, gazing at me seductively. But I just felt nauseous. Wasn’t this basically me doing myself? The mental barrier was hard to overcome. Jack had no such qualms. He took my hand, running it over his body, making my breathing quicken. He was guiding me just like before. I didn’t have to do much work, just enjoying the sensations. Until I woke up the next morning, feeling sticky and sore in certain places. I jolted awake in shock, hurriedly sitting up. Damn it, I was still in Jack’s body! Jack stirred awake too, barely opening his eyes. “Didn’t switch back? We’ll try harder next time…” Next time my ass! I smacked his smooth white back, instantly leaving a red handprint. He just rolled over, two adorable “bunnies” bouncing before my eyes. No wonder Jack always loved playing with them before. They were so soft and bouncy… Jack smiled, tugging my arm. “Aria, now you’ll never leave me~” I remembered his betrayal and angrily shook him off. “Don’t say that. Get up, you took yesterday off. You want to skip work again today?” Jack stood up stark naked, his milky skin glowing with a rosy tint… Damn, I never realized I was this beautiful before! My current body started reacting uncontrollably, my breathing growing rapid. Jack recklessly walked over, stroking my collarbone. “Honey… admit it, you’re captivated by your own body too.” I covered up my hardening lower region, cursing under my breath. “No wonder men always think with their lower half! Get your ass to work! Until we divorce, you’re obligated to support me!” But Jack just smirked. “Aria, you’re me now. You’re the one who has to support me~” Oh crap, that’s right! I’m Jack now, don’t I have to go to work in his place?! Jack was the company’s general manager. I had been a stay-at-home trophy wife ever since marrying him. If I don’t go to work, Jack might get fired. Then we’d both be out on the streets! Jack looked at me mischievously. “How about you wear a Bluetooth earpiece and I’ll guide you through it?” I nodded vigorously. That settled it! So I put on a suit and tie, all dressed up as I headed out. Before leaving, Jack gave me a passionate French kiss… And made plans for more “practice” that night. I looked at my own face gazing at me lovingly. Not wanting to be a smelly man forever, I stiffly nodded. Entering the company, I took the executive elevator as Jack instructed. But as soon as I got in, I saw the last person I wanted to see!

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Liam Anderson and I grew up together, and I’ve had a crush on him for ten years. I always thought that if I gave it enough time, he would eventually notice me. That is, until Liam’s birthday, when he showed up holding hands with my best friend. They kissed in front of everyone’s congratulations. Then Liam said that to him, I was just a convenient maid. Liam has always been incredibly handsome, so he’s had a constant stream of admirers and relationships since we were young. I was the only one who stayed by his side all this time. I always thought I was special to him, carefully hiding my feelings while following his every word. Liam’s friends often joked, “Liam, you’ve got yourself a loyal little sidekick.” Liam never denied it. This year, Liam turned twenty-four. One day, after he sobered up from drowning his sorrows over a breakup, I was cooking in the kitchen when Liam came up behind me and patted my head. “Amber, what would I do without you? I’d probably starve to death, right?” “You know what, maybe we should just get together,” he said casually. His offhand comment nearly stopped my heart. I froze, unable to speak. But Liam laughed first. “Just kidding. You’re not really my type.” I shooed Liam out and continued cooking alone in the kitchen. His two sentences had lifted me up, only to shatter me moments later. When I finished cooking, I left. Liam lazily said goodbye, “Come back soon, Amber.” I didn’t answer, practically fleeing from his place. When I got home, my college roommate Rachel was there, calling me over to eat some strawberries. Looking at Rachel sitting on the couch in just her pajamas, bare-faced yet still breathtakingly beautiful, I couldn’t help but feel dejected. If I were that pretty, maybe Liam would like me. Of course, Liam has always been attracted to beautiful, glamorous, dazzling girls. And me? I’m plain and ordinary, like one of the countless stars in the sky – people probably couldn’t even remember my name if they tried. Seeing me lost in thought, Rachel pinched my cheek. “What are you spacing out for? You’ve been acting weird since you came back from seeing your crush today.” “Did you two have a fight?” Rachel knew I had liked someone for a long time, so she occasionally teased me about it. I shook my head. “What crush? We’re just friends. Don’t make stuff up.” “Oh, come on. If you like him, just admit it. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. If you like him, go confess. If he doesn’t like you back, at least you can move on instead of torturing yourself like this.” She was right, but it was hard for me to do. After all, I had liked him for ten years. But this time, I silently told myself that this would be the last time. If it didn’t work out, I’d give up. On my birthday, I invited Liam out for dinner. But I didn’t expect him to come to my rented apartment while I was out. Liam and Rachel ran into each other. They chatted briefly, but to me, they looked like a perfect match – the handsome guy and the beautiful girl. I dug my nails into my palms, telling myself it was nothing. After Rachel left, Liam excitedly bumped my shoulder with his. “Wow, Amber! I can’t believe you never told me you had such a gorgeous friend.” “You never asked,” I replied. It’s true. He never cared about my studies, my life, or my friends. It was always me chasing after him. “Hey, give me her SnapChat. I’ll treat you to something nice,” he said. I shook my head, forcing myself to say, “She doesn’t like guys like you.” “Oh, come on. Just give it to me.” In the end, I gave it to him. But I thought that since Rachel had known me for so long and knew I liked Liam, she wouldn’t agree to go out with him. After that, Liam occasionally came to my rented apartment. He and Rachel didn’t talk much, and they didn’t seem very close, which put my mind at ease. I was planning to confess to Liam at his birthday party a month later. If it didn’t work out, I’d give up. But I was sure it would work. After all this time, he must have noticed me by now. I prepared for a long time, deciding what to wear to the birthday party and even revising my confession speech more than a dozen times. However, I failed to notice Rachel’s increasingly frequent late nights out and the happy smile on her face. On Liam’s birthday, he invited many friends. I wore a beautiful long dress for the occasion. Before I left, Rachel gave me a strange look.

She said something odd, too. “Why are you dressing up so fancy for his birthday? People might think it’s a proposal or something.” I heard a hint of mockery in her words, but when I turned to look at her, she was just staring at her phone. When I arrived at the private room, Liam wasn’t there yet. I knew Liam’s friends, and they sat next to me, teasing, “Amber, you’re all dressed up today. Are you going to confess to Liam?” “Good luck! If it works out, you have to treat us all to drinks!” “Sure,” I agreed with a smile. Liam arrived half an hour later. Everyone was pushing me, ready to shove me in front of Liam as soon as he opened the door. But we didn’t expect him to appear holding Rachel’s hand. The hands pushing me suddenly stopped. The atmosphere instantly became awkward. I stood there holding a bouquet of flowers, completely out of place. Rachel spoke first, “Liam, look at the flowers Amber bought for you. Thank her.” Liam tightened his grip on Rachel’s hand. “You’re so generous.” Then he turned to me and said perfunctorily, “Thanks, Amber.” For the rest of the time, I hid in a corner, staring at my out-of-place dress and feeling utterly foolish. So, the feelings that all his friends knew about – how could he not have known? So, because I wasn’t pretty enough, I was destined not to win his affection, but Rachel, whom he had only known for a short time, could. The couch beside me dipped as Rachel sat down. There was a smile on her face that didn’t reach her eyes as she apologized to me, “I’m sorry, Amber. I didn’t tell you we were together.” “But you can’t control these things. You should face reality.” I looked at her, shocked. I never expected Rachel, whom I’d known for years, to be like this. She dismissed my confusion with disdain. “Don’t you get it? He likes pretty girls.” I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t argue. For the rest of the evening, Liam blew out his candles and then hugged and kissed Rachel under the lights. At that moment, I decided I didn’t want to like Liam anymore, and I didn’t want to be friends with Rachel either. I put Liam’s house key from my pocket into Rachel’s bag. As I was about to leave, Rachel grabbed me. Her beautiful eyes were even more captivating at that moment, and she spoke with a pitiful tone, “Amber, I know you’re mad at me. But I’m sorry, you can’t force someone to like you. I’ll take good care of Liam.” For a moment, I was stunned. Not just me, but Liam’s friends were too. She was doing this on purpose, humiliating me in front of everyone. I wanted to say something, but Liam beat me to it. “What are you talking about? Amber and I are just bros. I don’t like her that way. Right, Amber?” Fighting back tears, I looked at Liam and Rachel in the silent room. “Yes, I used to like Liam. But from today on, I will never like Liam again. If I do, may I drop dead.” After I said this, Liam’s expression changed drastically. “And Rachel, I don’t want to be friends with you anymore. You disgust me.” With that, I left. But as soon as I was out the door, Liam caught up with me. His voice was cold, “Amber, apologize to Rachel.” I shook off his hand. “Apologize my ass. I was an idiot for ever liking you.” Seeing Liam’s shocked expression, I turned and left. This time, he didn’t follow. I walked down the street in my dress, shoulders hunched, sobbing uncontrollably. I cried for a long time before I noticed someone behind me. Through my tear-filled eyes, I saw a guy in a black hoodie standing not far away, watching me. He was pretty handsome. I crouched down, picked up a brick, and pointed it at him. “If you keep following me, I’ll fight you to the death.” My shout made everyone around look at me and the guy. The guy frowned slightly and walked towards me. “Wipe your tears and see who I am.” I didn’t have any tissues, and I had been sniffling back my runny nose. How could I wipe? The guy sighed and rummaged in his pocket, but came up empty.

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