My sister called me nine times before she took her own life, and I didn’t answer. Everyone blames me for her death, even my fiancé. The person who once stood by me during my battle with depression now looks at me with contempt. “You don’t deserve happiness,” he told me, his words cold as ice. But when my depression returned, and I was ready to end my life to bring her back, they regretted their words. When I left the hospital, a light rain was falling. The doctor, a compassionate middle-aged woman, reviewed my results on the computer and gently advised, “Lin Yue, given your current condition, I recommend staying in the hospital.” I pressed my lips together, saying nothing. She continued, undeterred, “If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I’ll prescribe more antidepressants. Your real issue is with your family. If possible, try to have a good conversation with your mother.” I instinctively squeezed my hand. As I was leaving, she remarked, “You have a wonderful partner who’s always by your side. Love and companionship are the best medicine.”

But the doctor was unaware. That wonderful partner seems to have stopped loving me. Kieran and I have been together for a year and engaged for three months. Two years ago, I missed my sister’s call, which led to her suicide. My mother accused me of being a murderer, throwing things and screaming curses, wishing me a terrible fate. The year I was diagnosed with depression, I met Kieran. I broke down crying in front of a convenience store, and while passersby gave me strange looks, he stood in front of me with an umbrella, offering a tissue and a warm smile: “A pretty face like yours shouldn’t cry.”

I called Kieran multiple times, but he didn’t answer. The repeated mechanical voice was frustrating, so I hung up and took a cab home. When I arrived, the door was open. I thought Kieran was back and was about to call out to him, but the words caught in my throat. The house was in chaos, everything overturned. I was about to call the police when I locked eyes with someone coming down the stairs. It was my mother, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. She was holding a photo frame and, upon seeing me, paused before hurling it at me with force. It landed at my feet, the glass shattered into pieces. She lunged at me, pulling my hair and hitting me, her voice a chaotic repetition of bitter accusations: “You still want to get married?” “Do you deserve it?” “You killed your sister!” “You should go to hell!” “You don’t deserve happiness!” “Why—why wasn’t it you who died?!” I didn’t dare fight back, only shielding my head, as her venomous words pierced my heart. Overwhelmed by negative emotions, I could only cover my ears and mutter to myself. I can’t die. I promised her.

I don’t know how long she hit me until the neighbor heard the noise and pulled us apart. A woman knelt beside me, asking if I was okay. I snapped out of my daze, trembling as I searched my bag for medicine but couldn’t find it. A pair of feet stopped in front of me. White pills fell to the floor like pearls. I was stunned and looked up. Kieran stood over me, holding an empty medicine bottle, his smile cold and malicious: “Take it.” 4 When I got engaged to Kieran, my condition was nearly stable. At my worst, I locked myself in my room, refusing food and water, clawing at my skin with my nails. Kieran felt sorry for me and took time off work to take me on trips, from warm Hawaii to frigid Iceland. He proposed in a lavender field in Provence, kneeling on one knee, his profile devout as he slipped a ring onto my finger. “Adeline, I’ll be with you for a lifetime.” I once saw Kieran as my lifeline. When I was teetering on the edge of the abyss, he was the only salvation I could cling to. During the times when self-harm and the will to survive tore me apart, he broke that balance. He appeared in the darkest time of my life, like a savior, delivering me from suffering.

I ended up taking the pills from the floor. Kieran let go of the bottle, and it clattered to the ground, rolling away. I scrambled to pick it up, gathering the scattered pills back into the bottle. The neighbors had quietly left, leaving behind a semblance of decorum. He just watched me coldly. “I never knew you were such a disgusting person,” he said. “Ruan Lin Yue, you killed your sister. You brought this on yourself. You deserve to be in pain.” I didn’t look up, numbly continuing to gather the pills. I can guess when Kieran found out. I never talked to him about my inner struggles. But after we got engaged, he kept hinting that I should introduce him to my parents. My relationship with my mother wasn’t good; childhood rifts still existed, and she already hated me. Later, Kieran stopped mentioning it. A week ago, he disappeared for a day, and when he returned, his attitude toward me changed. Three days ago, he brought his assistant home. They were entangled on the sofa. I’m a light sleeper; the noise downstairs woke me. I thought he was working late. Just as I was about to ask if he was hungry, I was frozen by the scene in front of me. Kieran’s assistant was beautiful, her long hair draped over his chest, leaning down to kiss him. Kieran didn’t dodge, allowing her to leave a pretty lipstick mark on his face. Then he pulled her into his arms. The assistant exclaimed, coyly said, “Don’t be like this, Mr. Kieran, your girlfriend is still here.” But her tone was full of unabashed pride. The smell of alcohol was strong in the living room, so strong that I wanted to use it to deceive myself. But Kieran saw me. His gaze fell on my face, contemptuous and disdainful, like a knife dipped in poison. “Don’t worry about her,” he said. “She doesn’t deserve it. If it weren’t for that face…” I didn’t hear the rest. The symptoms of depersonalization came quickly, nausea, a burning sensation rising from my stomach. I stumbled into the bathroom, gagging. As tears fell, I remembered the words he said the first day we met. Don’t cry. Crying makes you ugly. When I couldn’t vomit anymore, Kieran appeared in the doorway, his words devoid of warmth: “Can’t handle this? But isn’t the most disgusting—” “You.”

I don’t know when Kieran left. By the time all the pills were back in the bottle, I was alone in the room. I sat amidst the wreckage, dazedly looking at the photo frame not far away, picking it up too. The sharp shards cut my hand, red blood falling on the photo of me. The picture was a candid shot taken with Kieran in the ancient town’s street. He bought candied haws, squinting with a smile, coming toward me, while I was looking at lanterns with my back to him. The bustling crowd became the backdrop. Only the young man buying candy for his sweetheart and his love watching the lanterns were the leads. The girl who took the photo gave it to me, wishing us, “A long-lasting relationship.” Back then, Kieran held my hand, fingers interlocked. He whispered in my ear: “Get better soon, Adeline. We’re meant to last.” I really wanted to get better. So I actively sought treatment, took medication. In the past, I was the only one hanging on, relieving my mental anguish with physical pain when despair hit. As long as I didn’t die. As long as I didn’t break my promise to her. That was enough. Later, when Kieran appeared, I started seeing a doctor. When I was one step away from escaping the abyss, the hand reaching out to me pushed me back. I fell into darkness again.

Kieran barely came home. My mom’s texts bombarded me daily. Calling me a beast, a whore. Asking why it wasn’t me who died. I didn’t dare look much. My unstable emotions were like a bomb; if it went off, I might really lose control. I hired someone to clean the house. The broken pieces couldn’t be put together, and the cleaning lady asked if I wanted to throw them away. I stared at the things in her hands for a while, then shook my head. After seeing her out, I went out to meet a friend. Saylor was in town for a business trip and invited me to dinner. We booked a restaurant. Piano music played continuously, Saylor hugged me as soon as she saw me. Letting go, she looked me up and down: “Why are you so thin? I thought your Mr. Kieran would have you well-fed and chubby.” I didn’t say anything. She quickly sensed my mood: “Is he treating you poorly?” I changed the subject: “It’s rare for us to meet, let’s not talk about him.” When the food arrived, Saylor chatted about her recent life, complained about her colleagues, making me laugh. I was smiling, using a fork to stab a piece of steak, but before I could eat it, my smile froze. This restaurant is perfect for couples. The atmosphere is ideal. But, it shouldn’t be Kieran and his assistant. The man gentlemanly pulled out a chair. The pretty woman thanked him with a smile. The roses on the table were vividly beautiful. I remained silent. She quickly picked up on my mood. “Is he treating you poorly?” I changed the subject. “We don’t get together often, so let’s not talk about him.” The food arrived. While eating, Saylor filled me in on her recent life, venting about her colleagues and making me laugh. I was smiling as I lifted a piece of beef to my mouth, but my smile vanished. This restaurant is perfect for couples. The atmosphere is wonderful. But it shouldn’t be Kieran and his assistant. He pulled out a chair for her with exaggerated politeness. The woman thanked him with a smile. Roses adorned the table, vibrant and fresh. The diamond ring on her finger caught the light from the chandelier, making my eyes ache. I must have stared for too long because Kieran noticed. When our eyes met, he gave me a smile devoid of warmth. Moments later, I watched him reach over to gently tuck a strand of hair behind his assistant Nora’s ear. The gesture was intimate and suggestive. When Saylor followed my gaze, she saw the same scene. She instantly grew furious, grabbed the wine glass from the table, and stood up. “Don’t go.” I held her hand, almost begging, “Don’t go.” She looked into my tear-filled eyes, hesitated for a few seconds, and then sat back down. I fumbled through my bag, took out a medicine bottle, and with trembling hands, unscrewed the lid. My stomach churned with pain. It wasn’t until I swallowed the pills that I felt relief from the overwhelming suffocation. But I couldn’t eat anymore. As Saylor and I left, we passed by Kieran and Nora. Saylor couldn’t contain her anger, and her bag knocked over a wine glass, which crashed to the floor. The red liquid spread across the table and dripped onto the floor. Nora frowned, ready to argue with Saylor. Saylor shrugged, saying, “Sorry.” Nora was about to retort, but when she saw me next to Saylor, her expression softened into a smile: “This restaurant is perfect for couples.” “You like it?” Kieran chuckled, “I’ll bring you here often.” I didn’t look at them. I just stared at the dark liquid on the table, watching it drip to the floor. Sensing something was wrong, Saylor quickly shielded my view and led me away.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I instinctively reached for the bottle cap. But my hand slipped, and the medicine bottle fell to the floor. I didn’t pick it up. Instead, I dug my nails into my skin. Forcing myself to stay present at the brink of a breakdown. “Adeline.” “Adeline!” Saylor called my name louder, bringing me back to reality. “Why don’t you break up with him?” “After all, it’s just an engagement.” I didn’t respond. “I know he was there for you before, helped you get better, and I’m thankful to him.” “But he cheated.” “Adeline.” The flickering light outside cast shadows on Saylor’s face, her tone leaving no room for argument: “Break up with him.” Silence filled the car like a heavy cloud. After a long while. I finally heard myself speak. I said, “No.” The car came to a sudden stop by the roadside. The seatbelt pressed against my chest. Saylor hit the steering wheel, turned to speak, but fell silent when she saw my face. It took a while. Then I heard her ask: “What is it that’s holding you back?” I didn’t answer. She looked at me, determined to get an answer. What’s holding me back? I closed my eyes. The red liquid still flowed, dripping. Like it would never stop. What’s holding me back are the familiar words. The hand that once tried to pull me out of the abyss. What’s holding me back is the guilt from two years ago. I have no sister anymore. I have no family anymore. I opened my eyes, even though they hurt, no tears fell. With red eyes, like a wounded cub, Pathetic and laughable. “Saylor.” I murmured, repeating it again. “I have no family anymore.”

When Saylor left, she hugged me, didn’t say much, just reminded me to see the doctor on time. I nodded. But the moment the door closed, the emotions I had suppressed erupted, more intense than ever. The home that my aunt had neatly organized was once again thrown into chaos by me. I went mad, smashing things that were perfectly fine to the ground. The sound of glass shattering was piercing. But it wasn’t enough. Perhaps because I had suppressed it for too long, the impulse was stronger than ever. The devil whispered in my ear. Urging me to take the fruit knife and press it against my wrist. But I stopped short. The door suddenly opened. Kieran’s hand froze in mid-air, meeting my eyes. Previously, whenever I picked up a knife, he’d panic. He wouldn’t let me touch anything sharp. But this time. He just stood there, his expression cold and detached like a spectator. The ticking of the clock on the wall was distinctly audible. “Do it.” He looked at me, sneered, and repeated: “Cut yourself.” I didn’t move, like a puppet, staring blankly at him. He snorted, his gaze sharp. “You don’t dare.” “You’re just trying to gain sympathy.” “Why wasn’t it you who died?” His tone was innocent yet heartless, as if it were a simple question. I used all my strength to restrain my trembling. “Adeline.” “You don’t dare to die.” He said it almost word by word. Indeed, I don’t dare. Caught between medication and promises. I can’t die. But I can’t live either. The knife clattered to the floor, landing at my feet. Despair wrapped around me like vines, making me finally cry out. In the past, whenever I cried, Kieran would hold me in his arms, his cold demeanor softening, speaking gently to comfort me. Just like. Just like— That person. Always using a handkerchief scented with gardenias, gently wiping away my tears, then holding me close, whispering to comfort me: “Little Moon, don’t cry.” “Crying isn’t pretty.” Such a cliché phrase. But I heard it for over a decade, and never got tired of it. In this world, No one will comfort me like that anymore.

I sank deeper into the mire. Sometimes forgetting to take my medicine. Other times swallowing a handful in one go. I started cutting my arms again. New wounds on top of the shallow scars that were almost healed a year ago. But not fatal. Later, the medicine bottle was empty. I don’t know how I got through it. In a daze, I made it to my sister’s death anniversary. That day, the weather cleared. I got up early, tidied my messy self, and bought a bouquet of flowers. But when I got there. Someone had already arrived before me. Mom stood there, the grave covered with various offerings. Expressionless, I walked up, placed my flowers down. Just as I turned to leave, something heavy hit my head. I staggered, almost falling. The flowers I had carefully wrapped scattered, strewn all over the ground. Her voice was filled with deep hatred, hysterically yelling at me: “What are you doing here?” “Aren’t you a murderer? How dare you show your face here?!” But as she cursed, she started crying: “The one who should’ve died was you!” I didn’t turn back. My head felt dizzy, as if I were standing on the edge of a cliff. I clenched my hand, forcing myself to stay calm and leave. Sitting in the car, I saw the doctor’s message. She asked why I hadn’t come. I stared at her profile picture, took a long time to type out a reply: —Sorry, something came up. Her response was quick. —I’ll reschedule, when can you come? Forget it. The cursor in the input box blinked. In the end, I didn’t send anything. —Let’s schedule next time. Kieran came home early for the first time in a while. It wasn’t Nora who brought him home, but another male subordinate. When he got back, I was squinting at the empty medicine bottle. It’s been empty for a long time. The male subordinate helped Kieran onto the sofa, politely said goodbye to me.

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When the kidnappers forced Declan to choose between us, he picked me over his childhood sweetheart. But I refused to go with him, knowing he’d regret it. In my previous life, after I was rescued, Cora, Declan’s childhood sweetheart, was caught in compromising photos by the kidnappers and tragically took her own life that night. Declan appeared indifferent and went through with our wedding, but during our marriage, he made me feel the weight of his resentment. Seven years later, I finally got him to agree to a divorce, but on the way to finalize it, he lost control and drove us off a cliff. Even in his dying moments, he blamed me, saying, “This is the price we owe Cora. In this life, we should make amends for her. How can you just live in peace…” This time, I didn’t want to live that way. 1 “Willa, come with me.” When I realized I had been reborn, the kidnappers were pressing knives to both Cora’s and my necks, demanding Declan choose who to save. His gaze flickered between us, and after a moment of intense internal conflict, he made the same choice as before—reaching out to me. But I shook my head decisively. “Declan, save Cora first.” In this life, I don’t want to owe anyone or carry the weight of a life on my conscience. Declan seemed relieved. “Willa, you’re my fiancée, so I should save you first. But since you said so, don’t blame me then.” He quickly took Cora away, anxious I might change my mind. Unlike him, I don’t regret my choices. Last time, he came with the ransom, but the kidnappers demanded more, saying they could only release one person initially. Declan had no option but to choose me. While we struggled to gather more money, the kidnappers began to exploit Cora, taking inappropriate photos. We arrived with the police just in time, but the experience had already shattered her dignity. She returned home in despair and ended her life that night. By the time we found her, it was too late. Declan showed no concern when he heard the news. He calmly managed her affairs and gave her family a substantial sum for consolation. Even when I suggested postponing the wedding, he refused. “Willa, marrying you was always part of the plan. We can’t let others influence it.” Yet, the “outsider” was on his mind throughout our seven-year marriage. Marrying me was merely a way to bind me and atone for Cora. But what did I do wrong? 2 After Declan left, I began thinking of ways to save myself, uncertain if he’d come back. Previously, he discreetly slipped a tracker into Cora’s pocket when he hugged her, allowing us to locate her even if the kidnappers moved her. But this time, he seemed to have forgotten that. I guessed that from the start, the only one he truly wanted to save was Cora. Only because I was his fiancée did he reluctantly choose me, fearing criticism. Our marriage was arranged; our feelings weren’t deep. Cora had been with him through their formative years; they were childhood friends and confidants. His regret in the past life was understandable. This time, he could have what he truly wanted. I was happy for him and didn’t forget to find my own escape route. I knew the kidnappers would pass an auto repair shop when they moved locations. The workers there were tough and formidable. Last time, the kidnappers tried to take over the shop, not expecting the owner to be a hard nut to crack, refusing to give in. A fight erupted, and the kidnappers, not expecting to meet someone fiercer than them, had to flee. Later, when the kidnappers were caught, the shop owner testified against them. 3 Like before, they left one person in the car to watch me while the others went to the repair shop. My hands were tied behind my back, and the kidnapper in the driver’s seat wasn’t paying much attention to me. Taking advantage of his distraction, I used my mouth to open the car door handle. Then I pushed the door open and ran toward the auto repair shop, hoping they wouldn’t ignore my plight. The shop was already in chaos. I spotted the young shop owner immediately. His features were sharp and upright, exuding a sense of integrity. His swift movements made him seem cool. To avoid getting hurt, I crouched low and dashed over, accidentally knocking him over. I fell into his arms, terrified. “S-sorry,” I stammered. “Could you please help me?” He glanced at me, frowning. The next second, he rolled us both several times on the ground. A chair landed where we just lay with a “bang.” If he hadn’t noticed on time, I would have been in serious trouble. Still shaken, I saw that the kidnappers realized I had escaped. What started as a squabble over territory was now a demand for me. The two sides faced off. I looked at the man beside me with pleading eyes and whispered, “If you can save me, I’ll do anything.” But he didn’t reply, only eyeing the kidnappers thoughtfully. Someone behind him couldn’t help but remind him, “Jasper, sometimes less trouble is better.” So he was called Jasper. Not getting any response, my heart sank. Fine, there’s no need to force anyone. As the kidnapper leader called for me the third time, I started to walk towards them. But soon, someone pressed down on my shoulder, stopping me. Jasper stepped forward and said to the kidnappers, “She’s under my protection today.” It seemed even heaven was on my side. Suddenly, motorcycle engines roared outside. A confident smile appeared on Jasper’s face. “My backup is here.” The kidnappers, unwilling, glared at me and left cursing. My tense nerves finally relaxed. I let out a silent breath and felt the rope on my wrist loosen. Jasper had cut it. 4 “I’m Willa Lin, thank you so much for earlier,” I said, extending my hand to him. Jasper kept staring at my wrist, where the rope had left bloody marks, looking alarming. “Let me help you with that,” he said. I shook my head, “It’s just a small injury, it’s nothing.” “Weren’t you the one who said you’d do anything if I saved you?” Without waiting for a reply, he sat me down and took out a first-aid kit. “Bear with it,” he said. I bit my lip, watching him carefully treat my wound. A warmth spread through me. I remembered when I first married Declan, one time he got drunk, and as I helped him to his room, I casually mentioned he should drink less. He flew into a rage, pushing me away. I lost my balance and fell, shattering the jade bracelet on my wrist; the shards cut into my skin. I screamed, clutching my bleeding wrist. Declan just coldly stared and said, “Does it hurt? It should. Cora hurt a thousand times more than you, and now she can’t even say it. If it weren’t for saving you, she wouldn’t have been humiliated by the kidnappers or lost hope…” I sat there, disbelief on my face, feeling my heart grow colder. After a long time, I found my voice. “But the kidnappers took Cora and me to threaten you! You chose to save me first; why blame me now?” Declan, his drunkenness seemingly fading, looked at me with icy eyes. “Willa, I was always against this arranged marriage. If you hadn’t told Grandma you liked me, she wouldn’t have forced me to marry you.” “So, you’re saying if it weren’t for me, you’d only need to save Cora?” I laughed bitterly, “Declan, you’re insane. Blaming me instead of the kidnappers.” I got up and treated my wound alone in my room. After that, no matter how much it hurt, I never told Declan. Now, the man in front of me was gently blowing on my wound, afraid I’d be in pain. My eyes stung, and I closed them, taking a deep breath, asking knowingly, “What are you doing?” Jasper looked up with a genuine smile. “When I was little and got hurt, my mom did this. Does it feel better?” I nodded, “Yes, a lot better.” Encouraged, Jasper continued. But the moment was soon interrupted. 5 “Jasper, I heard someone’s causing trouble at your shop, so I rushed over…” “Whoa! Where did you find such a pretty girl?” A tall man with tattooed arms entered, eyes lighting up when he saw me. “This is rare. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful girl here…” The tattooed guy said, a strange blush on his face. Jasper stepped in front of me protectively. I nodded, “Yeah, much better.” Jasper, reassured, continued with his task, but the atmosphere was quickly disrupted. “Jasper, I heard there was some trouble at your shop, so I rushed over…” “Whoa! Where did you find such a beautiful girl?” A tall man with a tattooed arm walked in, his eyes lighting up as he saw me. “Really unusual, I think it’s the first time I’ve seen such a pretty girl here…” The tattooed guy said, with an oddly shy expression. Jasper noticed and moved to shield me. “Thanks, but it’s sorted now. As for other stuff, it’s none of your business. I’ll treat you to a drink another day.” The tattooed guy paused, then got the hint. “Jasper, now that you have a girl, you’re ditching your buddies?” He turned away with a playful huff, looking slightly upset. Jasper sighed and pulled him aside, whispering, “Can’t you take a hint? Go hang out somewhere else.” “Jasper, is she your girlfriend?” “Does it look like she is?” “Absolutely! You two look perfect together.” “Smart observation.” “I’m not leaving until you give me some wedding candy.” “You’ll get your share.” “…” Not far off, the two of them continued their whispering, but even though they tried to keep their voices down, I could hear everything clearly. Trying to ease the awkwardness, I pretended to be busy, looking everywhere except at them. A few minutes later, Jasper managed to send the tattooed guy away. After he left, Jasper asked me, “Where do you live? I’ll take you home.” Maybe it was selfish of me, but suddenly I didn’t want to go back so soon. My parents are always busy with their own affairs. Even if I didn’t go home for a month, they wouldn’t notice. As for Declan, if I’m right, he might have been reincarnated too. He’s probably eager to be with Cora now. I was married to him for seven years in my past life. He never took me to any events or shared a room with me. When people asked about me, he’d always have a cold expression, turning me into a joke in our circle. This time around, I want to stay far away from him. So I pleaded with Jasper, “Can you let me stay for a few days?” I gently tugged at his sleeve. Looking at both lives, he should be a good person. Plus, he can protect me. If I cling to him, would he refuse? Jasper suddenly leaned close, his gaze intense. “Little girl, if you keep this up, I might take it seriously…” The proximity was so close, I could even smell the fresh scent of soap on him. I swallowed instinctively, about to speak, when a familiar voice came from behind. “What are you doing?” It was Declan… He’d brought the police with him. “Are you okay?” Declan looked at me, genuine concern in his eyes. I shrugged, “Do I look like I’m not okay?” Declan was silent. Cora walked in right after. She glanced around the now normal auto repair shop and bluntly asked: “Willa, how did you escape from the kidnappers? As far as I know, there were six of them. Your hands were tied, and you were unfamiliar with the area. I’m really curious…” What is Cora trying to say? “Everyone knows the Lin family and the Shen family plan an arranged marriage. But they’re also both eyeing that piece of land in the south of the city. The auction is in ten days, highest bidder wins. But right at this crucial moment, this happens, and the ransom is ridiculously high. Willa, it’s hard not to think otherwise.” Is she suggesting I hired the kidnappers? I admit, I’ve never been this speechless in two lifetimes. I truly felt helpless and sympathetic about Cora’s past life. But this time, I practically saved her. And her first reaction after being saved is to accuse me. It’s truly disheartening. I suddenly raised my hand and shouted, “Officer, someone here is slandering me.” And then we were all taken away. While waiting for questioning, Cora wouldn’t let it go. “Willa, why won’t you say anything?” I scoffed, “Why should I tell you? You’re not the police.” Cora was at a loss for words. Declan couldn’t stand it, immediately speaking up for Cora. “Willa, Cora just wants to understand what really happened, so she knows what to say during the questioning.” “What? You plan on lying to the officer?” Declan stood up angrily, pointing at me, “Willa, you’re being unreasonable!” Jasper came out of the interrogation room just in time to see this, and without a word, he stood in front of me. “Put your hand down.” His tone was flat, yet carried an undeniable pressure. I hid behind Jasper, unable to see the expressions on their faces, but I could sense the tension. Declan asked, “Who are you to her?” Jasper turned slightly to look at me, a small smile on his lips. He countered, “What do you think?” I looked up at his ridiculously perfect profile, and impulsively made a heart shape with my thumb and index finger. Declan’s face darkened several shades at the sight. Just then, the police called him in for a statement. After some questioning, things started to clear up a bit. The police identified suspects, but can only proceed further once the kidnappers are caught.

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On the wedding day, my husband’s assistant concocted a reason to get me out of the venue. She donned the wedding dress and beat me to the stage, staging a wedding drama. Astonishingly, when my husband found out, he didn’t stop her; instead, he clasped hands with the assistant, gazing into her eyes with a blissful expression as they completed the wedding ceremony. As I realized what was happening and was about to confront him, my husband harshly rebuked me: “You were late and missed the auspicious time for the wedding. Why should everyone wait for you? Must you be so selfish?” “Phoebe was just trying to help us get the wedding ready. Don’t take advantage and act innocent. At worst, I’ll arrange another ceremony for you!” Our friends were all stunned, expecting an outburst from me due to my husband’s outrageous remarks. But I nodded, agreeing with him. Seeing my calm demeanor, he seemed quite pleased and promised to arrange another ceremony for me when he had time. However, he seemed to forget that we had just signed a divorce agreement yesterday. After removing the bride’s veil and handing it to my husband, Asher Thompson, I ignored the subtle expressions of him and those around us and left the wedding hotel directly. Even as I exited, Asher didn’t come after me. Behind me, thunderous applause erupted as he and Phoebe Carter were ushered onto the stage by the crowd. I knew Asher had long seen through Phoebe’s plan but chose to indulge her. Even if I investigated now, it would be useless. He probably already destroyed all evidence of Phoebe’s scheme, as he always did. In the past, I might have been angry and devastated. But now, I felt unexpectedly calm and simply went home to take a nap. Asher didn’t like hassles, so I had been the one bustling around for the wedding. To ensure everything went smoothly, I had been preparing every day after work, carefully selecting the hotel, staying up to pick the wedding invitation and party favors. Just yesterday, I rehearsed until the early hours, and my heart still aches from it. Looking back, it hardly seemed worth it. I should have just done a half-hearted job. I was dozing off when a call from Asher woke me. “Adeline Brooks, the wedding’s over. Where are you?” Hearing his cheerful voice on the other end was amusing. I had been back for quite a while, and he hadn’t even noticed. Or maybe he noticed but simply didn’t care to think about me. I yawned, “I’m at home.” There was a brief silence. “Adeline, are you still mad about the wedding?” He asked in his usual feigned ignorance. But this time, he guessed wrong. I wasn’t angry, just a little bored. “No,” I said truthfully. He didn’t believe me at all: “I know you’re upset, but this is really your fault.” “There were many important guests today, most of them our business partners. Why should they wait for just you? If they found out the bride was late, they might question our capabilities.” “I’m doing this for the company. If you don’t understand, that’s fine, but what right do you have to be jealous and angry here?” “Moreover, Phoebe was under a lot of pressure today. She came up with this backup plan in such a short time and even took on a lot of drinking on your behalf. By logic, you should thank her.” Hearing his absurd reasoning made me laugh. I even suspected someone must have stolen his brain amidst the wedding crowd. Before I could speak, Phoebe’s sweet voice chimed in, “Asher, don’t blame Adeline. She surely didn’t mean to. Besides, didn’t you already give me a raise? No need for Adeline to thank me.” “One thing is separate from another. Salary is salary, gratitude is gratitude.” “But helping Adeline is helping the company, and helping the company is helping myself, right?” Their back-and-forth made me nauseous, but I was used to it. Asher has always pampered Phoebe unconditionally. At work, everyone has to call him Mr. Thompson, but only Phoebe can call him “Asher.” Others get harshly berated for small mistakes, but no matter how big a mess Phoebe makes, Asher turns a blind eye. A month ago, Phoebe’s mistake ruined a multi-million dollar deal. The whole company was outraged, but to calm everyone down, Asher pinned the blame on me without even discussing it, docking my annual salary. I confronted him, and he was indifferent: “We’ve been together for so many years. Why are you fussing over a small matter?” “This amount is nothing to you, but Phoebe has less means. How would she live if I docked her salary?” “If it’s a big deal, I’ll compensate you, okay?” This wedding was supposed to be my compensation. Seeing me silent, Asher sighed: “Adeline, can’t you learn from Phoebe? She’s younger than you and more mature.” “When something goes wrong, she’s always quick to find solutions. She even invited her parents for the wedding to make it perfect.” “You have no parents, so they can’t come. But you can’t just refuse to communicate and leave the mess whenever you’re angry.” Hearing him mention my parents made me scoff. His house caught fire when he was a child, and he was the only one home. My dad rushed in to save him, got severely burned, and died despite rescue efforts. My mom died shortly after from grief. The night my mom passed, he held me as I cried, promising over and over he’d never leave me. But it’s only been eight years, and now their deaths became my flaw compared to Phoebe. In the past, I’d have been emotionally shattered and started a huge fight with him. But now, perhaps because I was prepared for his ridiculous actions for Phoebe, my heart was surprisingly calm. “You’re right. It’s my fault,” I said softly. Perhaps my calm tone made Asher’s attitude soften a bit. “It’s okay to be wrong. As long as you admit it and change, it’s fine. Listen to me now, apologize to Phoebe, and compensate her with a set of…” Before he could finish, I interrupted. “You misunderstood.” “What I meant was, I shouldn’t have come to you in the first place, shouldn’t have gotten a marriage certificate with you first, and shouldn’t have let my dad save an ungrateful person like you.” Asher paused, embarrassed and angry, he coldly questioned me, “Adeline, what do you mean?” Hearing his anger, I didn’t apologize like before, trying to soothe him. Instead, I spoke calmly. “Asher Thompson, let’s get a divorce.” As soon as I said it, Asher was taken aback. “What did you say?” “Adeline, don’t take advantage and act innocent. You’re divorcing me over this one small thing?” I thought he’d explode in rage and agree immediately. I even heard him calling Phoebe’s name in his sleep a few days ago. He likes her so much, wouldn’t he be happy if I divorced him and let them be together? But surprisingly, Asher took a deep breath, and his tone became unexpectedly gentle. “Adeline, I know you’re just saying this out of anger, so I won’t hold it against you.” “Stop making a scene. Divorce is a hurtful thing to say, and we’ve been together for so many years. How can we just divorce like that?” “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Don’t say it again in the future.” “By the way, we just got notified of a business trip these days. I’ll give you a month’s leave to calm down.” With that, Asher hung up the phone. As soon as the call ended, I heard him explaining to Phoebe in a low voice: “I can’t help it. Divorce is complicated, and there’s the matter of dividing assets…” I didn’t hear the rest, but I understood. He was probably afraid I’d take some of his assets if we divorced. I couldn’t help but snicker, not knowing what to say. Asher tells Phoebe everything, from what he eats to the company’s core secrets. I once warned him to be careful, but he dismissed me, saying he trusts Phoebe. He gives her so much trust but uses the darkest thoughts to speculate about me. But it doesn’t matter now. I contacted a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. To expedite the divorce, I chose to leave with nothing. Then I texted HR to resign. HR didn’t know my relationship with Asher and quickly replied in an official manner. “Mr. Thompson and Ms. Carter are on their honeymoon. I wouldn’t dare disturb them now. Please bring this up again after a month.” I wasn’t surprised. I had already guessed that Asher’s “business trip” was a lie. His wedding was the talk of the town. How could anyone ask him to handle business now? “I can’t wait. Please accept it now and give it to him after the honeymoon. I’ll be responsible for any issues.” HR hesitated, but after my repeated assurances, he agreed to submit it. Asher and I had an eight-year contract, which expired two years ago, but he never renewed it. Whether he forgot or just didn’t care. After all, his focus has been more on Phoebe in recent years. It’s better this way. I don’t even need his approval to resign. Then I called a friend far away. Once she learned my intention, she was delighted and eager to have me join their company. HR was a bit hesitant, but after I reassured him several times about my decision to resign, he agreed to help me submit it. I had an eight-year contract with Asher Thompson, which actually expired two years ago, but he never bothered to renew it. I’m not sure if he forgot or just didn’t care. His attention has been more on Phoebe Carter these past few years. This way, I don’t even need his approval to leave the company. I immediately called a friend who was far away. When she heard about my plans, she was thrilled and insisted I join her new company. She had recently started it, but despite everything being set, she lacked a strong technical leader. She had asked me several times to join her, but I had always turned her down. The company that Asher and I started felt like my own child. We began by renting a small space to save money, just the two of us, and now it’s about to go public with an entire building. Even though Asher never gave me any shares, I never complained. Looking back, I realize I was too invested. I agreed to my friend’s offer without hesitation and bought a ticket to Hawaii. As soon as I landed, I saw her waiting in the airport lobby. She rushed over to take my luggage and asked how I was doing. I felt a bit uneasy and laughed, saying, “No need for all the formalities between friends.” She smiled and said, “It’s because we’re such good friends that I want to make sure you’re well taken care of.” Her words reminded me of when Asher asked me to leave a high-paying job to start a business with him. He just sent me an address, and I dragged my luggage, sweating and taking detours to his remote apartment. When I arrived, he was in pajamas, playing video games with someone else. He didn’t say it, but I could tell he was annoyed that I came at a bad time. After he finished the game, I joked about why he didn’t pick me up and if he wasn’t worried something might happen to me. He scoffed and said, “What could possibly happen in broad daylight? Besides, we’re like an old married couple. You could come on your own, no need for a pickup.” Thinking back, being “close” was just an excuse. The real issue was the lack of care. That afternoon, my friend took me to see a house, and after we settled on a place, she invited some friends to dinner at a fancy hotel. She went to park the car, and I went up first. As soon as I walked through the revolving door, I heard a familiar voice. “Hey, isn’t that Adeline Brooks?” I instinctively turned my head and saw Asher Thompson and Phoebe Carter holding hands at the front desk. Seeing me, Asher quickly pulled his hand away, while Phoebe’s face showed displeasure, which she quickly masked with a smile. “Adeline, I just heard from HR that you were looking for Asher. Why didn’t you just call him? Why come here in person?” Asher seemed to realize something and frowned. “Are you following me?” “What do you mean by that? Are you saying you don’t trust me?” I found it amusing and didn’t bother explaining much. “I’m not following you. I’m here to meet a friend.” Asher clearly didn’t believe me. “Come on, I know if you have any friends. If you’re following me, just admit it. Why lie?” He smirked, like he could see right through me. I was silent, unsure of what to say. He knew I was away from home with few friends, yet he still chose to leave me alone in that city to “cool off.” But I remember last year when he claimed to go home for the holidays, he was actually with Phoebe, saying she was upset and had no friends there, worried she might do something rash. “Asher, since Adeline is here, you two should talk. Oh, and can I have the room key?” Phoebe smiled and extended her hand to Asher. He naturally took out the room key and handed it to her. “I’ll wait for you upstairs,” she said. Before leaving, Phoebe gave me a smug look. It was obvious what she meant: they had booked a room together. Asher seemed to realize something, his expression briefly panicked. “The front desk said there was only one room left. Don’t overthink it. It’s a suite; I’m sleeping on the couch.” But I remembered his habit of always having the assistant book hotels in advance, whether on business trips or vacations. I couldn’t be bothered to expose him. I took out the prepared divorce agreement from my bag. I had planned to have him sign it after settling my new job, but since we met here, it was a good opportunity. “What’s this?” Asher opened it, puzzled. Just as he started to read, Phoebe’s scream echoed from upstairs. “Phoebe, what’s wrong?” Asher asked, worried. Without even looking at the document, he hastily signed it and was about to leave. “Aren’t you going to see what you just signed?” I couldn’t help but ask. Asher replied indifferently, “What else could it be besides asking for money?” Without waiting for my response, he hurried away. I chuckled to myself. His rushed departure reminded me of a few years ago when I fell seriously ill and was lying in a hospital bed without money for surgery. Asher assured me not to worry and that he’d find a way. That night, I woke up to see him exhausted, making call after call to borrow money for me. From that moment, I promised myself I would never let him down, no matter what happened. As our company grew and money was no longer an issue, Asher and I could never return to those days. I put the divorce agreement back in my bag. In a month, when the legal waiting period for divorce ends, there’ll be nothing between Asher and me anymore. By the time I took the elevator to the private room, everyone was already there. After a few drinks, my friend pulled me aside, reminiscing about the past. She asked if I had a boyfriend, considering I had turned down her entrepreneurship offers multiple times. Previously, Asher didn’t want to make our relationship public, so few people knew. Even during the wedding ceremony, he only invited business partners, excluding family and friends. He explained that we were in another city, and announcing our wedding would seem like a ploy for monetary gifts. It was better to marry quietly and arrange another ceremony later. Back then, I didn’t think much of it. But now, it seems he was creating an opportunity for Phoebe to be the bride. “I’m already divorced,” I said calmly. The room instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at me, unsure if they should offer comfort. I raised my glass first. “It’s just a jerk. Divorce is a good thing. From now on, I’ll stay here and make big money with you all!” “Yes, make big money!” The room quickly became lively again as everyone raised their glasses. The next day, I successfully signed a contract with my friend and focused on my career. The business developed smoothly, and with the latest technology, it thrived, tripling profits in just half a month. My friend was thrilled and organized a celebration at a tourist spot outside the city. I didn’t expect to run into Asher and Phoebe there again. They sat by the bonfire, Asher peeling shrimp for her. Phoebe said something, and Asher laughed, feeding her a shrimp. Then he playfully tried to smear her face with shrimp juice, and she laughed, dodging him. When he finally succeeded, she dove into his arms. Asher’s face turned red, clearly enjoying it. I remembered that Asher never liked me playing such childish games. He often complained that shrimp made hands dirty and didn’t like eating them. I used to peel them and coax him to eat. I had to admit, since being with Phoebe, he had changed a lot. “What a sweet couple,” my friend said, approaching with a teasing smile. “Jealous?” I shook my head with a faint smile. “Too messy.” My friend looked confused. I didn’t explain and turned to leave. I thought Asher wouldn’t notice me with so many people around. But as soon as I turned, Asher called out coldly, “Adeline!” He strode toward us, and I quickened my pace, not wanting to see him. I thought he’d give up, but surprisingly, he ignored others’ looks and rushed over. “Adeline, are you deaf? Didn’t you hear me calling?” Knowing his personality, I stopped and coolly asked, “What do you want?” Asher seemed puzzled by my indifferent attitude, momentarily at a loss for words. Phoebe was the first to greet me. “Adeline, what a coincidence meeting you again. I didn’t expect to run into you twice here.” Her words had an undertone. Asher picked up on it too, his gaze darkening. “Are you still following me here?” he asked. I was speechless. “I’m not following you, just a coincidence.” “Hah, once is a coincidence, twice too? I can’t believe it!” “And if you weren’t following, why run away just now?” Asher looked at me with suspicion, clearly only believing his own doubts. Phoebe, looking pitiful, said, “Asher, don’t fight with Adeline. Maybe I should go back and let her keep you company. I initially wanted her to accompany you on this business trip.” “What are you doing here? Are you tailing me?” I was momentarily at a loss for words. “I’m not tailing you; it was just a coincidence.” “Ha, a coincidence once, maybe, but twice? I don’t buy it. Things can’t be that coincidental!” “Besides, if you weren’t following me, why did you look so guilty just now? Why did you run off?” Asher Thompson gave me a cold stare, his eyes brimming with disdain. He seemed intent on trusting only his own suspicions. Just then, Phoebe Carter chimed in, sounding hurt, “Asher, please don’t argue with Adeline Brooks. Maybe I should just head back and let Adeline accompany you. I actually wanted her to join you on this business trip.” “If I’m with you, people are bound to speculate.” Asher Thompson’s face showed some hesitation initially, but hearing her, he spoke more firmly. “Who’s going to speculate?” “We’re just going on this business trip openly and honestly; only small-minded people would read into it!” As he spoke, he cast a cold glance my way, clearly implying that I was the small-minded one. I found it amusing. I expected Asher Thompson to launch into one of his typical tirades after Phoebe’s complaints. But unexpectedly, his expression softened a bit, and he sighed. “Adeline, could you stop overthinking? It’s exhausting for me.” “I promise, once we get back, I’ll organize a wedding for you. Can you just head back for now?” “Besides, we’re already legally married. What are you worried about?” Turns out, he really didn’t know he’d already signed the divorce papers. Now he wants to use a wedding to brush me off and prevent me from ruining their honeymoon? The more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. “Organize a wedding?” I let out a light laugh, pulled the divorce agreement from my bag, and tossed it in front of him. “Seems like you’ve really forgotten, Asher Thompson. We’re already divorced.”

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For the 999th time, my attempt to seduce the esports tycoon ended in failure. We’ve been married for five years, yet he’s never touched me. I even need his permission for a simple kiss. I always thought he was asexual, uncomfortable with any physical contact. That is, until I received a private video of him in bed with someone else. In the video, the man’s body moved rhythmically, while the woman beneath him wore a cosplay outfit of his favorite game character. His usual cold demeanor was gone, replaced by a look of desire. “Baby… you’re so beautiful…” he murmured. That’s when I realized he wasn’t asexual. He just didn’t love me. After he rejected my advances once again, I said nothing. I simply left the divorce papers and walked away. Later, Lucas Graham stood outside my apartment building. As he watched me walk hand-in-hand with another man, his eyes slowly filled with tears. The screen of my phone was still lit, and I hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of what I’d just seen. In the video, the man’s lean waist moved rhythmically. The dim light cast shadows on his face, adding a touch of lust to his features. The woman beneath him wore elaborate, seductive makeup. Her cosplay outfit was torn to shreds, hanging off her chest, hinting at their previous passion. I had never seen Lucas Graham like this before. His eyes, fixed on the woman, were blood-red and filled with a hint of madness. Who would have thought that the cold, seemingly asexual esports god would be so wild behind closed doors? I shifted my gaze to the scented candle burning on the bedside table and let out a bitter laugh. I had gone to great lengths to win Lucas over, even spending a fortune on aphrodisiac essential oils. I’d even added ylang-ylang to my shower gel for its reputed arousing effects. I felt a lump in my throat and had to swallow hard to keep from crying. When I first met Lucas after college graduation, his cold face and unapproachable demeanor made him seem like an unreachable flower on a high cliff. But the colder he was, the more it sparked my desire to conquer him. The more he pushed me away, the more determined I became to make him my boyfriend. I even made a bet with him: “In three years, I’ll definitely make you fall in love with me.” I pursued him relentlessly, using every trick in the book. My closet was bursting with sexy lingerie, but Lucas remained unmoved. Then, a year later, he suddenly proposed to me. I thought my efforts had finally paid off. I was so touched I couldn’t even speak. But only now do I understand. Marrying me was just a way to suppress the scandal of him sleeping with his fans. I was nothing more than his shield. Lucas came home late that night. Although he maintained his usual cold facade, I caught sight of the hidden red marks on his neck. From the moment he entered until he reached the bedroom, he didn’t even spare me a glance. Just as the door was about to close, I called out to him. “Lucas, do you remember the bet I made when we first met?” Lucas’s brows furrowed instantly, his impatience evident. “I’m very tired today. I don’t have time for your nonsense.” “If you’re bored, go find a job. Stop being so paranoid.” I fought back the lump in my throat. “When we first met, I bet you that if I couldn’t make you fall for me in three years, I would…” But before I could finish, Lucas’s phone rang, interrupting me. He glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered. Whatever was said on the other end made his face, for the first time, show a panicked expression. “Wasn’t she fine this afternoon? How did she suddenly relapse?” “I’ll find a match as soon as possible!” Lucas threw on his jacket and rushed out. As he passed the couch, he suddenly stopped. “I remember you’re O negative too. Come with me for a matching test.” Lucas didn’t give me time to react, yanking me off the couch. The temperature difference between day and night in spring was significant. I was only wearing a thin nightgown when Lucas pulled me out of the house. By the time we reached the hospital, my hands and feet were purple from the cold, and I couldn’t stop shivering. Lucas, on the other hand, was anxiously talking to the doctor, not sparing me a single glance. It was a passing nurse who couldn’t bear to see my state and gave me a blanket. “She has the same blood type as Evelyn. As long as she’s a match, we can take as many stem cells as we need.” Several nurses immediately surrounded me, inserting a needle into my skin. The anesthetic quickly took effect. In my hazy state, I saw Lucas’s cold face. “As long as it can cure Evelyn, I don’t care if all her stem cells are drained.” When I woke up again, there was a piercing pain in my lower back, and the IV in my hand had backflowed. Across from me, Lucas was tenderly moistening the lips of the woman lying in bed with a damp cloth, occasionally looking up to check the IV drip. The gentle tone he used to comfort her was something I had never heard in our three years together. It was then that I realized, a heart that doesn’t love me can never be warmed, no matter what I do. I pulled out the IV needle from my hand, hissing in pain. Seeing me awake, the smile instantly vanished from Lucas’s face. “Don’t think acting weak will make me feel sorry for you.” “It’s just stem cell donation, not like it’s going to kill you.”

The color drained from my face, and when I opened my mouth, my dry, cracked lips split painfully. Evelyn quickly wrapped her arm around Lucas’s. “Lucas, don’t blame Aria,” she said softly. “Even though the doctor said it was a minor procedure, you took 500ml of stem cells from her at once. How could she recover so quickly?” She leaned on Lucas’s shoulder, appearing weak and fragile. But the look in her eyes as she gazed at me couldn’t hide her hostility. I lifted my hospital gown, only then noticing the numerous needle marks covering my body. Normally, donors give a maximum of 200ml, but Lucas had taken 500ml from me in one go. No wonder I felt so weak when I woke up. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. It seemed I had been fooling myself all along. I was nothing more than a choice he made after weighing the pros and cons. Lucas picked up a fruit knife and started peeling an apple for Evelyn, speaking casually. “To prevent Evelyn from relapsing in the future, we had to take a bit extra.” “Besides, stem cells regenerate in a few days. Don’t be so stingy.” Seeing his nonchalant attitude, I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. Excessive stem cell extraction could lead to blood clotting disorders, and in severe cases, even blood cancer. Yet my life and death meant nothing more to him than a casual remark about being prepared. Fearing I might vomit if I looked at him and Evelyn any longer, I decided to go home that very day. Lying in bed, I stared at our wedding photo on the wall and let out a sarcastic laugh. If I was going to leave, I might as well make a clean break. I booked a flight for three days later, but after waiting half a day, I still hadn’t received the confirmation code. Just as I was wondering what was wrong, Lucas called. His voice was uncharacteristically tense. “Aria, why are you booking a flight?” I used to book Lucas’s business flights, so the phone number was automatically filled in with his. “I’ve been feeling down lately. I’m going to visit a friend for a few days.” “Well, be careful-” But before Lucas could finish, a woman’s fragile voice came through the receiver. “Lucas, my head hurts so much…” Lucas hung up without a moment’s hesitation. In his heart, I had always been last on the list. The next day, when I returned home, I found the master bedroom door wide open, with Evelyn lying on the bed in her loungewear. Seeing me return, she lazily raised her eyes, adopting the air of the lady of the house. “Welcome back, sis.” Lucas emerged from the kitchen upon hearing the commotion and explained in a deep voice, “Evelyn is still recovering. It’s more convenient for me to take care of her here.” “You don’t mind me making this decision, do you?” I shook my head and smiled. “Not at all.” A flash of surprise crossed Lucas’s face. He lowered his gaze, carefully examining my expression. Seeing no signs of displeasure in my words or manner, he finally relaxed. In the past, I had been possessive of him. Even if he exchanged a few more words with a female server, I would sarcastically comment on it, let alone allow a woman to move in and live with him. I gathered my belongings from the master bedroom. Apart from my daily clothes, I threw away all the lingerie and scented candles I had bought to seduce Lucas into the garbage bin downstairs. Even the crystal pendant he had bought me when we first got together went into the trash. Lucas strode over, his brow furrowed in anger. “Why are you throwing that away?” I continued packing my suitcase, “Shouldn’t broken things be thrown away?” Broken things should be discarded, just like spoiled feelings. Lucas nodded slowly, seeming to agree. “If it’s broken, throw it away. I’ll buy you a new one later.” With that, he dove back into the kitchen to make soup for Evelyn.

I had just finished packing my suitcase when I noticed a figure standing in the doorway. “I advise you not to embarrass yourself. If you’re smart, you’ll divorce Lucas.” “Stolen love will never last.” “You probably don’t know this, but I’ve known Lucas for longer than you have.” She slowly approached me, her contemptuous gaze making me extremely uncomfortable. “You don’t think I secretly filmed that video I sent you, do you?” “There’s a folder named ‘ERO’ on Lucas’s computer E drive. It’s full of videos he recorded himself. He says they’re all proof of his love for me.” I looked at Evelyn’s superior expression and let out a scornful laugh. “If he loves you so much, why didn’t he marry you?” “As long as I’m here, you’re nothing but a mistress who can’t see the light of day.” Evelyn seemed to be angered by the word ‘mistress’. She grabbed my hair violently. “Are you proud of being Lucas’s shield?” “So what if you’re Lucas’s wife? Has he touched you in the two years you’ve been married?” “You think you’re worthy of competing with me for Lucas?” She slammed my head against the bedside table. My eyes were covered in blood, and I was in too much pain to fight back. Just when I thought she was going to continue assaulting me, she grabbed my hand and suddenly slapped herself with it. “What are you doing?!” Lucas’s angry shout came from the doorway. He pushed me away and, upon seeing the handprint on Evelyn’s face, he turned to glare at me fiercely. “Is this how you show you can’t accept Evelyn?” “At first, I really thought you had changed and become sensible. I didn’t expect you to pull these tricks behind my back.” “How many times do I have to explain to you that Evelyn and I are just friends? Can you stop being so paranoid?” My face was covered in tears and blood. Faced with his fury, every muscle in my body tensed up. Evelyn fell weakly into Lucas’s arms. “Lucas, don’t blame Aria. This is all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have come here to bother her… I’ll leave right now if it means you two can make up!” Evelyn shot me a triumphant smile from Lucas’s arms. When I met Lucas’s angry eyes, my heart sank to the bottom. “I didn’t hit her…” “Enough!” Lucas slapped me to the ground. “You vicious woman, how dare you lie!” “I’ve been too lenient with you!” He dragged me up from the floor, ignoring my bleeding forehead, and locked me in the stairwell. “Stay in there and reflect on what you’ve done wrong. I’ll let you out when you’ve figured it out!” The stairwell was dark and cramped, without a hint of light. I have claustrophobia and am terrified of being alone in enclosed, dark spaces. But even though I shouted until my throat was raw and scratched the door until my fingers bled, Lucas showed no signs of softening. After what seemed like an eternity, the housekeeper finally opened the door from the outside. She threw a bag at my head. “Mr. Graham has taken Miss Rose to a gala. The temperature’s dropping tonight, and he’s worried Miss Rose might catch cold. He wants you to bring this coat to her.” I opened the bag. The coat was a limited edition from last month’s Paris Fashion Week. Just one of its cufflinks was worth over a million dollars. “Alright.” I took the bag and went back to my room to get my packed suitcase and documents. Then I went to the study to find the file Evelyn had mentioned, copying all its contents. As I passed the housekeeper on my way downstairs, I said quietly, “When Lucas returns, tell him I’ve left him a big surprise in the study.” Then, without looking back, I took a taxi straight to the airport. Only when I was seated on the plane did I dare to let out the frustration I had been holding in my heart. Three years. It was time to end this dysfunctional love. At the gala, Lucas waited for over an hour but didn’t see me. He called me countless times, but every call went straight to voicemail. He drove home and frantically questioned the housekeeper. “Where did my wife go?” “Did she act strange before she left?” Scared by Lucas’s behavior, the housekeeper answered truthfully. “Mrs. Graham went to your study before she left.” “She also said… she left you a gift.”

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On my wedding day, Dominic’s childhood sweetheart, Rosalie, left a suicide note and disappeared into the vast ocean. She didn’t blame Dominic for forgetting his childhood promise; she only blamed herself for being too fragile to accept my existence. Every winter night, I was forced to kneel in the swimming pool, apologizing to her. When my dress was soaked with blood, Dominic grabbed my neck, his face full of malice: “Rosalie lost her life. What right do you have to nurture a new life?” Later, Rosalie returned from studying abroad, claiming it was all a joke. For the first time, Dominic felt remorse: “Let’s reconcile.” “Let’s have a child again. I’ll be a good father and husband, okay?” But he forgot that some wounds can never heal. The study door was wide open. I could see Dominic holding a woman in his arms. It was his secretary, Vanessa. “What are you dawdling for? Bring it over!” I obeyed mechanically. I was afraid that if he got angry, he would punish me again. Vanessa took the water, but her hand slipped. The sound of breaking glass rang out, and she covered her mouth with a light laugh: “It’s so hot!” “Mr. Foster is so unlucky to have married a wife who can’t even handle a glass of water properly.” I turned away, swallowing the bitterness in my heart, not wanting to see their intimate moment any longer. But Dominic wouldn’t let me off: “Pick it up. What if Vanessa accidentally cuts herself?” “Do you want to hurt another person?” I crouched down, and from above came the sound of passionate entanglement. Dominic said playfully: “Isn’t it more exciting with her here?” My vision blurred involuntarily as I quickened my movements, stumbling out of the room. The thin door couldn’t block out their increasingly intense gasps. I slumped against the wall, desperately covering my ears, only to find a warm liquid flowing from my palm. I stared at the wound, a wave of despair washing over me. Every day that Dominic took his revenge, I clung to my love for him, trying to repair this relationship. But now, it seemed pointless. Perhaps from the day Rosalie died, all he had left for me was hatred. In the middle of the night, someone took my hand. The ointment dissolved the dried blood, and the faint sting woke me up. Dominic’s face was expressionless: “I didn’t sleep with her.” “What do I have to do for you to apologize to Rosalie?” I didn’t understand. It was he who failed to keep his childhood promise. Why should I bear the consequences? If I had known about this stubborn emotion earlier, I would never have chosen this marriage. Exhausted, I no longer wanted to participate in this one-sided farce: “Then let’s get a divorce.” “I’ll do as you wish and apologize at her gravestone.” A strong sense of suffocation came from my neck, and I couldn’t help but cough. Dominic warned me: “Don’t play tricks. We both have to pay for this life.” “Don’t think I’ll soften just because you mention divorce.” I fell heavily into the bed, my heart feeling like it had fallen from a great height, no longer moved.

I never thought that the marriage I had looked forward to would be so heavy, so heavy that I could barely breathe. Back then, Dominic was nothing like the cold and cruel person he is now. He had loving parents and close friends. When he was with me, he showed me healthy affection. When I sprained my ankle during a competition and felt embarrassed, he massaged my injury every day, telling me: “It’s no big deal to lose one competition. You’ll win the next one.” When I won a scholarship but was rumored to have received sympathy points from the teacher, I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror. It was Dominic who rushed in and punched that person, scolding them: “You’re stupid and brainless. What can you do besides being jealous of girls who are better than you?” I wanted to build a career and carefully craft my personal brand. But I was afraid that I didn’t have the ability, that it would all be for nothing. Dominic interrupted all my hesitant and weak thoughts, so I gathered the courage to invest all the money I had saved over the years. Perhaps when you meet the right person, your luck changes for the better. My life took a turn for the better. But everything came to a halt on our wedding day. The girl who was like a sister to him left a suicide note and jumped into the sea. She hated me for stealing the man she loved, mercilessly crushing her girlhood dreams. Dominic changed so quickly, so fast that before I could react, I became the culprit in Rosalie’s death. As long as her body wasn’t found, I would have to suffer one more day. Three years have passed, and I still can’t understand. If there was a possibility between them, how could I have appeared? Dominic’s pursuit of me was so grand and open, and she never appeared once. Even on the day we met the parents, she smiled happily. So when she jumped into the sea, I was confused and bewildered. When Dominic looked at me with hatred, my first thought was, why does he hate me? Perhaps humans are such strange creatures that to make themselves feel better, they have to find excuses to blame others. The love Dominic gave me was like a painkiller, soothing all my wounds. I could overlook his cold indifference. I could overlook the child I lost in the cold water. I thought, life is so long, there would always be another chance. Even when he burned all the baby clothes I had knitted, I could find an excuse. He was just too grief-stricken, suddenly losing a loved one, and needed time to recover. The only thing I couldn’t tolerate was him being intimate with another woman. Even if it was to force me to bow my head and admit my mistakes. After all, once tainted, it’s tainted forever. I withdrew from my thoughts, staring at the well-bandaged wound on my palm, admiring Dominic’s ruthlessness. A dull knife cuts the deepest. Fortunately, I’ve finally given up hope.

I asked a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement, but Dominic did nothing except warn me to behave. I found some peace, thinking that as long as he stayed away, I might still have a chance at having a child. It seemed like fate was against me. On Rosalie’s birthday, he vented his anger on me again. In the freezing weather, I was forced to kneel in the center of the banquet hall. Rosalie’s parents stared at me, wishing they could tear me to pieces. All kinds of unbearable curses poured in. I was powerless to fight back, only able to keep my head down and maintain the kneeling position, hoping time would pass quickly. Dominic questioned me furiously: “Is a human life so worthless in your eyes? You’re not even willing to sincerely apologize?” “She was my sister! How could you become like this!” A person’s self-esteem is always inexplicably fragile. At that moment of his questioning, I truly felt betrayed by the whole world. I didn’t understand: “How many times did I even meet her? How could I have such power to harm her?” “Who was it that didn’t notice her obsession, or perhaps knew but ignored it?” “Who really killed her? Don’t you know?” “I just want a divorce! Is trading a divorce for an apology so difficult for you?” “Or is the title of your sister so cheap? Cheap enough to die for?” His eyes turned red, and he raised his hand high, about to bring it down, but stopped. The bodyguards picked me up and walked towards the outdoor pool. It was the same familiar routine, I was tired of it even if he wasn’t. But today was different. Years of accumulated cold had taken their toll, and I couldn’t bear even a bit of coldness. My pneumonia came and went, and I couldn’t save my own body, but at least I wanted to protect this only possible child that might live. If weakness could exchange for her life, I was willing to bow my head. Dominic acted unusually: “Amelia, people always have to pay the price for what they’ve said and done.” As soon as I touched the bone-chilling water, I couldn’t stop shaking. My head became dizzy, and I crawled forward, wanting to kowtow and apologize to save myself, but was dragged back into the pool where half my body was submerged. “Dominic! What are you doing?” A coquettish female voice rang out, and I froze in place. Rosalie, who had died three years ago, wearing a white gown, walked down the stairs step by step towards Dominic. “I barely survived, nursed myself back to health, why have I become a dead person in Dominic’s words?”

The Winters family’s faces simultaneously flashed with guilt. I seemed to catch onto something. She smiled as she walked towards Dominic, throwing herself into his arms: “Dominic, I floated in the sea for a day and a night back then, was rescued, but fell seriously ill.” “It’s been three years, I’ve finally recovered and can come back to see you!” “Why aren’t you smiling? Aren’t you happy that I’m back?” Dominic stood stiffly as Rosalie pulled him close, chatting about old times and family matters. There wasn’t a trace of a smile on his face, and his stare made everyone feel cold. Rosalie’s gaze shifted to me, and she shrank into Dominic’s arms: “Who is that ghost? She’s so scary!” Indeed, soaking wet, with hair clinging to my face, from a distance of over ten meters, didn’t I look like a vengeful spirit crawling up from the underworld to claim a life? The warm blood beneath me dyed the water red, and I finally realized. I had no family left… I was finally dragged ashore and thrown into a dry room. There were no change of clothes in the room, so I could only wrap myself in a blanket to draw what little warmth I could. The thunderous joy from downstairs seemed to draw a period to this thoroughly ridiculous farce. My torment should have ended too. But Rosalie wasn’t willing to let it go. In her eyes, the three years of companionship was a thorn deeply embedded in her bone. She despised my disheveled state, standing at the door to gloat: “Sister, I’m so sorry.” “Dominic was so happy to see me back that he even forgot about you.” “It seems he does have me in his heart, he only married you out of youthful ignorance.” “Faking my death was such a good idea, it not only made Dominic hate you but also made him realize his feelings for me.” I pinched my palm hard to keep myself clear-headed: “What did you say? Fake death?” “Do you know that your foolish prank killed my child! It tortured me for three years!” “Who told you to compete with me? The lesson had to be deep enough to make you never dare to touch him again, even unto death.” She was completely indifferent: “It was just a joke, I didn’t take your life!” “But Dominic and I were separated for three whole years!” As she turned, she met the man’s gloomy and violent gaze. The usually willful and spoiled young lady suddenly became a bit timid: “Dominic, I… I didn’t mean to deceive you. Why are you so angry?” “We’ve known each other for over twenty years, can’t I even play a joke?” Listening to her cautious yet righteous tone, I wanted to curse. As I opened my mouth, an intense itch and pain came from my chest, and I uncontrollably coughed up a pool of blood. For the first time, Dominic panicked, stumbling towards me. “Amelia, why are you coughing blood?” He held me tight, only to find that my body was ice-cold. As he lifted the thin, soaked blanket, a shocking pool of blood was revealed on the floor. “Why is there so much blood? Amelia, what’s going on? Don’t scare me!”

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After Finding My Billionaire Parents, My Fiancée Deliberately Caused a Car Accident to Steal My Family Heirloom Pendant She sent her male secretary to meet my parents instead. When I begged for her help with a steel bar piercing my thigh, she was busy comforting her shocked male secretary. Before leaving, she smashed my phone and said coldly, “You’ve enjoyed the benefits for so many years. Let Lucas have the pendant now.” Later, I was rescued by a kind passerby. I lay unconscious in the hospital bed with no one visiting. When I woke up, I saw my fiancée and her male secretary sharing a passionate kiss, supposedly for a fundraising project. The caption read: “No matter how many times, my heart will always lean towards you.” My heart finally died. I dialed my billionaire mother’s number. “Mom, cancel the grand wedding.” “Ethan, why cancel so suddenly? Did something happen?” The elegant woman’s voice on the other end of the line was filled with worry. I didn’t want to trouble this mother who had only found her biological son when she was nearly fifty. After making up an excuse, I hung up the phone. The next second, Olivia pushed open the door, reeking of alcohol. Her eyes were unfocused, and her silk shirt was wrinkled in several places. Seeing me sitting on the sofa, her brows immediately furrowed. “Where have you been messing around for the past two weeks? Your phone was off. I thought you might have died somewhere.” Her tone was accusatory. She asked as if it was perfectly natural, seemingly forgetting that she was the one who left me on the road after the accident and smashed my phone. When she didn’t get an answer from me, Olivia clearly became impatient. She irritably loosened the silk scarf around her neck and walked towards the bedroom. A cluster of hickeys suddenly appeared in my line of sight. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or if she simply didn’t care about my feelings. She made no attempt to hide them. Even at this point, my heart still ached dully like it was being cut by a knife. During the two weeks I spent recovering in the hospital, I might as well have been a living corpse. I had multiple fractures, and the steel bar that pierced my thigh put me at risk of amputation. But even so, I had hoped she would come to see me just once, even if only for a fleeting moment. I would have made excuses for her as I had always done before. And then continued to love her despite the pain. But when I got my new phone, I saw this woman I had loved for eight years publicly embracing and kissing her male secretary, smiling shyly and charmingly. The cheers of the crowd seemed to cast a filter of happiness around them. Suppressing the bitterness rising in my throat, I took off the plain ring on my index finger and placed it on the table. Olivia came out after her shower and saw this scene. Her face darkened, and she quickly walked over, using all her strength to slap me across the face. The force was heavy, and half of my face almost instantly swelled and went numb. “Who told you to take it off? Have you forgotten what I said?” she demanded. I met those angry eyes and spoke hoarsely: “How could I forget?” “Take off the ring, the vow is void, we’re over.”

Olivia looked at me in disbelief. “Who are you to say it’s over? If it weren’t for me, you’d still be living on the streets!” My gaze fell on the hickeys on her neck as I spoke calmly: “Where were you during the time I was in the hospital?” “Were you busy impersonating me to meet my parents, or were you fooling around in bed with Lucas?” Hearing my words, she realized what I meant and thought I was jealous. She immediately relaxed and approached me with a coquettish tone. “Lucas told me you only had minor injuries. You’re almost thirty and still lying to make me jealous?” Then, as if remembering something, her voice softened considerably: “Lucas has suffered a lot since childhood. He needs that identity more than you do.” “Besides, he promised me that after meeting your parents, countless business opportunities would pour into the company.” “We’re about to get married anyway, so why not give this chance to someone who needs it more?” I pushed away her body as she tried to get closer. I didn’t know how much Lucas had suffered. But over the years, in my search for my parents, I had been driven out of the orphanage, ended up on the streets fighting with stray dogs for food. I was almost kidnapped for a meal. Olivia knew all of this. Yet for Lucas’s sake, she casually asked me to give up the parents I had just found. “Why should I give it up? They’re my parents. You know how many years I’ve been looking for them.” Olivia was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered: “What can you do if you don’t want to? I’ve already taken the pendant that could prove your identity.” “Even if you speak up, who would believe you?” As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang. I glanced at it; the contact name was a heart emoji. Olivia awkwardly hid her phone behind her back and said: “This matter is already settled. Don’t do anything unnecessary.” “Do I need to remind you of your place?” I heard such belittling words from her almost every day. As her footsteps gradually faded away, she answered the call. I heard an intimate male voice from the other end of the phone. “Babe, I didn’t make you uncomfortable earlier, did I? It’s all your fault for being so seductive today, I couldn’t help myself.” Followed by Olivia’s embarrassed response: “Stop teasing, I’m at home.” Bitterness welled up in my heart. I lowered my eyes to look at the plain ring on the table and muttered to myself: “I had already met them privately.” “I was originally planning to introduce you to them as my fiancée this time.”

Before Lucas appeared, my life with Olivia could be considered happy and ordinary. She was often dizzy with work at the company. When she came home, I would prepare a hot bath for her and timely offer her a cup of hangover tea. When did cracks start to appear in this life? Probably on Lucas’s first day at the company. I received a friend request on SnapChat. After adding him, he didn’t say a word. But his SnapChat stories were frequently updated with his daily life at the company with Olivia. “The boss worked overtime today, giving her a foot massage.” “Accidentally brushed against her lips today, so sweet.” “She really seems to like my scent, even the buttons on my shirt were torn off.” “Babe blushed, so cute.” This clearly exceeded the distance that should exist between a boss and a subordinate. I could feel that he was showing off to me, but I still chose to trust Olivia. Until that day, when I brought soup to the company and he poured it out in front of me, replacing it with a glass of high-proof liquor. From the corner, I watched Olivia drink it without hesitation. At three in the morning, I received a photo from Lucas of the two of them cheek to cheek. “She’s so beautiful tonight.” “Are you still waiting for her to come home?”

That night, I didn’t sleep a wink. Tears that I hadn’t shed even when I was bullied and beaten at the orphanage soaked my pillow that night. My thoughts returned to the present. It started raining heavily outside, and the damp air made the wound on my thigh ache dully. I propped myself up and walked into the guest room to pack my clothes. Olivia was a light sleeper. To let her sleep well, I had been staying in the guest room almost every day, rarely disturbing her. Halfway through packing, a photo fell to the ground. It was our first photo together at eighteen. I picked it up and looked at it for a long time, then tore it in half and threw it in the trash. Come to think of it, I hadn’t received much kindness over the years. That’s why I had made Olivia my emotional support. I had been wandering since childhood, struggling alone in society for many years. While washing dishes in a kitchen, I happened to encounter Olivia, who was almost abducted. Her parents had fled abroad with her brother to avoid debts due to failed business investments. They left her alone to face the creditors. I initially wanted to ignore it, but she looked so pitiful crying. I couldn’t bring myself to abandon her, so I grabbed an iron shovel nearby and confronted the thugs. My reckless behavior scared off those debt-collecting hooligans. When I came to my senses, my eyes were already covered with warm blood. Eighteen-year-old Olivia, wearing a white dress, hugged me, trembling and begging me not to die. She cried beautifully, stirring the long-dried softness in my heart. I used all the money I had saved over the years to support her through college. I switched to working at construction sites, doing the hardest and most tiring jobs. I thought that if I had Olivia for the rest of my life, it wouldn’t matter if I couldn’t find my parents. Later, she graduated smoothly and joined a financial company. In less than three years, she became a big name in the industry and established her own studio. I hid outside her company building, the dust on my body making me afraid to approach that moonlight. But in front of everyone, she flew into my arms like a butterfly. I just never expected that under the influence of power and money, even the high-hanging moon would become dim. I never questioned true love, but true love can change in an instant. Fortunately, it was only eight years. I could afford to lose.

I bought a ticket on my phone for a flight to the capital city the next day. After packing my things, I reached out to knock on Olivia’s door, but heard mixed male and female voices flirting inside. The door was slightly ajar, as if it hadn’t been closed properly. Olivia had her phone on speaker and was applying body lotion to her legs. The conversation inside reached my ears word for word. Lucas’s voice came through, whining and coaxing: “Olivia, can we be together after I meet your parents? Ethan doesn’t deserve you at all.” “You’ve already repaid what you owed him long ago. Didn’t you tell me you don’t love him anymore?” Olivia’s hand paused as she was applying the lotion, her voice turning cold: “Lucas, I can give you anything you want.” “Except for this.” “I don’t love Ethan, but I still have a responsibility to him.” Then she softened her voice again, coaxing the man: “I’ve given you everything. What else are you unsatisfied with? Being too greedy isn’t a good thing.” “But Olivia, do you really want me to be the other man?” A smile appeared on Olivia’s face, her voice lazy and drawling. “How could you be the other man?” “The one who isn’t loved is the other man.” I closed the door and turned to leave. Laughing at myself for the thought of saying goodbye just now.

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The day after my miscarriage, Lucas Reed’s charity auction was trending on social media. Facing the cameras, the tech billionaire gazed lovingly into the lens, “This piece of jewelry represents only a fraction of my love for my wife.” “My wife is my everything.” Fans quickly dug up stories about Lucas Reed and his wife Aria: “He left a board meeting just to bring his wife some lobster mac and cheese.” “He bought the Moonlight Lake Resort, the most scenic spot in the city, just for his wife to enjoy alone.” … The internet was in a frenzy, and Lucas Reed was crowned the king of true love. Our relationship was dubbed a fairy tale romance by netizens. I watched the video several times, only to end up laughing bitterly at myself. If I hadn’t received that text message, I wouldn’t have seen Lucas embracing another woman, calling her “wife” affectionately. And that woman had a swollen belly. I wouldn’t have lost my own child. I don’t want this rotten marriage anymore. Looking at the medical report in my hand, I called Lily, the wish-fulfillment streamer. “Hello, I want to record four videos as my last words. Name your price.”

For the first episode, “Love Has Rusted,” I took Lily to the orphanage where Lucas and I first met. I was an orphan, but I was gifted academically and quite attractive. I always had many suitors. Knowing the games rich people play, I focused solely on my studies, wanting to carve out my own path through hard work. Lucas was different from the others. He volunteered at the orphanage every week, buying treats for the children. The kids affectionately called him “Brother Lucas.” During his free time, he would ask me for help with his studies, always polite and never mentioning his feelings. When I fell ill, he would bring medicine in the middle of the night. He spent a fortune hiring Ivy League tutors for himself and invited me along, claiming he felt lonely studying alone. When I broke my leg, Lucas insisted on carrying me to school on his back to ensure I didn’t miss any classes. He climbed 108 steps every day for 120 days. On the day of our final exams, Lucas knelt down with a bouquet of flowers, “Aria, will you be my girlfriend? Let’s create a beautiful future together.” My heart finally melted, overwhelmed with happiness. Shallow love is common, but a connection of souls is rare. I became the top scorer in that year’s exams and was admitted to the Electronic Science and Technology program. Lucas enrolled in Business Administration at Stanford, not far from my university. After we got together, our love didn’t diminish; if anything, it grew stronger. If I hadn’t discovered Lucas’s secret family two days ago, I should have been the happiest woman alive. It’s just as they say, “Those who fall in love quickly are the first to grow cold, while those who fall slowly are still warming up.” Lily filmed me playing with the children, She captured the ancient tree carved with our names. Then I took Lily to the secret hideout Lucas and I shared. I carefully dug up the love lock we had buried, looked calmly at the camera, and said, “Lucas, the lock is rusty now. Do you think our love has rusted too?” “If it has, please tell me, okay?” “I love you, but I don’t want to live in a lie.”

For the second episode, “Who Broke the Wedding Vows,” I took Lily to Moonlight Lake Resort. This was where Lucas and I got married. Back then, Lucas wasn’t a billionaire yet, but he still rented out the entire resort. That day, Lucas put the ring on my finger with tears in his eyes, lifted my veil, and solemnly promised, “Aria, I will love you with my life for the rest of our days. Even if I’m no longer alive, my soul will always protect you.” “I will never betray you, never leave you.” Looking at the ring on my finger, tears rolled down my cheeks. From that moment, I was no longer homeless. “Lucas, I will strive to be the best Mrs. Reed. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, I will never betray you, never leave you.” Lily looked admiringly at the picturesque venue, “Aria, your husband treats you so well. No wonder netizens call your relationship a fairy tale romance.” She sighed, “In today’s society, how many people can stay true to their first love? You’ve made so many people believe in love again.” I smiled lightly and walked solemnly down the red carpet, “Lily, make me look beautiful. I want your brother-in-law to remember how stunning I was back then.” The altar from our wedding was still there. I slowly stepped onto it, faced the camera, raised my hand, and vowed, “Lucas, I will strive to be the best Mrs. Reed. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, I will never betray you, never leave you.” “Lucas, I love you, my vow is eternal.” “Lucas, is your vow still there?”

For the third episode, “Witnessing Your Betrayal,” I took Lily to the central garden. Sitting under a tree, we watched a petite young woman with a protruding belly taking a stroll in the distance. Lily’s expression had already changed. She cried, “Aria, I just started believing in love. Why are all men so fickle?” “Aria, you’re so pitiful. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your video goes viral so everyone can see what a scumbag he is.” I forced a smile on my pale face and patted her hand to comfort her, “He loved me once, maybe he still does. We had sweet moments, isn’t that good enough?” “Love isn’t something you beg for. If someone doesn’t love you anymore, you should love yourself.” Swallowing my bitterness, I smiled and walked towards the young woman, “Hello, beautiful. We’re doing street interviews. We’d like to test how much your husband loves you. Of course, we have a great gift for you.” The young woman scoffed, “My husband absolutely adores me. See that house? He bought it for me.” She showed us her phone, “See this huge children’s playground? It’s a gift from my husband for me and our son. He says we’ll always be his treasures.” I stared at the children’s playground with a heavy heart. Lucas once told me that if we had a child, he’d buy the best playground for us, so we could always be his happy treasures. It turns out he had already given my promises to someone else. Perhaps my child sensed the falseness of his father’s love and didn’t want to come into this family. I immediately took out a bracelet, “If you can get your husband to come here right now, we’ll believe your husband loves you 100%, and we’ll give you this bracelet. We’ll also promote you as the ultimate couple goals.” The woman’s eyes lit up, greedily eyeing the bracelet. This was a Valentine’s Day gift from Lucas, worth over $200,000, with our initials engraved on it. I seized the opportunity to put the bracelet on her wrist, flattering her, “Beautiful, our views depend on you now.” The young woman proudly took out her phone and spoke in a sweet voice, “Honey, I want to eat the lobster mac and cheese from Fifth Avenue. Can you go buy it for me?” I don’t know what the other person said, but the young woman pouted and continued to whine, “No, I want it now. I want you to go buy it now. Why can’t you leave the meeting?” A chuckle came from the other end, and the young woman put it on speakerphone, “You clingy little thing, if you miss me, just say so. I’ll be there in five minutes.” The young woman blew a kiss into the phone, “Love you, honey.” She hung up and said proudly, “See? With just one word from me, my husband will drop everything and come running.” “He even left his meeting. Isn’t that proof enough?” I sneered. So the man who once loved me to death now loves someone else just as much. The wind blew, making me squint. Tears seemed to well up, and I hurriedly wiped them away, but the more I wiped, the more they came. This damned wind, always stirring up emotions. Five minutes later, Lucas came jogging over, carrying a takeout box. The young woman immediately smiled and threw herself into his arms, tilting her head up for a kiss. Lucas’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he lowered his head and captured her luscious lips. They began to kiss passionately, oblivious to their surroundings. I watched this fiery scene from a distance. Even though I already knew the truth, I couldn’t help but imagine for a moment. But seeing it in person made me realize how much it hurt, like a knife twisting in my heart. It was as if every nerve was trembling, my chest tight with held breath, tears streaming uncontrollably. The young woman’s arms were around Lucas’s neck. If he had glanced away for even a second, he would have seen the bracelet with our initials clearly engraved. But he was kissing her so earnestly, so passionately, so lost in the moment. I still remember our wedding night when Lucas excitedly held me, gently kissing my forehead, eyes, and nose. With tears in his eyes, he whispered in my ear over and over, “Aria, you’re finally mine, and I will always be yours alone.” “I love you, and I will love only you for the rest of my life.” Back then, I truly thanked the heavens for blessing me with such a wonderful person who loved me so much. But now, he had long forgotten his vows. He had made new promises to someone else. After their prolonged kiss, the young woman tugged on Lucas’s tie and whispered something in his ear. Lucas immediately scooped her up and headed towards the stairs. As they entered, the young woman turned back and waved at me, the bracelet dangling from her arm. Lily silently put away her phone, “Aria, if you’re sad, just cry it out. You’ll feel better if you let it out.” I touched my face and realized it was already wet with tears. No matter how much I had prepared myself not to be sad, the tears still came.

For the fourth episode, “Never to Meet Again,” Lily and I sat on the couch. I took out my medical report. When Lily saw the words “late-stage acute leukemia,” she burst into tears. “Aria, let’s not film anymore. I don’t want the money. Please go get treatment, okay? If your husband won’t go with you, I’ll go with you.” The young girl cried so hard that the camera drifted away. I had to steady the phone and face the camera myself. “Stop crying, your nose is running. If this video goes viral, you’ll definitely become a meme.” Lily finally stopped crying and said chokingly, “Aria, if you have any wishes, tell me. I’ll make sure to fulfill them for you.” I smiled lightly at the camera, “Lucas, by the time you see this video, I’ll be resting eternally in the snow-capped mountains.” I frowned, thinking quietly for a moment, “Which do you think is better, the Swiss Alps or the Rocky Mountains? You said you’d take me to see snow-capped mountains, but I guess that’s not possible in this lifetime.” “Lucas, don’t come looking for me. Let me rest peacefully in the mountains. I don’t want to be in a cemetery. I’m afraid all the neighboring graves will have visitors, but mine won’t. Even as a ghost, I’d be embarrassed.” I muttered softly, “I’m more afraid that you’ll bring your new love to see me, or even your children with her. That would remind me of our child.” I sat up straight and smiled, “Lucas, it’s time to say goodbye.” “No, not goodbye. We’ll never meet again.” I inserted a few video clips captured by a private investigator, In a private room at a bar, Lucas and his best friends were each holding a beautiful woman, playing truth or dare. The bottle landed on Lucas. His friends jeered, “Who’s better in bed, Aria or your new girl?” Lucas smirked, pressing down on the girl beside him and biting her hard, “Of course it’s my new girl. She’s mind-blowing, exciting.” “Aria’s like a dead fish.” The atmosphere grew more intense, “Who was your last time with?” “Of course, with my new girl. In the car, it was hot and intense.” “Hahaha…” I was familiar with that private room, but I had left early. I didn’t expect the lead role to change in just a moment. I played another video from before, “Come on, who told you to call these questionable women? Besides your sister-in-law, who else could I possibly be interested in?” Someone lit a cigarette, and Lucas immediately put it out, “My wife doesn’t like the smell of smoke.” Someone opened a bottle of wine, and Lucas threw it away, “My wife doesn’t like me drinking.” Someone turned up the music, and Lucas immediately lowered the volume, “My wife doesn’t like it too loud.” At that moment, Lucas had already peeled and cut the perfect fruit and was handing it to me, “Honey, eat more fruit. It’s good for your skin.” … At the end of the video, Lily was crying so hard her nose was bubbling, but she still held up my diagnosis notice to summarize the video. After finishing the video, I sent Lily away, telling her to release the video a month later. I also asked her to send a copy directly to Lucas. I spent half a day donating all the things Lucas had bought for me to charity foundations. I had the cleaners take down our wedding photos, and packed all my toothbrushes, towels, clothes, teacups, and other belongings into black garbage bags. In less than three hours, the house was completely cleared out. I picked up my bag, gently closed the door, and headed to the airport. A month later, Lucas was watching the news when suddenly a viral wish-fulfillment livestream popped up. It had over a million followers. Lucas casually clicked on it, and his heart suddenly jolted. He stared wide-eyed at Aria, the subject of the wish video. A month ago, hadn’t she gone to their secret base for research? Today was exactly one month, and he had specially prepared a grand fireworks display to celebrate her successful return. Lucas’s heart began to race. He quickly clicked on the first video.

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I’ve been married to Alexander for ten years, during which he’s slept with 99 different women in our house. And each time, he made me wash the sheets after their lovemaking. I endured silently, watching him change from one lover to another. Until the fifth month of my pregnancy, his 100th bedmate tricked me into going to a bar, where I was tortured for a day and a night. My lower body was bleeding non-stop, and I felt worse than death. For the sake of the child in my womb, I knelt on the ground begging him to take me to the hospital. He sneered, “Olivia, stop pretending.” “Even if you died, I wouldn’t spare you a glance.” With that, he continued his passionate encounter with his new flame on the bar sofa, in full view of everyone. By the time I was taken to the hospital, the child in my womb had already stopped breathing. Due to the inhuman torture, I also suffered a uterine prolapse, forever losing the right to have children. When I woke up, I desperately dialed a number: “Emma, send me the company’s financial reports. I’ll be back in three days.”

Hearing this, Emma on the other end of the line immediately became excited. “You’re finally coming back, Boss Olivia!” “We’ve all missed you so much!” “Wait, you’re not bringing Alexander back with you, are you?” Hearing Alexander’s name, I lowered my eyes, my tone a bit sour: “No, just me.” After hanging up, I saw a plump woman standing at the door of the hospital room. She was Alexander’s mother, Margaret. She played a significant role in the deterioration of my relationship with Alexander. “Already rushing to find someone to keep you?” “You slut, you really have no shame!” Margaret waddled to the bedside, her sour and mean face making me feel utterly disgusted. I glanced at her with disgust and said coldly, “What are you doing here?” Margaret snorted and reached out her hand to me, her whole demeanor haughty: “It’s time for this month’s alimony.” I frowned, about to say something when my phone suddenly rang. It was a video call from Sophia. “Which old man is this now?” Margaret muttered sarcastically beside me. I pretended not to hear and pressed the answer button. Instantly, a naked couple appeared in the video. “Oh my! In broad daylight, how scandalous!” Margaret only took one look before she was frightened into covering her eyes and backing away repeatedly. I didn’t say anything, just stared intently at the two people in the video. Sophia’s belly was slightly swollen, and her entire body was covered in love bites. And the man on top of her was none other than Alexander, who had ignored me yesterday. She drew circles on Alexander’s chest with her hand while panting lightly and asked: “Alex, weren’t we too harsh on Olivia?” Alexander sneered, his tone full of contempt: “Too harsh?” “Even if those men tortured her to death, I wouldn’t think it was too much.” “This time, I want to see how she pretends to be innocent!” Sophia giggled at this, sounding like a demon from hell. The video was abruptly cut off. I clenched my fists, my fingers digging deep into my flesh. I looked up at Margaret, my eyes cold: “Did you see clearly? This is your son!” “Go ask Alexander for the alimony. I don’t have any.” I thought Margaret would feel a bit of guilt, but to my surprise, she started boasting proudly: “My son is indeed amazing! So attractive to women.” “Olivia, let me tell you, if a woman can’t keep her man’s heart, it only shows that you’re incapable.” “Alex doesn’t earn money easily. Hurry up and give me the money.” With that, she reached out to grab my phone. “What are you doing?” I was startled and hurriedly hid the phone in my arms, but I underestimated Margaret’s strength. She forcefully pulled my arm and actually yanked me off the bed. “Clatter!” The phone was thrown several meters away, and I was thrown to the ground. Blood began to seep from my newly stitched wound, but I couldn’t care less. I struggled to get up and went to pick up the phone. Margaret got to it first, skillfully unlocking it. “PayPal: You’ve received $10,000.” Only when the cold female voice sounded did she throw the phone back to me, her tone dissatisfied: “Why so little money?” With that, she hurriedly left to get a spa with her girlfriends. I collapsed on the ground, my heart as dead as ashes. That was my last $10,000, money I had saved to buy milk powder for the baby in my belly. In the end, I couldn’t keep the money, nor could I keep the child. I had nothing left.

I forced myself to get up from the ground, the tearing pain in my lower body making it almost impossible to walk normally. I could only stand in place with an awkward posture. While I was still figuring out how to sit on the bed, Alexander’s call came through. “Olivia, what’s wrong with you? Can’t stand seeing me and Sophia happy together, so you called the police on us?” “I’m telling you, as soon as I get back, I’m kicking you out!” In the past, I would have argued with him and then humbly begged for his forgiveness. Even if it wasn’t my doing, even if I wasn’t at fault. I would have taken the blame just to appease him. But now, I calmly said: “It wasn’t me. Believe it or not.” Alexander went quiet for a moment on the other end, perhaps surprised by my attitude. But soon, he viciously said: “Don’t think you can tie me down just because you’re pregnant.” “You probably don’t know yet, but Sophia is pregnant too. Your child will never compare to hers.” “Getting pregnant is no big deal, giving birth is the real achievement.” I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by painful memories. The first time I got pregnant, I naively thought he would be happy too. But on the very night we found out about the pregnancy, he dragged me to a bungee jumping platform and pushed me off. I screamed in terror, but he said, “The fetus needs some stimulation to be healthier.” His mother, Margaret, was there backing him up. So, I lost my first child. The second time I got pregnant, he forced himself on me despite my objections. That night, the blood beneath my body stained the entire sheet red. Alexander was utterly disgusted, saying I was unlucky and had dirtied his family’s bed. What little love I had left disappeared that night. After that, I avoided him like the plague. No matter what he said or did, I acted as if I couldn’t see it. But then he turned around and told Margaret that I was cold and didn’t know how to take care of him. Margaret doted on him and took him to spas to have fun. I silently endured the contempt from both mother and son, struggling to maintain the facade of a happy marriage in front of others. And now, my third child was gone too. I might never be able to become a mother in this lifetime. It was time to end this absurd marriage. I hung up the phone without any regret. And following Alexander’s example, I blocked and deleted his contact. I got up and called the doctor. The doctor was shocked to see me on the ground. “Why did you get out of bed on your own?” “The bones in your thighs and arms are broken. Aren’t you afraid of misalignment if you move around?” I didn’t respond to his words, only pleading: “Doctor, can you give me the embryo?” The doctor sighed and said nothing more. Not long after, a glass bottle was brought to the hospital room. Looking at the tiny embryo in the bottle, my heart immediately tightened. It was so small, not even as big as my palm. Baby, I’ve waited for you for so long, but still couldn’t meet you. It’s mom’s fault, mom couldn’t protect you well. I took a deep breath. This kind of pain shouldn’t be borne by me alone. I was going to send Alexander a big gift.

In the afternoon, I had a terrible headache, so I closed my eyes and dozed off on the bed for a while. As soon as I closed my eyes, I fell into a deep nightmare. The dream was full of the abuse those people inflicted on me at the bar last night. I screamed for help desperately, but no one responded. Until I saw Alexander standing at the door, backlit. “Huff…” I struggled to wake up, realizing my back was already soaked. “Still playing the victim?” “You can sleep so soundly now, looks like those guys went too easy on you yesterday.” “Sophia is pregnant too. Why don’t you go be her postpartum nanny at the care center?” Alexander looked at me with an amused expression, his eyes gleaming with something indescribable. I looked at him calmly, indifferently saying: “Whatever you say.” Seeing no reaction from me, he found it a bit boring. He then sat down casually on the edge of the bed and punched my stomach hard. The stomach that had just been cleaned out immediately started to hurt intensely, and I couldn’t help but cry out in pain. The evil in Alexander’s eyes grew stronger, and he cruelly said to my stomach: “Little one, if you ever disobey me like your mother does, I’ll punch you to death just like this.” I knew he wanted to provoke me, to see my expression of pain, but I refused to give him that satisfaction. I gritted my teeth and stared at him intently. The silent confrontation only ended when Alexander’s phone rang. As soon as he answered the call, Sophia’s sobbing voice came through. “Alex, come quick, my stomach hurts so bad!” After hanging up the phone, Alexander’s face immediately darkened, and without a word, he slapped me hard. “I’m telling you, if anything happens to the child in Sophia’s belly, don’t even think about keeping your own child!” “You’ll have to kneel down and apologize to Sophia too!” My right cheek swelled up instantly. The taste of blood in my mouth grew stronger, and I spat it out with a “pah”. It turned out he had knocked out one of my teeth. But Alexander didn’t even look at me again, leaving hurriedly with a worried expression. I watched his departing figure, my heart a wasteland. After a long while, I took out my phone and booked a flight to Jinghai City.

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On my wedding day with Alexander Hawthorne, his step-sister Isabelle threatened to jump off a building. Alexander abandoned me at the altar, still in my wedding dress, to save her. Facing the mocking eyes of the guests, I publicly announced, “Whoever comes up here to marry me today, I’ll be their bride!” Three years later, Alexander returned to the Hawthorne mansion with Isabelle. I was sitting on a leather couch, sipping gourmet soup and binge-watching TV shows. Alexander glared at my swollen belly, gritting his teeth, “Whose bastard are you carrying?” I took another sip of my soup and smiled lightly, “Of course, it’s a Hawthorne child.” Alexander approached me furiously, yanking me off the couch. “You slut! I left with Isabelle on our wedding day and haven’t been back for three years. How could that child possibly be mine?” I found it amusing. I never said it was his, and he wasn’t the only Hawthorne man. “Of course, this child isn’t yours. You’re not worthy of being its father!” Isabelle, shocked, spoke up, “Sophia, even though Alexander left you at the altar, he still let you keep the Hawthorne name and enjoy the family’s wealth. How could you be so shameless as to get pregnant with someone else’s child?” I glanced at her, “Isabelle, you’re the Hawthorne’s step-sister, yet you openly seduced your own brother. When it comes to shamelessness, who could compare to you two?” Isabelle immediately turned to Alexander with a pitiful voice, “Alex, for the past three years, we’ve kept our relationship purely platonic. But she’s pregnant with another man’s child, making you a cuckold.” Hearing the word “cuckold,” Alexander raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. “You whore! You get knocked up by someone else and dare to slander me and Isabelle? Get out of the Hawthorne house!” The pain on my cheek left me dazed for a few seconds. Three years ago, when Alexander ran off with Isabelle, leaving me alone at the altar to face everyone’s mockery, I publicly asked for a husband. It was Alexander’s uncle, William Hawthorne, who stepped up and married me. William was known as the “Ice King” in the city. Since I married him, everyone treated me with utmost respect and courtesy. Since my pregnancy, William had been pampering me, not letting even a hair on my head be harmed. If William found out Alexander had hit me today, there would definitely be bloodshed. To avoid a family tragedy and for the sake of my unborn child, I said coldly, “If you leave now, I’ll pretend none of this ever happened.” But they didn’t appreciate my offer. Isabelle grabbed my hair. “Alex, this bitch is just guilty. She wants to drive us out so she can use that bastard child to take over the Hawthorne fortune.” Alexander cursed, “You scheming witch, so that’s your plan. I won’t let you get away with it.” I twisted away from Isabelle’s grip and said coldly, “From the day you ran away, Grandfather Hawthorne removed you from the family. Everything in this house has nothing to do with you anymore.” Isabelle laughed lightly, “That was just Grandfather’s angry words. Alex is the only Hawthorne grandson, how could he really be removed from the family?” Alexander looked smug, “Grandfather always said everything in the Hawthorne family belongs to me.” I placed a hand on my belly and said coldly, “Not anymore. The child I’m carrying is also a Hawthorne descendant.” I thought I had made myself clear enough. But Alexander glared at me angrily, “You bitch, you really are trying to pass off this bastard as a Hawthorne heir. I’ll teach you a lesson today!” He slapped me even harder, causing me to fall to the ground, clutching my stomach. Seeing their menacing expressions, fear rose in my heart. Worried they might harm the baby, I quickly said, “The child I’m carrying isn’t a bastard, it’s…”

Before I could finish, Alexander shoved the bowl of gourmet soup, along with its broken pieces, into my mouth. “Isabelle and I have been struggling for the past three years, while you’ve been living the high life here, all because of that bastard in your belly!” “I’ll make you eat your fill today!” I choked immediately, unable to speak as the sharp ceramic pieces cut into my mouth, drawing blood. As I tried to resist, Isabelle dug her sharp heel into the back of my hand. My entire hand throbbed with pain, but I couldn’t even cry out. After force-feeding me the entire bowl of soup, Alexander spat on me before standing up. Isabelle moved her stiletto-clad foot to my protruding belly. Terrified, I desperately grabbed her ankle, preventing her from stepping down. William was infertile, and this child was the result of three years of visiting specialists both domestically and abroad. Isabelle’s face wore a mocking smile, “Sophia, you look just like a mother dog protecting her pups. How ugly.” Alexander frowned at my belly, “If word gets out that I’ve been cuckolded, how can I show my face in the city again? Isabelle, crush that bastard in her belly!” I shook my head frantically, spitting out the contents of my mouth along with blood, struggling to say, “The child… in my belly… is William’s…” Alexander paused, then burst into laughter. “Sophia, you’re really terrible at lying! Everyone in the city knows my uncle avoids women and is sterile.” “Right now, I’m the only one who can continue the Hawthorne line. Why else do you think Grandfather was so eager for me to marry you and produce an heir?” Isabelle chimed in, “Alex is the only Hawthorne heir. Grandfather stopped his cards to force him to come back and inherit the family business.” “You’re ridiculous, trying to pin this on Uncle William after we exposed your lies.” Alexander and Isabelle had eloped for three years without even a phone call home. Grandfather Hawthorne was truly disappointed in him, which was why he cut off Alexander’s funds and wanted to sever ties with him. But seeing them both in such an irrational state, I didn’t argue to avoid provoking them further. I repeated, “I’m not lying. The child really is William’s.” “If you don’t believe me, I can call William to confirm.” With one hand protecting my belly, I reached for my phone on the table. If I could just contact William, he would rush over to save me and the baby. But just as I grabbed the phone, Alexander snatched it away and smashed it on the ground. Seeing the screen shatter into pieces, my heart sank. Alexander grabbed my chin and said, “My uncle is unpredictable and feared by everyone in the city as the Ice King.” “If he finds out I can’t even handle being cuckolded, he’ll think I’m useless and won’t pass the company to me.” “Sophia, isn’t that why you wanted to call my uncle?” I shook my head quickly, “No, the baby I’m carrying is…” Before I could finish, Isabelle pressed her heel into my stomach, “Alex, why waste words on this slut? Let’s quickly get rid of the bastard in her belly and go report to Grandfather.” A sharp pain shot through my abdomen, and I could feel the baby moving frantically inside. I was filled with unprecedented panic. I looked at them pleadingly, “Please, spare my child…” Isabelle took out her phone and pointed it at me, “If you kneel down and bark like a dog twice, then say you’re a promiscuous bitch, I’ll spare the child in your belly.”

At this moment, for the sake of my unborn child, I could no longer care about anything else. I turned and knelt on the ground, barked “Woof, woof” twice, and said with a trembling voice, “I’m a promiscuous bitch.” Isabelle bent down to look at me, a smug smile on her lips. “Sophia, when I knelt before you begging you not to marry Alex, did you ever imagine this day would come?” Back then, Isabelle had come to me, saying she and her step-brother were in love, asking me to break off the engagement. The marriage between the Hawthorne and Winters families was arranged by our parents, with countless business interests behind it. If I had proposed to break it off, the responsibility would have fallen on me, and the Winters family would have suffered. So I refused her request. I never expected her to hold such a grudge until today. Now, I had no energy to argue about past events. I looked at them pleadingly, “Please, call an ambulance quickly.” Alexander stomped on my back, “Sophia, you really are a slut! You’d do anything for this bastard!” I was pinned to the ground, my belly hitting the hard floor. A burning pain spread across my abdomen. “You said you’d spare my child…” Isabelle spoke casually, “I said I’d spare your child, but Alex didn’t say anything!” “You bitch, using that bastard in your belly to scam the Hawthorne family under my name. If you think I’ll let you off, dream on!” Alexander kicked me hard in the abdomen. An intense pain ripped through my lower belly, and bright red blood began to flow down my legs. Feeling the baby’s movements gradually cease, I was filled with despair. My eyes burned with hatred as I looked at them. “Alexander, Isabelle, you’ll regret this!” Isabelle stood beside Alexander, her eyes filled with malice, “Alex, this bitch still hasn’t learned her lesson. Looks like she needs more punishment!” Hearing this, Alexander’s lips curled into a cold smile, “Let’s see who makes who regret!” “Isabelle, go find a rope.” Isabelle immediately understood and found a rope from the living room, walking towards me. I dragged my bleeding lower body backward, my eyes full of terror, “What are you going to do?” But their only response was excitement on their faces. They tied my hands and feet together with the rope, then dragged me from inside the house to the outside, leaving a long trail of blood on the floor. They dragged me to the edge of the swimming pool. Alexander kicked me into the pool. With my limbs bound, I could only sink helplessly to the bottom. The pool water sealed my mouth and nose, and the agony of suffocation overwhelmed me. Just when I thought I was about to die, Alexander pulled me up by the rope. “Sophia, have you learned your lesson? Will you ever dare to cuckold me again?” I gasped for air, but I could feel the pain in my abdomen sinking lower and lower. I had attended prenatal classes with William before, and I knew this meant I was going into premature labor due to the trauma. Although I knew the chances of the baby surviving were slim, I didn’t want to give up this last hope. I pleaded with Alexander again, “I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll never do it again. Please spare me and the baby.” “I’m going into labor. Please call an ambulance, I beg you…” Alexander spat at me, “Bitch, you’re still thinking about that bastard. I see you have no remorse at all!” “There’s no way I’m letting that bastard leave the Hawthorne house alive today!” He raised his foot to kick me back into the pool. I closed my eyes in despair, my heart filled with fear of drowning. Just then, the gates of the Hawthorne mansion burst open. William rushed in, his eyes filled with urgency, and shouted, “Stop!”

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As the destined lucky star of the Sinclair family, I skipped evening self-study to prepare for the annual family ritual. Little did I know that just as I caught my breath, the door of the Koi Hall would be kicked open by my classmate. “You bitch! Not only did you seduce my boyfriend, but you dare to come to his family’s ancestral hall for an affair? You must be tired of living!” Vanessa Jennings shouted at me. Confused by her sudden accusation, I retorted casually. Unexpectedly, this group of people became convinced that I had seduced young master Theo Sinclair and proceeded to smash my face with a feng shui ornament, leaving me bloodied. Touching my throbbing forehead, I was speechless. With me, their lucky star, injured, the Sinclair family would no longer be able to maintain their status as the wealthiest family. Vanessa’s lackeys, though loud in their threats, fell silent at the sight of blood. As I touched my bloody forehead, my first thought was that the Sinclair family was about to face misfortune again. My name is Autumn Kensington, and I’ve been an orphan since childhood. The old patriarch of the Sinclair family, known for his ability to read stars and fortunes, adopted me immediately and held an internal meeting to honor me as a distinguished guest. “The rise and fall of our Sinclair family lineage will henceforth be tied to Autumn alone,” he declared. “Immediately establish the Koi Hall and make sure to take good care of Miss Autumn. Write it as the first rule in our family code!” And so, I grew up in luxury in the Koi Hall built for me by the Sinclair family. Soon after, the old patriarch passed away. The current family head, Richard Sinclair, heard rumors that I had caused the death of my parents. He treated me disrespectfully and kicked me out of the family. That very night, the Sinclair family’s stock prices plummeted, and even the young master Theo Sinclair, whom they had just mentioned, suddenly suffered a heart attack and barely survived. It could be said that from the moment I was adopted by the Sinclair family, my fate became inextricably linked with their prosperity and decline. When I’m happy, the Sinclair family naturally prospers. When I’m injured, the Sinclair family inevitably faces setbacks. The servants of Koi Hall, who had always treated me with utmost respect since childhood, were stunned at the sight of my bloodied state. After a moment of shock, they screamed. “Who are you people? Who gave you the audacity to harm Miss Autumn!” “Kneel and apologize to Miss Autumn immediately, or don’t blame us for being impolite!” Vanessa still held the bronze fish she had used to hit me. This bronze fish was a feng shui artifact specially crafted for me by the old patriarch at great expense. Apart from me, no one else was allowed to touch it. Now that it was stained with blood, the Sinclair family would suffer financial losses tonight. This spoiled young lady, ignorant of everything, was controlled by anger and swung the bronze fish around wildly. “Bah! I should be asking you where you get the nerve to talk to me like that!” she spat. “I’m Theo Sinclair’s girlfriend, and I’m about to exchange birth charts for engagement right here in Koi Hall. I’m your future mistress!” Vanessa’s lackeys, now emboldened, reached out to poke my forehead. “Autumn, it’s bad enough that you flirt around with teachers, but now you dare to seduce young master Sinclair?” “Everyone in school knows that young master Sinclair is going to marry our Vanessa. How dare you get into his car? If we don’t teach you a lesson today, who knows what you’ll do next – maybe even climb into his bed!” I covered my wound, my face full of helplessness. “Stop slandering me. I got into Theo’s car because he begged me to!” That Theo has always been unruly, and as the only heir of his branch, Richard Sinclair often beat and scolded him out of frustration. So he came to me, wanting me to put in a good word for his new girlfriend to the old master. He was so subservient, serving tea, pouring water, and opening car doors more attentively than any servant. So that new girlfriend turned out to be Vanessa. I’ve been busy preparing for the annual Sinclair family ritual these past few days and didn’t have time to wait for Richard to return home. I came to Koi Hall instead, only to be beaten up by them. Without the approval of me, the family’s lucky charm, Vanessa’s dream of marrying into the Sinclair family was nothing but a fantasy! I sat back down in the center of Koi Hall with a cold smile, and the servants immediately came forward to treat my wounds. They carefully collected the bloodstained gauze and cotton swabs, and even reverently placed my torn hair on the altar. Seeing this, Vanessa’s lackeys gasped. But Vanessa’s eyes blazed with fury. She grabbed my hair and violently pulled me from the mahogany armchair. “You orphan, who do you think you are? How dare you put on an act in the Sinclair family ancestral hall right in front of me? As the future mistress, I must teach you a lesson!”

Despite my usually good temperament, I was truly angered at this point. “Vanessa Jennings, I chose to ignore your previous actions, but here in Koi Hall, I am the only master. This is not a place for you to run wild!” Vanessa showed no fear. Instead, she slapped me. “Stop talking nonsense. You’re nothing but an academic seductress with a ruined reputation. The Sinclair family would never want you.” “You dare call yourself the mistress? Learn how to be a decent person first!” Unable to tolerate it any longer, I raised my hand to strike back, my nails scratching Vanessa’s chin. Vanessa trembled in disbelief as she touched her chin, her scream nearly lifting the roof. “Hold this bitch down! I’m going to kill her!” Seeing Vanessa like this, her lackeys immediately pounced on me and held me down. Vanessa, in a frenzy, raised her foot and kicked me hard in the stomach. Having been pampered all my life, I had never experienced such torture. I doubled over in pain, nearly vomiting blood. The servants of Koi Hall were terrified. They tried to intervene but were immediately pushed away. Gasping in pain, I ordered them to quickly call back the butler who had gone shopping. “Vanessa Jennings, let me tell you, I’m not just any mistress. I’m the lucky star worshipped by the Sinclair family.” “My fate is tied to the Sinclair family’s. If you dare to hurt me, you’ll never be able to step foot in the Sinclair house in this lifetime!” Vanessa’s eyes widened, and without hesitation, she smashed the bronze fish against my mouth. “I’ll teach you to talk nonsense! Try that again!” “You think I haven’t investigated? You’re nothing but a jinx who caused your own parents’ death. Stop pretending!” Her strike caused me to bite my tongue, and my mouth instantly filled with blood. Tears of pain fell uncontrollably. Seeing this, Vanessa didn’t stop. Instead, she gripped my chin tightly. “You used that pitiful face to trick Professor Zhang and steal my direct Ph.D. admission spot.” “Now you dare to put on this disgusting act in the Sinclair house. Today, I’ll settle both old and new scores with you!” This damned Vanessa, unable to compete with my academic performance, spread rumors at school about me having an affair with a professor. In a fit of anger, I reported her to the police. That same day, Vanessa knelt before me, begging me not to make a big deal out of it. I never cared much for empty fame and only wanted to vent my anger. Seeing her sincere apology, I let it go. Who knew she would hold such a grudge? As soon as she hooked up with Theo Sinclair, she came to pick a fight with me! I was so angry I wanted to curse, but my tongue wouldn’t cooperate. So I simply spat a mouthful of bloody saliva at Vanessa. Caught off guard, Vanessa’s exquisite makeup was stained with blood. She retaliated with two hard slaps. “Still so tough when you’re about to die? Do you think Theo Sinclair will come to save you?” “Listen here, you cheap slut. Theo is waiting for me at the hotel right now. After I’m done with you, we’re going to have our private time together.” My heart sank. I had thought that since Theo needed a favor from me, he would surely come to Koi Hall when he couldn’t find me at the Sinclair house. Who knew this boy would be so blinded by lust and run off to a hotel. Now I could only hope that the Sinclair family’s second young master, who had been secretly trying to win me over, would return early from abroad for the ritual ceremony. With me severely injured, Richard Sinclair’s branch was doomed to decline. But my fate was intertwined with the Sinclair family. If one branch failed, it would go to another. As long as I was around, the other branch was bound to prosper. Seeing my panic and hesitation, Vanessa’s expression grew even more ferocious. “Oh, I see! You really are waiting for my boyfriend to come save you!” “You cheap slut! You really did seduce Theo Sinclair!” With that, she swung the bronze fish wildly, striking my head repeatedly. I cried out in pain as my scalp and flesh were smashed by the bronze fish. If the Sinclair family saw this scene, Vanessa would be dead for sure. But if she continued her rampage, I feared I might die before her! In pain and fury, I desperately tried to think of a way to escape. Just then, the door of Koi Hall was kicked open, and the butler who had gone shopping in the city rushed back with the servants. Seeing the chaos in Koi Hall, the butler nearly fell to his knees. “Stop this at once! How dare you hit Miss Autumn? Do you think your lives are too long?”

Intimidated by the butler’s imposing manner, Vanessa’s hand trembled, and the bronze fish fell to the ground. The butler’s eyes narrowed, and forgetting all etiquette, he lunged forward to catch it with his body, finally breathing a sigh of relief. “You bunch of fools! How dare you lay hands on Miss Autumn? I’m telling the old master right now. You’re all in for it!” The hands restraining me instantly loosened, and I collapsed to the ground, completely drained of strength. The butler, frightened, dropped his phone and rushed to support me. “Miss Autumn, you absolutely cannot come to harm! My life, Gregory Thompson’s life, is tied to yours!” Upon hearing his words, Vanessa’s eyes lit up. “Gregory Thompson? Are you Uncle Greg?” The butler’s body tensed, and he opened his mouth to curse, but his tone changed when he got a clear look at Vanessa. “Miss Vanessa, it’s you? What’s going on here?” Vanessa rolled her eyes, completely unconcerned. “This whore had the audacity to seduce my husband and even claimed to be some kind of lucky star.” “Uncle Greg, since you’re the Sinclair family’s butler, tell us, is she really a lucky star or not?” Gregory’s hand supporting me loosened slightly, his gaze shifting uncertainly between Vanessa and me. I tugged at Gregory’s clothes, pointing at his phone, urging him to quickly notify Richard Sinclair. However, in the next moment, Gregory completely let go of his support. “Autumn is… just the child of a Sinclair family maid.” My heart trembled. What he said wasn’t wrong. My mother was indeed a maid for the Sinclair family. But I truly am a once-in-a-century lucky star, with my fate intertwined with the Sinclair family! Vanessa took his words as if they were an imperial edict. Her lackeys, who had been frightened by Gregory earlier, once again puffed out their chests. “So that’s how you wormed your way in here. You’re just the daughter of an old maid.” “Who knows what kind of love potion this little slut gave to old Mr. Sinclair to gain the privilege of entering and leaving Koi Hall.” “Instead of honestly cleaning, you’re putting on airs in front of me. Autumn, you’re finished!” They pounced on me like madwomen, venting all their earlier fear on my body. Not satisfied with beating me bloody, they picked up shards of broken porcelain from the ground and aimed them at my eyes. “Always using those bewitching eyes to seduce people. I’ll do everyone a favor and gouge out your eyeballs.” Terrified, I desperately turned my head to avoid this fatal strike. The shard sliced down my cheek, cutting all the way to my chin. The tender, red flesh was exposed, and the pain nearly made me black out. Seeing that I had dodged, Vanessa became even angrier. She slapped my wound and kicked me several times. After this, her gaze fell on the incense burning on the altar. She suddenly stood up and grabbed a handful. “Girls, this slut is always seducing men. She must be riddled with diseases by now.” “Since we’ve vented our anger, we should also help her. Take off her pants. I’m going to treat her illness!” I bit my lower lip hard to stay conscious, trying to crawl forward, but these lunatics still caught me by the ankles. Amidst the laughter, someone took out their phone to record, while others stepped on my head and tore my clothes. Vanessa moved quickly, bringing a whole bundle of burning incense towards my lower body without hesitation. My entire body arched in pain, and my screams seemed endless. Seeing my suffering, Vanessa became even more excited. She ordered someone to spread my legs, intending to insert the incense into my private parts. “Autumn, you slut, this is how we treat your slutty disease. Let’s see if you dare to seduce men again!” My face was covered in blood and tears, and my body could no longer bear the torture. I was in agony from the pain. But these people kept cheering and applauding. “She’s smoking all over. Let’s see if she dares to do it again.” “It’s so disgusting. It’s all burned. If I were Autumn, I’d be begging for forgiveness now.” “She can only blame herself for offending Vanessa. With young master Sinclair protecting Vanessa, no one would dare interfere even if she killed her.” Hearing the flattery, Vanessa became even more arrogant. She kicked my barely human form with her foot. “Autumn, did you hear that? This is what happens when you cross me!” After saying this, she picked up a shard of porcelain from the ground. “To make sure you remember this lesson, I’ll carve the word ‘whore’ on your face. From now on, when you end up on the streets, you won’t have to worry about not having any business.” As Vanessa sneered and bent down, I seized the opportunity to lift my head and bite her ear hard. Vanessa cried out in pain and started punching me wildly. Just as the shard in her hand was about to touch my neck, Theo Sinclair’s shocked exclamation came from the doorway. “Vanessa, this is Miss Autumn’s territory. Who let you in here？”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296223”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn