Kael’s father, Roderick, was the Alpha of BlackPine Pack. He had just pulled the family business back from the brink of collapse. And the first thing he did was force his son to divorce me. “Cut ties with her. I’ll find you a partner worthy of you.” “A full-time housewife who only knows how to stay in the kitchen doesn’t deserve to be BlackPine Pack’s Luna.” “I must have been blind to agree to your marriage in the first place.” I could only laugh softly at his words. A year ago, when his family business imploded, it was me who anonymously bought up all his bad debts and filled the hole for him. Without my intervention, he wouldn’t have any of his current glory. His entire family would have become homeless rogues. My phone screen lit up. My assistant, Liam, CEO of NorthPeak Capital, sent me an audio file. I didn’t open it. The accompanying text summary already made the sordid contents clear. On the dining table sat a glass of warm milk I’d just prepared, mixed with calming herbs to soothe a werewolf’s restless mind. Kael had been stressed about Pack affairs for the past six months. Every night, I’d prepare this milk and wait for him to emerge from his study in the late hours. The sound of the password lock came from outside. Kael was home. He looked exhausted, giving me a cursory glance before heading straight to his study and closing the door heavily. Once, he used to hold me first thing when he came home, sharing the day’s events. Now, only silence remained between us. I picked up the milk and walked to the study door, knocking before pushing it open. “You’ve been up half the night. Have some warm milk to help you relax.” He glanced at it, his brow furrowing. “That again. I told you I’m sick of it.” My hand hung in midair, white steam from the glass blurring my vision. I suddenly remembered three years ago when we registered our marriage. Back then, he’d just taken over BlackPine Pack’s mess, losing sleep every night over Pack affairs. I’d stayed up with him until dawn every night, preparing this calming milk. He used to hold me and say he could never live without this companionship, that with me there, he could move forward with peace of mind. He didn’t look at me again, his gaze returning to the screen. He coldly threw out a sentence. “Get out. Don’t disturb my work.” I silently took the glass and left, closing the door behind me. The entire house fell completely silent. When Kael emerged from the study, it was already late into the night. At the dinner table, we sat in silence. He ate a few bites before putting down his fork. “Elara, we need to talk.” I looked up at him. “This can’t go on.” His gaze was evasive. “Our lives are no longer on the same level.” “My father’s company is back on track, bigger than ever before. BlackPine Pack’s position in North America is completely secure.” “And you. You stay home all day with no job, no social circle of your own, completely disconnected from the outside world.” He seemed to finally gather his courage and looked at me. “I think we should separate for a while. Give each other some space to think.” I looked at his determined face and suddenly laughed. “Fine.” One word blocked all the arguments he’d prepared in his throat. He froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so readily. I stood up to clear the table. “Kael,” I said with my back to him, my voice flat, “once you’ve decided, don’t regret it.” The next day, I met my best friend Mia for afternoon tea. At the outdoor café, Mia sighed heavily. She complained about the hardship of raising two kids and her husband’s complete indifference to family matters. “Elara, you have it easy. Kael gives you all the money, no strings attached, no family pressures weighing you down.” She patted my hand. “Not like us, waking up to a mountain of problems every day.” I smiled but said nothing. In werewolf circles, everyone thought I was mild-tempered and unambitious. As the only daughter of WhiteRock Pack’s Alpha, they also thought I was utterly incompetent. Completely lacking the ability to be an heir. Last year when BlackPine Pack neared bankruptcy, everyone said I was jumping into a fire pit. Now that the Pack had made a comeback, everyone assumed I was just a woman living off Kael. My phone buzzed. A message from Kael came through. “Saturday night, my father’s birthday. You’re coming with me to the estate for dinner.” Still that commanding tone, cold text without a trace of warmth. I sent him back a “Fine.” But I knew in my heart that this family dinner was a humiliation trap prepared specifically for me. What was coming would come eventually.

Saturday was the sixtieth birthday celebration for Roderick, BlackPine Pack’s current Alpha and Kael’s father. I carried a gift and walked into the Pack’s estate. The standalone manor that had once been deserted, with most of its security staff dismissed, was now brightly lit, a display of prosperity following their comeback. Roderick wore a bespoke hand-tailored suit, his face glowing as he stood in the center of the banquet hall. He raised glasses and laughed with business moguls and Alpha leaders from neighboring packs. When he saw me enter, the smile faded from his face, his eyes filled with contempt. “You’re here. Find yourself a seat. Don’t push to the front.” He pointed to the most remote corner of the hall, right by the service station, then didn’t spare me another glance. At the head table, Kael sat at an angle with an unfamiliar young woman beside him. The woman wore a silver haute couture evening gown, a limited-edition Patek Philippe watch glinting on her wrist under the lights. A collector’s piece only accessible to children of North America’s top Pack Alphas. Kael leaned close to her ear, speaking with a smile, his tone relaxed. “Elara.” Kael’s mother walked over holding a glass of champagne, her tone distant and perfunctory. “This is Sera, daughter of SilverMoon Pack’s Alpha. She flew in specially from London for Roderick’s birthday. Her family’s business spans Europe and America. She’s young and accomplished.” I nodded and looked at Sera. She was sizing me up, her gaze like she was examining something beneath her station, superiority radiating from her. “Oh, so you’re Luna Elara?” She drew out her words, a hint of a smile on her lips. “I heard you’ve been a stay-at-home wife since getting married? You’ve really sacrificed a lot for the family.” Her words mentioned sacrifice, but the disdain in her eyes was overflowing. Kael’s expression stiffened slightly. He glanced at me, then turned to follow Sera’s conversation about future collaboration plans between the two Packs. Dinner was served. The table was filled with exquisite dishes prepared by a three-Michelin-star chef. After several rounds of drinks, Roderick took the microphone and went on stage to give a speech. “Thank you all, friends and allies, for attending my sixtieth birthday banquet!” He raised his glass high, full of vigor. “This time last year, BlackPine Pack was at rock bottom. It’s because of your unwavering support that we’re here today!” He drained his glass, then suddenly shifted his tone, his gaze locking onto me in the corner. “Of course, today I must also thank certain people.” He emphasized the word “thank,” dripping with sarcasm. “Some people benefited from our family’s misfortune without contributing anything. Now that we’ve risen, she still has the gall to stand here, basking in our success and sharing in our glory.” The moment he finished, the entire hall erupted in laughter, mixed with waves of agreement. “Exactly! Just a full-time housewife. What else can she do besides spend a man’s money?” “The heir’s wife is just a housewife? She really doesn’t deserve BlackPine Pack.” “Roderick is being too generous. If it were me, I’d have kicked her out long ago!” Sera laughed and chimed in, her voice loud enough for nearby tables to hear: “Roderick is being modest. Some people just want stability. They have no real abilities, so they can only stick to household chores. “But BlackPine Pack is on the rise. Kael has a bright future ahead. Naturally, he needs someone more suitable by his side, not someone irrelevant holding him back.” The two of them played off each other like they’d rehearsed it, every word aimed at me. I never spoke, sitting quietly in place. My silence, in their eyes, became weakness, became incompetence. I became tacit admission that I wasn’t worthy of Kael, wasn’t worthy of BlackPine Pack. The birthday banquet’s clamor gradually subsided. Roderick finally dropped all pretense, walking straight to me with his wine glass. “Elara, you can see for yourself. Our family isn’t what it used to be.” His tone was icy. “You being with Kael is holding back his future.” “I’ll give you five hundred thousand dollars. Divorce Kael. Stop pestering him afterward, and never set foot in BlackPine Pack territory again.” Five hundred thousand dollars. To buy out our three-year marriage. To buy out the thirty-two million in debt I’d quietly covered for him. To buy out the entire BlackPine Pack I’d saved. What a joke. Everyone in the banquet hall focused their eyes on me, full of mockery and anticipation of a spectacle. Sera stood nearby holding her wine glass, a triumphant smile on her face, as if she’d already determined herself to be Kael’s next partner, BlackPine Pack’s future mistress.

I didn’t look at Roderick, but turned my gaze to Kael instead. He was like a bystander, as if our three-year marriage had nothing to do with him. “Kael,” I spoke, “is this what you want too?” His body jerked violently, his knuckles turning white around his wine glass. Every eye in the hall turned to him. Even the air went quiet. “Yes.” That single word completely shattered the last bit of warmth remaining in my heart. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Good. Very good.” I stood up and surveyed the room full of people. Roderick’s brow furrowed tightly, extremely dissatisfied with my reaction. “What are you laughing at? Five hundred thousand isn’t enough? Elara, don’t be shameless!” Sera leaned on Kael’s shoulder looking at me, disdain practically spilling from her eyes. “A full-time housewife who’s been freeloading for three years. Without Kael, you couldn’t even earn five hundred thousand. What’s there to be dissatisfied about?” And Kael just let her lean on him without even frowning. “Elara, be smart. Take the money and leave. Don’t make this uglier than it needs to be.” “Ugly?” I looked at him, the smile at the corner of my mouth growing colder. “Kael, from the moment you allowed Sera to sit here and humiliate me, things were already ugly.” “I’ll divorce you, but not now.” The moment I said this, everyone in the room froze. Sera laughed mockingly, sitting up straight. “What, trying to drag it out? Even if you drag it out ten or eight years, it won’t change the fact that he wants to divorce you. Stop wasting your energy.” “I’m not trying to drag it out.” I spoke calmly. “I just feel that when Kael and I got married, we didn’t have a proper wedding. Now that BlackPine Pack is back at its peak, why don’t we invite all our business partners to a grand press conference to announce our divorce.” “It would be a proper ending to our marriage. A dignified conclusion.” My suggestion left both Roderick and Sera stunned. They couldn’t figure out what I was planning. To them, this was tantamount to public execution, trampling what little dignity I had left. A gleam flashed in Roderick’s eyes. He immediately realized this was a golden opportunity for him! He’d been worrying about how to announce his powerful return to the business world, how to introduce Sera, the new daughter-in-law who could bring more resources to BlackPine Pack. I’d voluntarily given him this chance. How could he not seize it? “Good! That takes guts!” Roderick’s face broke into a wide smile. “Elara, I didn’t expect you to have some backbone! Let’s do it! I’ll arrange the press conference and make sure it’s dignified!” Sera looked at me with eyes full of contempt and pity. “Elara, don’t go crying when the time comes. Do you need me to sponsor a decent dress for you?” I ignored her, only giving Kael one last look. His face showed confusion and bewilderment, perhaps even a trace of barely perceptible guilt. But what did it matter? He chose this path himself. Then he must be the star of this grand finale. Over the next few days, Roderick indeed threw all his energy into preparing for this banquet. He booked the most luxurious hotel ballroom, inviting every business elite and Alpha from every Pack across North America he could reach. Word spread throughout the North American werewolf community. BlackPine Pack had risen from the ashes, and heir Kael was about to marry a noble new partner. I became a complete joke.

When Liam heard I was going to the press conference, he nearly exploded with rage, calling me immediately. “Elara, why are you rushing to hand them a knife? When they say something inappropriate, it’s your face that gets lost.” “For trash like them, the bigger the scene, the better. Solving everything at once will bring peace.” I said lightly. “You!” Liam was too angry to speak. “I’ll be watching to see how you handle this!” On the day of the press conference, I wore a simple evening gown and walked into the resplendent ballroom. Roderick and Kael’s mother were dressed lavishly and glamorously, greeting guests with beaming faces. Kael wore an expensive bespoke suit, his arm linked with Sera’s, accepting congratulations and envious looks from everyone. Seeing me, the smile vanished instantly from Roderick’s face. He strode over quickly, lowering his voice, his tone full of warning and disgust. “You actually dare to come! Remember, today you’re here to cooperate with the show. Don’t try any tricks!” Sera also walked over, looking me up and down. “Elara, that outfit. Are you here to work as waitstaff? Let me remind you, everyone here today is someone important. You’d better shrink into a corner to avoid embarrassing BlackPine Pack.” I said nothing, only smiled. Kael’s gaze briefly met mine. He quickly looked away, his expression complex. I found an inconspicuous corner to sit in, watching this absurd yet real drama unfold before me. Watching Roderick circulate through the crowd, boasting about how he pulled his company back from the edge of bankruptcy. Watching Sera, acting like the lady of the house, introducing BlackPine Pack’s grand blueprint to everyone. Watching Kael. The man I’d loved for three years, the one I thought I’d grow old with. Thriving in this vanity fair, slipping further and further away from me. Halfway through the banquet, the host invited Roderick onstage for a speech. Under the spotlight, Roderick held the microphone, full of vigor. “Good evening, friends!” “Thank you all for your support of BlackPine Pack, which has made us greater than ever before.” Thunderous applause erupted below. He basked in it all, then changed his tone. “Besides announcing BlackPine Pack’s magnificent comeback, my son Kael will be saying goodbye to the past and welcoming a brand new life!” As he spoke, he beckoned to Kael and Sera. The two walked onstage intimately and stood beside Roderick. “Some people are only suitable for sharing hardship, not prosperity.” Every gaze in the hall turned to me in unison. Some sympathetic, some pitying, but most were mocking, enjoying the spectacle. I became the superfluous person in their eyes. Kael kept his head down, not daring to look at me. Sera wrapped her arm around Kael’s waist, silently flaunting her victory to me. Roderick cleared his throat, preparing to announce my divorce from Kael and hint at Sera and Kael’s upcoming engagement. I stood up and walked slowly toward the stage. Everyone froze. The music stopped. Roderick’s face turned iron-dark, hissing into the microphone: “Elara! What do you think you’re doing? Get down from here!” I ignored him, walking straight to center stage and taking another microphone from the host. The spotlight shone on me. I could clearly see every shocked face below. “Don’t be in such a rush, Roderick.” I smiled, my voice carrying through the sound system throughout the entire ballroom. “Today is my stage too, isn’t it?”

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Ten days before the wedding, I pushed open the fitting room door to find my fiancé Ethan bent over, adjusting Chloe’s wedding dress. That dress—I was the one who ordered it. The store clerk stood nearby, smiling as she complimented Chloe’s figure, saying the dress looked like it was custom-made for her. I stood frozen in the fitting room doorway. Chloe spotted me in the mirror and quickly covered her exposed cleavage. “Natalie, don’t misunderstand.” Her voice dripped with innocence. “I just thought this dress was so beautiful, and I mentioned wanting to try it on. Ethan said—” Before she could finish, Ethan rushed to explain. “Chloe’s never worn a wedding dress before. What’s wrong with letting her try it on?” I looked at him, and suddenly felt like laughing. This wedding dress? I didn’t want it anymore. This fiancé? I didn’t want him either. I said nothing, walking over slowly. The store fell silent. The clerk who’d been holding my gloves instinctively stepped back. Ethan glanced at me, finally seeming to notice my expression. “She just got back to the country and she’s going through a rough time. It’s just a fitting. Don’t make a scene.” I stared at him and asked quietly, “When did this start between you two?” His brow furrowed. Chloe bit her lip, maintaining that innocent look. “Natalie, I really didn’t mean anything by it. I just—” “Don’t bother lying!” I cut her off. “You knew exactly how important this dress was to me. Not only did you put it on, you had my fiancé help you into it!” Her face paled. Ethan’s voice dropped immediately. “Natalie. Why are you taking it out on her? She said she just wanted to try it. Why are you being so harsh?” Looking at him, I suddenly felt that even getting angry would be a waste of energy. I reached up and removed the veil from my head. Ethan’s expression finally changed. “Natalie, what are you doing?” I ignored him, focusing on removing the ring from my left hand. That ring—he’d put it on me just last month. The ring stuck a bit as I tried to remove it. I twisted it forcefully, and my knuckle quickly turned red. Ethan walked over, finally showing some urgency, reaching out to touch me. “Stop this.” I stepped aside, avoiding his hand, and threw the ring on the floor. “She wants to try on wedding dresses? You can help her. She wants to get married? You can marry her too.” The color drained from Chloe’s face, and her voice began to tremble. “Natalie, please don’t do this. I really wasn’t trying to steal—” “You weren’t trying to steal.” I looked at her. “You just knew that whenever you reached out, he’d always take your side. And he’s never disappointed you, has he?” Ethan’s expression darkened. “That’s enough. You want to call off the wedding? Have you thought about the consequences?” I suddenly smiled. “I have. So from this moment on, the wedding is cancelled.” Ethan looked like he hadn’t heard me correctly. “What did you say?” “I said, it’s cancelled.” I turned to the clerk. “Please pull up all the payment records for this dress.” Chloe finally seemed unsteady on her feet, clutching the dress as she stepped back. “Ethan, maybe I should change out of this…” “Change.” I looked at her. “Right now.” Her eyes immediately welled up with tears, as if she’d suffered some terrible injustice. A few minutes later, the clerk pulled up the payment records. I held them in front of Ethan’s face. “See this clearly? I ordered the dress. I paid for it. You took my property to please your white moonlight, and you expect me to be gracious about it?” Ethan’s lips moved as if he wanted to explain. “Natalie, that’s not what I meant.” “What you meant doesn’t matter anymore. The wedding is cancelled!”

With that, I turned and walked out. Ethan finally caught up, grabbing my wrist and lowering his voice. “Is this really necessary?” I stopped and looked back at him. “Ethan. You’re gambling that I won’t dare make a scene.” His fingers stiffened. I pulled my hand free, bit by bit. “Too bad. This time you bet wrong.” When I walked out of the bridal shop, the sun outside was blindingly bright. So bright my eyes stung. My bridesmaid Maya chased after me, shoving my phone and purse into my arms, her voice still shaking. “Nat, are you really calling it off?” “Yes. Seven years. That’s all it was. I’m not throwing away the rest of my life for it.” I got into the car and turned the AC to its lowest setting, but my back was still covered in sweat. Maya sat in the passenger seat, glancing back at me several times, clearly wanting to say something. I’d been with Ethan since my early twenties, supporting him from nothing to where he was today. Seven years total. When we first got together, during his hardest times, I was the one who helped him through. When he had a fever, I was the one who carried him downstairs to the hospital in the middle of the night. During the most difficult period of his career transition, I was doing my own projects while also editing his resume and practicing interviews with him. Even later, when Chloe’s name started appearing between us occasionally, I kept telling myself not to overthink it. A first love from college, leaving some shadow in his heart—that didn’t mean anything would actually happen. On his birthday, a message popped up on his phone. I saw it was from “Chloe.” He said it was just someone from an old college group chat checking in. The day she returned to the country, he cancelled dinner with my parents at the last minute, claiming work emergency. Later, I saw a photo she posted on Ins of someone picking her up at the airport. He was in the frame. I stared at my phone for a long time but never asked. It wasn’t until today that I understood—some relationships don’t suddenly fall apart. Maya finally spoke up. “Want to go home?” “Let’s go to my place,” I said. “I need to sort out the accounts first.” She paused. “You’re doing accounts right now?” “If I don’t do it now, should I wait for him to strike first?” I unlocked my phone and pulled up the wedding budget spreadsheet. Wedding dress final payment: twenty-eight thousand. Maya looked at that figure and sucked in a breath. “You never settled this with him before?” “I did,” I said. “He told me to cover it first, and he’d pay me back when his quarterly bonus came through.” “Plus there were things he just assumed I’d pay for because I was better at handling logistics and could pay faster. We’d settle up later.” As I said it, I had to laugh at myself. Settle up later. Turned out in his mind, I was suitable for marriage not just because I was stable, understanding, and good at managing life. But also because I could pay, could cover expenses, could handle all the hassles. And all he had to do was show up when needed and continue playing the respectable groom-to-be. My phone screen suddenly lit up. A message from Ethan. [Just calm down for a bit.] Then a second one. [Today wasn’t as serious as you think.] The third came quickly. [Chloe just went through a breakup and she’s emotional. I was just looking out for her. Don’t blow this out of proportion.] I stared at that phrase “blow this out of proportion,” my fingertips growing cold. Even now, his concern was about proportion. Not about right or wrong. Maya leaned over to look and nearly laughed in anger. “He’s got some nerve.” I didn’t reply. The next second, my phone vibrated again.

This time it wasn’t a private message—it was the wedding planning group chat. That group included both sets of parents, groomsmen and bridesmaids, the wedding planner, hotel coordinator, and a few close relatives. Ethan posted in it: [There was a small misunderstanding at the dress fitting today. Natalie got a bit emotional, but the wedding is still on. Everyone, don’t worry.] I stared at that line for three seconds. Maya swore out loud. “He’s getting ahead of the narrative.” I nodded. Not surprising. Ethan had always been best at packaging embarrassing situations as harmless misunderstandings. He was never afraid of hurting me. He was afraid of people finding out that ten days before his wedding, he’d given his fiancée’s wedding dress to his white moonlight. Soon, people started responding to smooth things over. [Couples always get anxious before the wedding. Don’t let it hurt your relationship.] [Ethan, just be patient with her.] [Natalie’s probably just stressed.] Then there was Ethan’s mother’s message: [You’re this close to the wedding. Don’t give outsiders something to laugh about.] Almost simultaneously, my mom’s private message popped up. [Nat, don’t be afraid. Take care of yourself. Your dad and I are here.] Looking at those two messages, I suddenly smiled. So even at a time like this, some people worried about losing face, while others only worried about me getting hurt. Who cared about appearances and who cared about me—it was crystal clear. I placed my phone on my lap and took a deep breath. “Maya.” “Yeah?” “At the bridal shop—did you record a video?” Maya froze for a moment, then nodded quickly. “I was originally trying to film you coming out, but I accidentally caught Ethan adjusting Chloe’s back clasp. I didn’t film long, but that moment’s in there.” I held out my hand. “Send it to me.” She immediately transferred the original video. I opened it. The footage was a bit shaky, but clear enough. Ethan stood behind Chloe, his fingers on the wedding dress clasp, his movements painfully practiced. And that dress—the waistline, the hoop skirt, the train—all exactly as I’d confirmed just two days ago. This wasn’t a misunderstanding. This was evidence. I dragged the bridal shop payment records, wedding expense spreadsheet, and corresponding transaction records all into one folder. “He said I was being emotional?” I looked up at Maya. “Then I’ll show everyone whether I’m throwing a tantrum or cutting my losses.” I picked up my phone again and opened the wedding planning group. [Since Ethan says it’s a misunderstanding, let’s clear up the misunderstanding.] The moment I sent the message, the group went silent. I knew the real second round was just beginning.

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On my wedding day, my bridesmaids decided to play a game and hide me among them. They blindfolded my fiancé, Ethan Shore, and told him to find his bride using only his sense of smell. Ethan and I had been childhood friends, dating for ten years. When he walked up to me, his eyebrow twitched slightly. I smiled, about to announce his victory. But Ethan walked straight past me to the first bridesmaid, Sienna. “Darling, I found you!” Sienna stood before him, her face flushing red instantly, looking shy and timid. My smile froze on my lips. The bridesmaids all fell silent. In the heavy silence, Ethan removed his blindfold and naturally positioned himself protectively in front of Sienna. When he looked at me, he casually added, “Sorry, wrong person.” He apologized. The groomsmen quickly jumped in to explain and smooth things over. “Come on, what guy doesn’t have a past?” “I remember back in the day, Sienna’s parents locked her in the house once, and Ethan was so worried he skipped his football game to find her.” “Not just that. Later when the teacher made him apologize, he publicly confessed his feelings to Sienna instead.” “And there was also…” They went back and forth, painting a vivid picture of their colorful youth together. Everyone seemed moved by the memories. Only I was left out, as if I hadn’t been their classmate at all. The heavy wedding dress pressed down on me. The air still carried the scent of Sacred Wood perfume. Ethan once said this was his favorite scent. I had started wearing it too, and never changed it since. So— He had recognized me. I just wasn’t the bride he wanted in his heart. He had recognized me. He just wanted to hold his first love one more time in front of everyone. My chest ached painfully. I looked at Ethan. He was completely lost in the past, exchanging frequent glances with Sienna. Only Quinn walked over to me, patted my shoulder, and loudly reminded everyone: “Why are you all talking about the past? Today is Chloe and Ethan’s wedding. They’re the stars of the show!” Quinn pulled me to the center of the crowd, smiling warmly. “Come on, bride, tell us about you and the groom.” “How did you two meet?” “When did you get together?” “How did he pursue you?” The room fell silent for a moment, all eyes on me. I opened my mouth, about to speak— “Yeah, yeah, tell us.” One of the groomsmen chimed in, his tone dripping with sarcasm: “Our Ethan stayed single all these years for Sienna. We’re all curious what kind of girl could land him.” Eight years ago. After high school graduation, Sienna chose to study abroad. Her breakup with Ethan was dramatic and public. Ethan had gotten drunk and stayed depressed for a long, long time. But later, he actively pursued me. Five years ago that summer, he pursued me for six months. He waited downstairs at my dorm every day, brought me umbrellas when it rained, saved seats for me before exams. When I casually mentioned wanting strawberry cake, he’d go buy it late at night. Back then, his eyes were full of me. All our college friends knew. Our current coworkers all knew. Only our high school classmates didn’t know. At every high school reunion, Ethan never clarified things. Everyone remained stuck in the memories of his youth with Sienna, treating it as something special. When Ethan and I announced our engagement, all our old high school friends assumed I had forced him into marriage. I could let it slide before, but today was my wedding. How could I not care?

“Actually, we—” I started to explain. “That’s enough.” Ethan cut me off. “What’s there to say? We just got together, that’s all.” My breath caught. The words stuck in my chest, suffocating and painful. Ethan seemed completely oblivious. He leaned against the doorframe, shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, his gaze fixed on the other side of the room. I followed his line of sight. Sienna stood by the window, sunlight falling on her. She wore a pale pink dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, quiet and still, like a painting. She seemed lost in memories too, her eyes full of melancholy. Yet she pretended not to care, teasing Ethan instead. “The bride wants to share your story, and you won’t let her?” Ethan smiled faintly. Everyone’s attention immediately shifted to Sienna. “How about you tell us what Ethan was like when he was young?” “Did girls always like him?” “Were you two childhood sweethearts?” Sienna stood surrounded by people, her ears turning slightly red. She glanced at Ethan, then lowered her head, her voice hesitant. “Oh, that’s not really appropriate… today is your wedding with Chloe…” “What’s inappropriate about it?” Ethan walked over to Sienna’s side. “It’s just old stories. What’s wrong with sharing them?” He stood beside Sienna, very close to her. So close their sleeves almost touched. “Why don’t you tell them about the time we skipped class and got caught?” Sienna smiled with pursed lips. “You’re the one who insisted on climbing the fence. Then the dean chased us down half the street and dragged us back to write apologies.” “That’s because you couldn’t run anymore and I went back to pull you along. That’s why we got caught.” They exchanged a glance. Sienna’s face turned even redder as she looked down. Ethan didn’t look away. The corners of his mouth held that smile I’d seen for over ten years. I knew that smile too well. Not a perfunctory smile. Not a polite smile. But the kind with light in his eyes that only appeared when looking at someone he truly liked. These past five years. I thought I had earned Ethan’s smile too. But now I finally understood. In Ethan’s heart, there had always been a place for Sienna. Even though Ethan, Sienna, and I were all childhood friends. Everyone’s eyes could only see the two of them. “Enough of this already.” Quinn really couldn’t take it anymore. “Can we stop talking about ancient history? Let’s get on with the actual ceremony! Groom, find the wedding shoes!” Everyone finally snapped back to reality. The bridesmaids cooperated with Quinn, pushing Ethan toward the bedroom door. Some were laughing, some were cheering. Ethan entered the bedroom and started searching through everything. The nightstand, the closet, behind the curtains—he searched very carefully. At least it looked careful. But no matter where he searched, he always stayed on the right side of the bed. Sienna was standing on the right side. Every time he bent down, he got a little closer to her. Every time he stood up, his gaze landed on her first. “Shouldn’t you be looking for the wedding shoes near the bride?” Quinn frowned. “Groom, why do you keep going over there?” Ethan didn’t hear her, or if he did, he ignored it. He walked to the vanity by the window. Sienna was standing there. When she saw him approaching, she moved aside slightly and said something in a low voice. He smiled and bent down to open the drawer. Watching his back, I suddenly felt exhausted. Not physically tired, but the kind of bone-deep exhaustion that felt like being hollowed out. “Ethan!” Quinn finally lost her patience, her voice rising an octave. “If you don’t find the wedding shoes soon, we’ll miss the ceremony time! I’m telling you, if we miss the auspicious hour, Chloe won’t marry you! She’s got plenty of other suitors who want to marry her!” The room fell silent for a moment. Someone in the groomsmen’s group laughed. “Plenty of suitors?” The voice carried contempt. “I heard she was the one chasing after Ethan?” “Exactly,” another person joined in, his tone full of mockery. “If Ethan wasn’t so soft-hearted, she probably wouldn’t even—” “Enough.” Ethan finally spoke, his voice not loud, with a light, almost indifferent reprimand. “Don’t talk nonsense.” Then he glanced at me. Just a glance, quick, like an inadvertent sweep. No defense, no explanation, not even a frown. He said “don’t talk nonsense” with his mouth, but his tone was full of indulgence. So much indulgence that people felt— Those words weren’t really wrong after all. That was just how Ethan was. Five years. Every time someone misunderstood me, he would speak up for me. Except in front of high school friends. When he instinctively distanced himself from me in front of high school friends. Every word was like a knife, cutting into me one slice at a time. Five years of cuts. I lowered my head and looked at my phone. The screen was lit, showing Ryan’s chat window, still on that message: [Do you really have to marry him? How am I not as good as him?] I stared at those words for a long time, then sent a message: [Come to the wedding venue.]

After sending it, I held my phone in my palm and looked up. The living room was still noisy. Ethan was still rummaging around. Sienna stood beside him. The distance between them made me sick. “Where on earth did you hide the wedding shoes?” someone asked. Quinn glanced at me. I shook my head slightly. As my longtime best friend, she instantly understood. “Sienna.” Quinn walked over and grabbed her arm. “Did you hide the wedding shoes?” Sienna froze, looking up innocently. “I… I just put them somewhere random. I didn’t know…” “Where did you put them?” Sienna twisted her dress hem with her fingers. After a long pause, she said quietly, “I… I threw them outside.” The room fell silent for a moment. “Threw them?” Quinn’s voice changed pitch. “Where did you throw them?” “Just… in the flower bed downstairs.” Sienna’s voice got smaller and smaller, her eyes beginning to redden. “I don’t really understand these customs. I thought hiding the wedding shoes meant hiding them as hard as possible to find, so their marriage would be happier… I didn’t know…” Before she finished speaking, tears fell. After a few seconds of silence in the room, someone from the groomsmen spoke up. “Come on, Sienna’s never been married. She didn’t know. It wasn’t on purpose.” “Exactly. She threw them, so what? We’ll just find them.” Ethan said nothing, just looked at Sienna once, then sighed. That sigh held no blame, only helplessness. “I’ll go get them.” “Me too!” The groomsmen followed Ethan out. Sienna was about to follow when Ethan raised his hand to stop her. “Don’t come. It’s hot outside.” His voice was very gentle when he said this, like coaxing a child. Sienna nodded. Her tears hadn’t dried, but the corners of her mouth curved upward. Watching this scene, my stomach turned. A few minutes later, Ethan returned, holding a wedding shoe. “Found it.” But the shoe was covered in mud. The red satin was stained with a large dirty patch, looking utterly disheveled. “Can she even wear this?” Quinn frowned, picking up the shoe to examine it. “It’s so dirty!” “Just wipe it off.” Ethan’s tone was casual, as if discussing something insignificant. I looked at that filthy wedding shoe. My heart felt like it was being squeezed tight. “I don’t want it.” Everyone looked at me. “I don’t want it even if you clean it.” I said. “I want a new pair.” The room fell silent for a moment. Ethan frowned at me. “Where am I supposed to buy new ones now? We need to leave soon.” “Then we won’t leave.” I said. Ethan’s frown deepened, impatience creeping into his voice. “Chloe, stop making a scene. Just wipe them clean and it’ll be fine. No one will notice your shoes.” No one will notice your shoes. Those words were like a knife, stabbing precisely into my heart. For over ten years, Ethan had said so many things like this. Chloe, no one will notice you. In this childhood romance, I had been invisible for so many years. In the end, even Ethan himself believed it. I really wasn’t worth his attention. “Is it hard to buy them?” I looked at him, my voice calm. “Or do you just not want to buy them, Ethan? Because you don’t actually want this marriage at all?”

The atmosphere instantly froze. Quinn gasped. The groomsmen exchanged glances. Even Sienna looked stunned. Ethan looked at me, his expression shifting from a frown to something I couldn’t read. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly laughed. That laugh carried a hint of helplessness, a touch of indulgence, like looking at an unreasonable child. “Fine.” “I’ll go buy them.” Ethan turned and walked out. The groomsmen followed. Sienna hesitated, then followed too. “Wait for me. I’ll come with you. I know there’s a mall nearby…” Ethan didn’t turn around, but his steps slowed, waiting for Sienna to catch up. They walked out side by side, their figures disappearing at the end of the hallway. The moment the door closed, the living room became so quiet you could hear breathing. Quinn came over, crouched in front of me, and looked up at my face. “Chloe,” her voice was soft, “what if Ethan doesn’t come back?” I didn’t speak. I lowered my head, hiding my reddening eyes. Five years. I had believed he could forget Sienna for five years. But every time, he disappointed me. “I don’t want to marry him anymore.” I said. Quinn froze. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. The other bridesmaids quickly asked me: “What about the wedding?” “With so many guests, won’t people laugh at Chloe?” After several seconds, Quinn suddenly smiled. That smile held no surprise, no opposition. Instead, it seemed relieved. “Let them laugh. We’ll be with Chloe anyway.” The bridesmaids all had red-rimmed eyes, gripping my hands tightly. “You should have left him long ago.” “Exactly. That Ethan doesn’t deserve you.” “We’ve always thought you deserved better.” Looking at their faces, seeing the heartache and relief in their eyes. I suddenly realized that maybe I had been wrong all along. I thought if I waited long enough, Ethan would eventually see me. But Ethan didn’t. During those eight years when I wasn’t seen, he just grew more and more accustomed to ignoring me. Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. The door opened. Ethan walked in, holding a shopping bag. The groomsmen followed behind. Sienna walked at the back, head lowered, lost in thought. “Got them.” Ethan handed me the bag, his tone slightly expectant of praise. “Went to three stores before finding them. Satisfied now?” I took the bag without speaking. The groomsmen behind him looked strange. They had been joking around before leaving, but now they were all quiet, looking at me differently. Some even avoided my gaze. I didn’t know what had happened, and I didn’t want to know anymore. “Alright, alright, put them on quick. We’re running out of time.” Quinn took the shoebox and crouched down to help me change shoes. “Beautiful.” Quinn said. I looked down and nodded. “Let’s go.” Ethan came over, bending down to carry me. I didn’t dodge. Ethan picked me up, carried me out the door, into the elevator, down to the ground floor. The wedding car was parked at the entrance, decorated with flowers and ribbons. The hood displayed our names—Ethan Shore Loves Chloe. He carried me to the car and was about to close the door when— “Ethan.” Sienna’s voice came from behind, soft and hesitant. Ethan paused. He turned to see Sienna standing two steps away, fingers twisting her dress hem, eyes slightly red. “I… there’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you. I know now might not be the right time, but after today, it’ll be even less appropriate…” The surroundings fell silent for a moment. The officiant nearby reminded him quietly, “Groom, it’s about time. We should go.” Ethan didn’t move. His gaze remained on Sienna, his eyes filled with something thick and intense. After a few seconds of silence, he turned his head to look at me. “Chloe, give me ten minutes.” I looked at him too, and said only one last thing. “Ethan, in ten minutes, I won’t be getting married anymore.”

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In my past life, Jimenez asked me to meet him in the back alley to confess his feelings. I was sexually assaulted by a group of thugs, resulting in vaginal tearing and lifelong psychological trauma. When Jimenez arrived later, he held me and cried, making me a promise never to leave: “I’ll love you forever, even though your uterus is damaged and you can’t have children.” It wasn’t until after his death that I discovered his diary, filled with pages of regret. He regretted helping Aurora, the school’s cheerleading captain, hide the truth. It turned out he had fallen in love with Aurora long ago. Before confessing to me, he had rejected Aurora’s advances. Those thugs were sent by Aurora to get revenge on me. As I lay dying in a hospital bed, Aurora pitifully begged him to keep her secret. Jimenez nodded, helped Aurora, and eventually married me. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn on the day Jimenez confessed to me. [Morris, meet me in the back alley after school. I have something to tell you. Come alone] I stared in disbelief at the message from Jimenez. I had actually returned to that most humiliating day. Because of this day, I suffered vaginal tearing and had to endure pubic bone pain day and night. After this day, Jimenez took me away from home, leaving my dignity behind in my homeland. My sense of self was shattered and rebuilt. Tears of excitement fell from my eyes. This time I finally had a chance to rewrite my life. Before this incident, I was a top student in my class with a bright future ahead of me. After this incident, I became a factory worker. I suffered so much just to reach the position that had once been within easy grasp. [Okay, I’ll wait for you] I put away my phone and headed straight to the coffee shop at the school gate. In my past life, this was where Jimenez broke things off with Aurora, which led to Aurora taking out her anger on me by hiring thugs to defile me. Now, I sat right behind them. Jimenez and Aurora sat facing each other, Aurora’s face showing shy delight. “What did you want to tell me?” “I’m sorry, I may have given you the wrong impression these past few days.” “I’ve thought it over seriously. I can’t lose Morris. What I felt for you was just temporary attraction. Can we still be friends?” Jimenez spoke on his own, completely oblivious to Aurora’s darkening expression. The server brought two cups of coffee but accidentally spilled them on Jimenez’s clothes, interrupting his words. “I’m so sorry, so sorry.” “It’s fine—” Jimenez suddenly stood up, scanning the surroundings in confusion. The moment he saw Aurora, he glared at her furiously: “Aurora, how dare you show your face in front of me?” Aurora looked bewildered. “What’s wrong with you?” He had been fine just moments ago, but suddenly he seemed like a different person. Seeing Jimenez’s strange reaction, I understood—he had been reborn too. Jimenez only froze for a second, then slowly sat back down after regaining his composure. “Your phone. Let me see it.” Aurora clutched her phone tightly, desperately trying to hide her panic. “Why do you want to see my phone?” “Never mind.” Jimenez rubbed his temples. “This is fine. After she’s been violated, she’ll be more docile and settle down with me.” Everything before me lost its luster. All I could hear in my head was that sentence—after she’s been violated, she’ll be more docile. So this was what he really thought. “Have you been well these past years?” Jimenez’s eyes showed cautious tenderness. Aurora relaxed and smiled faintly. “I’ve been fine.” As long as he didn’t continue that previous topic. Jimenez stared, transfixed, and the next moment his eyes reddened slightly. “That’s good.” “Can we hug, just once?” After the embrace, Jimenez turned his head and made a serious suggestion. “Transfer schools tomorrow. Don’t appear here again. This time I’m truly letting go.”

Aurora didn’t understand, but I knew why Jimenez said this. In my past life, the news of my assault by thugs spread like wildfire. When my classmates carried me home, my lower body was covered in blood. My parents only had one daughter—me. They went completely insane. They didn’t believe it was an accident. They suspected everyone they saw, especially anyone who had conflicts with me. Aurora was the main suspect. I was kind-hearted and rarely had conflicts with anyone. Aurora’s conflict with me stood out prominently. Later, when Jimenez took me far away to help me forget, my parents still wouldn’t let her go. If Jimenez hadn’t helped Aurora hide the truth, my parents would have found evidence long ago and sent Aurora to prison. Aurora’s reputation in our hometown became so terrible she couldn’t hold her head up. I heard she didn’t get into a good university, went abroad, and never came back. In my past life, Jimenez held me with such heartbreak, saying he wished he could tear the culprit to pieces. But when he actually saw her, Jimenez only covered for her, letting the tragedy repeat itself, even giving her his most sincere advice. It turned out the saddest moments are when you can’t even cry out loud. I quickly wiped the moisture from the corner of my eye with my fingertip, even forcing a self-mocking smile at the corner of my mouth. It wasn’t sadness—it was finally seeing clearly. Sitting in the back, I clearly saw that because of Jimenez’s reminder, Aurora secretly deleted the text messages and made an excuse to go to the restroom. In reality, she put money in an envelope and used a pay phone to communicate with the thugs. The two parties never met face to face. This time, Aurora had enough time to do things more discreetly. Jimenez didn’t stop her the entire time. Instead, he watched Aurora’s retreating figure with a longing gaze. Before Aurora came back with a bright smile, Jimenez ordered a Napoleon pastry and left with light, quick steps. Even his retreating back revealed barely concealed anticipation, as if rushing to keep a long-desired appointment. If I hadn’t witnessed his conversation with Aurora with my own eyes, I might have thought he was eager to see me. In this era, Napoleon pastries were a luxury. A small piece cost an entire month’s allowance. Occasionally buying one meant the whole family would share it. Yet Jimenez spent all his money to buy Aurora a Napoleon pastry. I remembered in my past life, my birthday came one month after that incident. That day my spirits were unusually good, and I really wanted a piece of cake. Jimenez looked troubled and told me we had to save the remaining money and couldn’t spend it carelessly. I didn’t know why, but I cried terribly, gasping for breath. Jimenez had no choice but to buy an apple, stick a candle in it, and let me blow it out. It turned out he did know how to cherish someone—I just wasn’t worth it. I watched Aurora joyfully scooping up the Napoleon with a spoon, eating it bit by bit. She was editing a text message, probably to Jimenez, with a sweet smile on her face. [Morris, are you there yet?] Looking at Jimenez’s message, I could feel his anxiety even through the screen. I sneered, turned around, and invited my desk mate to study together at the nearby library.

In my past life, my desk mate had asked if I wanted to study abroad with her in France. I didn’t need to worry about expenses—her family was willing to cover my tuition and living costs. I was especially interested in languages. Since childhood, I had learned fluent French by watching TV. Even then, a small seed had planted itself in my heart. I was determined to become an amazing translator. My desk mate was an immigrant from France. When she heard my spoken French, she was surprised that my pronunciation was so standard. She was an only child, and her family didn’t feel comfortable letting her travel alone. They would only allow her to venture to Europe if someone went with her. I hesitated back then, but ultimately refused. In my past life, I didn’t want to leave Jimenez. Then that incident happened, and Jimenez and I left school, abandoning our education. This time, I wanted to seize the opportunity and never let it slip through my fingers again. When I arrived, Figueroa was already sitting at our spot waiting for me, with various study materials on the table. “Since you’re the one who invited me this time, don’t give up easily. I don’t want to hear you abandon your dreams for Jimenez again.” She shrugged with feigned indifference. I smiled apologetically: “I won’t.” “All I want now is to study, go to France as soon as possible and realize my dreams. People need to take responsibility for their own lives.” There were no online classes at this time. Preparing for exams could only rely on self-study. But Figueroa handed me a brand-new French textbook. “Study hard.” I said nothing more and began seriously memorizing French. After about two hours, I finally looked up and twisted my stiff neck. “Let’s stop here for today. We’ll continue tomorrow.” Figueroa packed up her bag. I took out my phone. Instantly, countless messages popped up, all from Jimenez. [Where are you?] [I don’t see you] [Can you reply? I’m really worr—] The message was sent before he finished typing. I sneered. He wasn’t worried about me—he was worried the incident wouldn’t happen to me. I casually replied: [Sorry, I just saw my phone. I was reviewing with a classmate. You should head home first.] I did it on purpose, deliberately coming to the library so everyone could see me studying and serve as my witnesses. That way, if something happened to Jimenez, they couldn’t blame it on me. Jimenez didn’t reply. I didn’t care. On the way home, I heard passersby discussing in shock with their friends. “Oh my God, did you know? A male student at our high school was sexually assaulted by a group of thugs!” “I heard when they found him, he had rectal prolapse and was covered in blood!” “Those thugs are absolute scum!” “Who knows? Maybe that male student was promiscuous, deliberately looking for thrills, and things got out of hand with those thugs. Otherwise, why didn’t the thugs target anyone else?” Hearing the same rhetoric from my past life, tears nearly fell from my eyes. In my past life, they said the same things about me. Back then, I couldn’t listen to any gossip. I would rush at them, ready to fight. Jimenez advised me that mouths belonged to others, and even if I stopped them for a moment, I couldn’t stop them forever. They would still talk behind my back. He told me not to take it to heart. This time it was his turn. I hoped he could be just as open-minded. The thugs Aurora hired were quite reliable. Since I didn’t go, Jimenez was alone in the alley. So even if they had suspicions, they still dutifully completed their task.

“Mom, I’m home.” I entered with a smile on my lips. As soon as I put down my backpack, I saw Jimenez’s mother standing behind me like a floating ghost. She seemed to have been waiting at my house for a long time. With a dark expression, she saw me enter and—slap—struck me across the face. I had no time to react. I took her slap, and half my face instantly burned with pain, swelling red. My mom stepped in front of me, shouting angrily: “Are you crazy? What are you doing?” Jimenez’s mother was pulled disheveled by my mom, looking even more like a soul-stealing ghost, saying ominously: “Why didn’t Morris go when Jimenez asked to meet her?” “Then Jimenez had an accident.” My mom froze for a second. “Are you kidding me? Are you sick? Jimenez was the one who asked Morris to meet. What’s wrong with Morris not wanting to go? His accident was just that—an accident. Should Morris have taken his place? Do you have no shame? Should Morris have to experience all this?” “Honey, where the hell are you? Get out here! Someone’s bullying your wife and child, and you’re not coming to help!” My mom roared while protecting me tightly. My dad rushed out of the kitchen. As a grown man, he couldn’t hit her, so he used a broom to push Jimenez’s mother out. “Get out!” At the moment the door closed, I saw Jimenez lying on the ground, frowning. He wasn’t lying in the hospital at this time but came to my house—nothing good could come of this. Jimenez supported his upper body with both arms, barely propping himself up. His legs were wrapped in thick blankets, with blood stains faintly visible. His legs had almost no strength. He had crawled to my doorstep using only his hands, dust covering his entire body. Unable to hold on any longer, he collapsed heavily by the door. “Mom.” He frowned helplessly and called out. Jimenez’s mother seemed frozen in place. She slowly turned around, shocked, and rushed to support him. “Jimenez, why aren’t you in bed? Why did you come out?” My mom and Jimenez’s mother were best friends since childhood. My dad and Jimenez’s dad grew up together as close friends. Jimenez and I were childhood friends. Since childhood, our two families had been extremely close. So seeing Jimenez’s terrible condition, my parents couldn’t bear to drive them away. They quickly set up a folding bed for him to lie down. The two of them stood in front of me in perfect sync, like two impregnable mountains. “Jimenez, take your mom home quickly. During recovery, you need to avoid excessive movement.” “Rest well. You’ll recover in time.” Jimenez first looked deeply at me, his eyes surging with indescribable pain and deep love. My parents instantly became alert. Then he lowered his head politely: “Okay.” “I’ll go back and talk to my mom. This has nothing to do with Morris. I was just… too unlucky.” “Mom, let’s go home.” Jimenez’s mother held back tears, grief-stricken: “How can I accept this?” My parents were still kindly advising: “People have to look forward. There’s no obstacle that can’t be overcome. At worst, you can move…” Before they finished speaking, Jimenez silently pulled out a love letter from his bag, looking at me affectionately. “Morris, I know you’ve been reborn too.” “I don’t blame you.” “Even if it’s tit for tat, I’ve experienced what you went through in your past life. I know you like me.” “Marry me. We’ll live a good life together from now on.” Jimenez’s mother chimed in viciously: “If Morris doesn’t marry Jimenez, I’ll spread the word everywhere that Morris couldn’t have him and deliberately hired people to violate Jimenez. This love letter is the evidence!” “Don’t think you can get out of this!”

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When I came home from my business trip, Ethan, who was always clingy in bed, didn’t touch me. I was puzzled by his restraint and abstinence. When I mentioned it to my best friend, she sneered. “He’s definitely getting satisfied by some woman out there. I told you from the start he’s no good, but you insisted on being with him.” I bit my straw, shaking my head in a daze. “No way. Ethan said he only loves me.” My best friend poked my forehead with her finger, sighing helplessly. “You believe everything he says. Melissa, you’re so naive that even if his mistress stood right in front of you, you wouldn’t recognize her.” A week later, I went on another business trip, but my scheduled flight was canceled due to weather, forcing me to return home. When I pushed open the door, clothes were scattered all over the floor. Urgent breathing sounds came from the bedroom—a man and a woman. Ethan said passionately: “I’d be willing to die in your arms!” My best friend laughed and replied: “That won’t do. If you died, that fool Melissa would cry. I can’t bear to see her sad.”

I stood frozen in place. In the April weather, I suddenly felt cold. The elevator door opened. A delivery person glanced at the apartment numbers while stuffing something into my hands. “Hello, delivery for you.” It was the ultra-thin condoms Ethan usually used. The delivery person peeked into the apartment nosily a few times. When their gaze returned to my face, there was a hint of sympathy. I thanked them and walked into the house in a daze, knocking on the open bedroom door. “Your condoms arrived.” I set down the sushi in my other hand and looked at Ethan. “You said you wanted this yesterday, so I brought it back for you.” The passionate atmosphere in the bedroom instantly froze to ice. Natalie and Ethan’s bodies were still joined together. Identical panic flashed across both their faces. Ethan instinctively pushed Natalie away. “Melissa, didn’t you go to the airport? How come…” The bay window wasn’t closed properly. Wild wind mixed with raindrops roared into the room. Natalie’s naked body trembled from the shock. Ethan’s words stopped. Bad weather, canceled flight, I came back and caught them in the act. How simple. I walked over and closed the window tightly, then turned to leave. “Put your clothes on. Don’t catch a cold.” Ethan snapped back to reality, hastily pulling on his pants and belt, urgently grabbing my wrist. “Melissa, let me explain!” He pulled me to sit on the sofa. His muscular chest and back were covered with bright red scratch marks. I stared blankly at the roses in the vase. They had been blooming beautifully this morning, but now they were already wilted. Ethan noticed my soaked shoes and pant legs. He brought a towel and slippers with distress, crouching down to change them for me. Natalie’s cheerful voice rang out. “Since you caught us, I won’t have to bother hiding it from you anymore.” She wore Ethan’s oversized white shirt, leaning against the doorway, eating fish balls with relish. Her fair skin was covered with dense kiss marks. A trace of embarrassment flashed across Ethan’s face. He scolded her in a low voice. “Go back first. I’ll explain things to Melissa.” Natalie rolled her eyes. “What’s there to explain? Melissa’s not blind.” She met my gaze provocatively. “Melissa, I like your man, and I slept with him.” “What are you going to do about it?” I honestly shook my head. “I don’t know.” Blue veins bulged on the back of Ethan’s hand. “Natalie, stop talking!” He forcefully ushered the struggling Natalie out and slammed the door shut. He turned back and crouched in front of me, his voice trembling. “Melissa, don’t be angry. I was confused for a moment.” My heart felt hollow, my mind a complete fog. I didn’t know what to say. Ethan touched my ice-cold hands, his face full of distress. “Melissa, let me heat up some milk for you to warm up.” He grabbed a piece of clothing and put it on, quickly walking into the kitchen. I came to my senses and finally took out my phone, making a video call. The other end picked up immediately. Natalie was lounging on the bed, applying bright red nail polish to her smooth, jade-like toes. Seeing my dazed face, she gave a lazy smile. “What do you want?”

Natalie’s tone was relaxed and calm, as if what just happened hadn’t occurred at all. I squeezed out a dry sentence from my throat. “Why would you do this?” Natalie lazily tossed the nail polish aside, admiring her handiwork. “It’s fun!” “Ever since you started dating Ethan, you’ve always ignored me.” “When we go shopping and you try on clothes, you have to send photos to him. When we eat together, you have to reply to his messages. Even on my birthday, you ran off to take care of him when he had a fever.” “After you got married, it goes without saying—you two are family now.” She lifted her head and looked directly into my eyes, curling her lips in a mischievous smile. “I thought to myself, is Ethan really that great? I had to try him out for myself.” “And once I tried, I discovered he really is pretty good. No wonder you’re so crazy about him.” Natalie smiled seductively. But my heart grew colder inch by inch. I’d been best friends with Natalie for over twenty years. She was especially dissatisfied with Ethan, and the two of them would give each other cold looks whenever they met. Natalie complained that I gave all my attention to Ethan, forgetting about my friend now that I had a man. Ethan didn’t like that Natalie always took up my time, disturbing our time together. I tried hard to maintain their relationship, mediating everywhere. But I never expected that the two of them would get together and leave me behind. “Melissa, even though your reactions are always slow, your taste in men isn’t bad.” “Ethan is so obsessed with me. He insisted I move into the apartment above yours so he could see me every day.” “Last week when you replaced your bed, it actually wasn’t worn out—Ethan and I broke it because his desires were too strong.” Through the screen, Natalie added with a smile. I stared at her blankly, unable to say a word. My slow brain finally started working, and memories surfaced. In the past, Ethan looked down on Natalie and wouldn’t even give her a kind look. But gradually, he started handing Natalie a hair tie during meals. When he accompanied us shopping, he’d replace Natalie’s ice cream with a hot drink, reminding her that her period was coming soon and she should eat less cold food. When Natalie moved in, Ethan personally helped me assist her with moving, working busily. At that time, Natalie proudly glanced at Ethan doing the work. “I’m practically his sister-in-law. Smart of him to recognize that!” I laughed happily, not noticing anything unusual. I was just glad that my two favorite people were finally getting along. But I overlooked the deep, meaningful gaze Ethan directed at Natalie. On the phone, Natalie seemed to become more interested, her eyes sparkling. “Melissa, when you were away on that business trip, Ethan nearly wore me out. You have no idea…” The video was abruptly cut off by a well-defined hand. Ethan’s face was ashen. He set down a steaming cup of hot milk in front of me. “Melissa, don’t listen to her nonsense.” I stared at him blankly, my gaze empty and hollow. He sighed and pulled me into his arms. “Melissa, I got drunk at a business dinner that night. Natalie happened to come by the house to get something, and we just…” “I didn’t maintain proper boundaries. Please don’t be angry with me, okay?” His body carried a deep woody scent mixed with the fishy sweetness of sex, combined with Natalie’s fragrance. A belated wave of nausea surged up. I forcefully broke free from his embrace and walked into the study to pack up my materials. I didn’t want to stay here anymore. Just yesterday, Ethan had held me reluctantly, full of complaints. “Why does the company keep sending you on business trips? Do they hate seeing us happy together or something?” Then he pressed me beneath him in passionate intimacy, whispering sweet words in my ear. “Melissa, when you’re not here, I miss you ten thousand times a day.” My heart felt like it was being scratched by sharp claws over and over again, dull pain flowing endlessly. When I walked out holding a pile of architectural blueprints, Ethan hurriedly blocked my way. “Melissa!” I pushed him away. He clung to me. I pushed him away again. He clung to me again. As we struggled, the door’s electronic lock opened. Natalie walked in with a smile. “Melissa, I have good news!”

She raised the pregnancy test in her hand. “I’m pregnant with Ethan’s baby. You’re going to be a godmother!” I stood frozen in place, almost forgetting to breathe. A trace of joy flashed in Ethan’s eyes. He let go of my hand and walked toward Natalie. I felt intense nausea. The files in my arms scattered across the floor. I shoved past them and rushed out the door. The whole world was crumbling. Hurricanes howled, rain poured down. I walked through the city with my head down, my face covered with moisture—I couldn’t tell if it was tears or raindrops. Natalie’s swaying silhouette appeared before my eyes, delicate pain coursing through my heart. We used to be the best of friends. I would steal lots and lots of strawberries she loved from my family’s fruit shop. She would patiently help me put together outfit after outfit. When she opened her nail salon after college graduation, I gave her all my savings. Natalie cried her eyes out then. “Melissa, if I lose money, you’ll have nothing left!” I answered slowly. “Even if that happens, I’d do it willingly.” Natalie was beautiful and clever, like a clear, bright moon. And I was clumsy and slow, just wanting to be an insignificant star by her side. Why did we end up like this? “Melissa, come back with me. You’ll get sick if you stay in the rain any longer!” An exasperated voice rang out. My wrist was tightly grasped by Natalie. In the storm, her figure holding an umbrella looked somewhat fragile, but her eyes were incredibly determined. Like countless times in our youth when she stood beside me, openly saying “Melissa is my best friend.” My nose tingled. I silently pulled away from her. “I don’t need your help.” Natalie lost her balance and stumbled, falling to the ground. “Natalie!” Ethan arrived just in time. He forcefully pushed away me as I stepped forward in panic to help Natalie up. His eyes were bloodshot as he raised his hand and slapped me. “Melissa! Natalie is pregnant, and you deliberately pushed her?” “How could you be this kind of person!” I was dizzy from the blow. When I came to my senses, he had already rushed Natalie to the hospital. The rain poured down. I stood there sobbing uncontrollably. Ethan had secretly loved me throughout all three years of high school. Knowing I liked flowers, every morning he would secretly place a freshly bloomed flower covered in dew in the plastic water bottle on my desk. When passing by the basketball court, he would run over drenched in sweat and shyly place a candy in my palm. After college entrance exams, he confessed to me, his cheeks nearly bright red. “Melissa, I like you. Can you give me a chance to be your boyfriend?” “I won’t be like the uncles in my family with their endless romantic debts. I only like you.” Born into a prestigious family, he was heaven’s favored son, yet he noticed plain and ordinary me. Even the most dull and boring girl would be moved by such sincere words. The old him wished he could lay the whole world at my feet. But now, for Natalie’s sake, he could slap me without hesitation. I wiped my face and hailed a car to the hospital. Outside the hospital room, Ethan was soaking wet, his expression exhausted. He looked at the red swelling on my face and pulled me into his arms with distress. “Melissa, I’m sorry. I was impulsive just now.” “Natalie had an examination. Everything is fine. If you’re upset, take it out on me, but don’t provoke her.” His warm palm caressed my cheek. Ethan lowered his head and kissed my earlobe. “You’re afraid of pain, so let Natalie have the baby and we’ll raise it. Don’t worry, you’ll always be Mrs. Hayes.” “Let’s just pretend this never happened, okay?” I pulled away from his embrace in a daze. No. Ethan sighed, somewhat helpless. “What will it take for you to forgive me?” I stared at him stubbornly, tears welling up, my vision like it was covered in fog. “You and Natalie can’t be together. She’s my best friend.” Ethan was stunned. After processing this, he looked at me with amusement. “Melissa, stop being silly. Don’t you understand? I like her.” “Just like I like you and don’t want to be apart from you, I don’t want to be apart from her either.”

A huge sense of absurdity struck me head-on. Ethan’s voice was indulgent. “Go home. I’ll stay here with her.” He turned and walked into the hospital room without looking at me again. Through the glass window, I saw Ethan patiently blowing on the cream of mushroom soup to cool it, feeding it to Natalie spoonful by spoonful. To outsiders, they looked as sweet as lovers deeply in love. I sat stiffly on the bench in the hospital corridor. My mind was filled with thoughts of Ethan. He would drive hundreds of miles to take me to eat a bowl of borscht I’d been craving. Though he was an heir to a wealthy family, he learned to cook well for me, saying he married me to give me happiness. When I stayed up late drawing blueprints, he would brew energizing tea and silently keep me company. The Ethan who at eighteen swore he only liked me. Now casually says he’s fallen for someone else. The next morning, Ethan carried Natalie out of the hospital room, looking at me in surprise. “Melissa, you sat here all night?” I didn’t answer. I just stood up silently and followed behind them. Stubbornly wanting to see why they could develop such intense feelings without me noticing. Back at Natalie’s place, Ethan moved skillfully through every corner. I used to see the razor at her place and foolishly asked Natalie if she had a boyfriend. She winked slyly. “Sometimes when I get drunk at bars, strange men send me home.” I worriedly told her to be careful. Natalie hummed smugly. “No need to worry. My man is super clean!” It turned out her man was Ethan. Natalie changed into a soft white dress and sat on the sofa, ordering Ethan around. Seeing my dazed expression, she laughed. “Melissa, don’t blame me. You can’t control feelings.” “Besides, I’m not asking for any title or status.” “We’re best friends. There’s nothing wrong with me having a taste of your man, right?” Every sentence Natalie spoke was light and casual, but they fell heavily on my heart. Ethan heated up bread and milk and brought it to Natalie. Natalie acted coquettish, wanting him to feed her. Ethan looked at me. “Melissa, go home first.” My throat was hoarse. I couldn’t say a word. Natalie hooked her lips and tugged at Ethan’s sleeve. “No need. Melissa is just stubborn. Once she figures it out, she’ll leave on her own.” My eyes became sore, but not a single tear fell. Yesterday, I had cried all my tears for them. I turned and left. In the evening, I rang Natalie’s doorbell. Ethan, wearing matching couple’s loungewear, opened the door. Seeing me, he smiled gently and pulled me into his arms, nuzzling affectionately into the crook of my neck, teasing in a low voice. “So, Melissa, have you thought it through and accepted that Natalie and I—” I pushed him away and walked straight to Natalie. Solemnly, I removed the wedding ring from my hand and the necklace from my neck—the one Natalie gave me after earning her first bucket of gold. Ethan sat back on the sofa, looking at me like a child throwing a tantrum, amused. I lowered my head and pulled out a document from my bag, placing it in front of him. Ethan took it. After seeing the title, the nonchalance on his face instantly froze. He jerked his head up. His voice trembled. “Melissa, you want to… divorce me?”

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My best friend, who I’ve relied on since we were kids, said she got into a big corporation and would soon be able to give me—an MC rider—a wealthy life. I sneered and wished her good luck. Because I knew clearly that during the day she was a cheap intern exploited by everyone, but at midnight she was an assistant wearing a sexy short skirt to drink with her boss. Yet she always grinned foolishly, bragging about how her boss praised her again today and that she’d soon become a regular employee. I kicked over a beer bottle: “Quit. I’ll take care of you!” But my best friend cried and said: “The company has its rules. Just endure this period and it’ll be fine. Once I become a regular employee, we can pool our money to buy a small house and never be apart!” I hated that she’d been completely brainwashed by the workplace and decided to stop managing her affairs. Until that day, when I was racing with over a hundred MC members, I suddenly received a message from her: “Aria, I really can’t learn the rules of big corporations anymore. My boss wants me to sleep with his two major clients tonight. I don’t want to live anymore!” …… 1 I stared deadly at the last line on my phone screen. The Coke bottle in my hand was crushed out of shape. The entire racing track instantly went quiet. Over a hundred people all turned to look at me in unison. I shoved my phone into my pocket, stood up, and whistled. In less than ten seconds, over a hundred people gathered around. “Aria! What’s up!” I kicked over the plastic table in front of me and grabbed the half steel pipe hidden under the table leg. “Get on your bikes. Follow me.” “Where to?” “Grand Hyatt Hotel.” I tucked the steel pipe into my waistband and straddled my modified exhaust Ghost Fire motorcycle. I twisted the throttle, and the engine roared. Behind me, fifty motorcycles ignited simultaneously. Taxi drivers on the road, seeing our formation, were so scared they crashed their cars straight into the curb. Wind poured into my ears, but it couldn’t drown out those words replaying in my head. “Big platforms have their rules. Just endure this period and it’ll be fine.” “Once I become a regular employee, we can pool our money to buy a small house and never be apart.” Natalie, you idiot. I told you long ago that your boss Williams wasn’t human. During the day he had you serving tea, pouring water, and working overtime until 3 AM, and at midnight he had you wear a maid outfit to his room to report on work. You told me that was the training model of big corporations, that every intern had to go through it. I kicked a beer bottle to pieces and yelled at you to quit, and you cried begging me not to make trouble. Fine, I held back. But now you’re sending me a suicide note? Natalie! You fucking wait. Even if I have to tear down the Grand Hyatt Hotel tonight, I’m dragging you out of those bastards’ hands! Grand Hyatt Hotel. When we arrived, a row of black Mercedes S-Classes was parked at the hotel entrance. Several doormen were bowing to open car doors for guests. Seeing fifty motorcycles roaring up, their faces turned deathly pale. “You… what are you doing! You can’t park motorcycles here!” Before he finished speaking, my guys rode their motorcycles straight onto the red carpet at the hotel entrance. Over a dozen bikes blocked the revolving door in a chaotic mess. Four security guards rushed out from the lobby. They had just pulled out their walkie-talkies when my people pressed them down onto the marble floor. “Aria, top floor suite, 2801.” My guy Monkey ran over holding his phone. Ten minutes ago he’d already hacked into the hotel’s reservation system. I squeezed into the VIP elevator with over a dozen of my trusted men. Every second the elevator went up, Natalie’s suicide note replayed in my head. “Ding.” The elevator door opened. But four black-clad bodyguards stood at the door of 2801, very muscular. These weren’t hotel security—they were private security hired by that foreign corporation. The bald leader saw us and immediately blocked our way: “Private event, unauthorized personnel…” I didn’t even let him finish. The steel pipe smashed directly into his brow bone. “Bang!” Blood splattered onto the hallway’s beige wallpaper. The bald man screamed, covering his face, and collapsed onto the carpet. The remaining three bodyguards froze for half a second. Max and Tank each took one down, and the last one was knocked over by Monkey with a fire extinguisher. Four bodyguards, solved in seven seconds. I stood in front of 280

Through the heavy wooden door, deafening music came from inside, along with men’s unrestrained laughter. I raised my foot. “Bang!” The door lock was kicked out of shape with one kick, and the double doors slammed open to both sides! 2 What hit me in the face was the smell of liquor and cigars, and the scent of date rape drugs. I spotted Natalie immediately. She was tied to the armrest of a sofa, her jacket torn down to half, shirt buttons scattered all over the floor. There was blood at the corner of her mouth. A short, fat man was pinching her chin, pouring a wine glass into her mouth. The liquid ran down her neck. Her eyes had already lost focus. And on the leather sofa facing her, two balding middle-aged men had their collars unbuttoned. One was crossing his legs holding a phone recording video, the other was chomping on a cigar laughing with a face full of wrinkles. “Williams, this intern of yours is something else. Great body. Once the drugs kick in, she’ll be howling like a dog.” Standing nearby, Director Williams was holding a wine glass and laughing. “Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied tonight. We’ve got plenty of this kind of merchandise at our company. Play with one till she breaks, then swap in a new batch.” I gripped the steel pipe, my knuckles cracking. The next second, I kicked over the table in the center of the living room. The coffee table broke in two, bottles and glasses on it shattered all over the floor. “Crash!” The short fat man was so scared his hand loosened, and the wine glass fell to the ground and smashed to pieces. I rushed forward in three steps, the steel pipe precisely smashing into the hand of the balding man recording video. Two fingers broke, the phone flew out, screen shattered. “Ahhhhh my hand!!!” The balding man screamed holding his hand, rolling off the sofa. I grabbed the collar of the other balding man chomping on a cigar and yanked him up from the sofa. On the coffee table was an ashtray filled with ash and cigar butts. I grabbed his jaw with one hand and pressed the entire ashtray over his mouth. “Eat!” “Mmmmph!” He rolled his eyes choking on the ash, his mouth filled with ash and saliva. Williams threw down his wine glass, so scared he backed up three steps. “Aria! Are you fucking crazy! Do you know what kind of place this is!” He pointed at my nose. “You’re social trash who didn’t even finish middle school. Do you know who Mr. Zhang is! If you touch a single hair on his head!” I turned back and walked to Natalie, untying the rope on her wrists. The marks had drawn blood. I took off my leather jacket and wrapped her entire body in it. Her whole body was trembling. She groggily opened her eyes. The moment she saw it was me, tears immediately poured out. “Aria, you need to run…” She grabbed my sleeve. “You can’t fight them… They’ll sue you…” “They have lawyers, connections, we can’t afford to compensate…” I crouched in front of her, using the back of my hand to wipe away the wine stains and blood on her face. “Natalie, who the fuck said anything about fighting? I’m just here to take you home tonight.” 3 Williams had already pulled out his phone from his pocket. “Mr. Stone, there’s trouble on the top floor. Thugs are causing a scene. Come up with people quickly!” He hung up and tilted his head to look at me, a smile on his lips. “Aria, you think bringing a few gang punks lets you run wild on my turf?” “Just wait.” In less than five minutes, a group of people filed in. Leading them was a man in his early fifties with slicked-back hair wearing a custom suit. The company’s Greater China Vice President, Derek Stone. Behind him followed two lawyers carrying briefcases, and over thirty uniformed corporate security guards wearing earpieces. Compared to this group, the dozen or so trusted subordinates I’d brought were clearly outmatched at a glance. After Derek Stone entered, he first scanned the mess all over the floor, then looked at the clients rolling on the ground clutching their hands, and snorted through his nose. Then he looked at me. “Just you?” He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hands. “Young age, won’t go to school, bringing a bunch of thugs to a five-star hotel to vandalize and rob.” “Do you know what this is called? Home invasion robbery, gang fighting, intentional assault.” He turned his head and looked at the two legal counsels beside him. “Did you film it?” The legal counsel nodded, pointing at the camera on his chest. “Started filming as soon as we entered, Mr. Stone.” Derek Stone walked to the sofa and sat down, crossing his legs. His legal counsel opened the briefcase and pulled out a stack of A4 papers. “This is the training agreement and confidentiality clause Natalie signed when she joined.” The lawyer pushed up his glasses and handed the papers to me. “According to Article 7 of the agreement, during the training period, if Party B unilaterally breaches the contract and resigns, they must compensate Party A for training fees, client resource losses, trade secret disclosure and other comprehensive expenses…” “Fifty million.” Fifty million. Natalie could work her entire life and never earn that amount. The lawyer continued. “Additionally, tonight’s drinking session was a normal business entertainment activity arranged by the company. Miss Natalie voluntarily participated. Here is her personally signed activity consent form.” The lawyer sneered. “This young lady simply drank too much. We have the hotel’s full surveillance footage to prove it.” “However, you brought gang members to forcibly break into a private room, causing serious injury to two businessmen.” “I think I don’t need to tell you what the consequences are, do I?” That consent form signature was forced on Natalie. I saw through it—this was a setup they’d prepared. Williams came over again, straightening his wrinkled shirt collar, hands on his hips looking at me. “Aria, these are the rules of big companies. Poor people should obediently be toys. Who are you to play the hero saving the beauty? You’re an MC rider who can’t even come up with five thousand bucks, and you want to challenge our corporation?” Behind me, Natalie was trembling all over. She suddenly broke free from my hand and fell to her knees in front of Derek Stone with a thud. “Mr. Stone… please… let Aria go…” “I signed the agreement myself, it has nothing to do with her… I’ll go, I’ll go entertain the clients… please don’t pursue charges against her…” Watching her kneel on the ground begging those beasts, my eyes stung. I grabbed her arm and pulled her up, then backhanded a slap across her face. She froze. “Natalie, stand the fuck up straight. If you kneel to these scum one more time, I’ll cut ties with you immediately.” She bit her lip, tears falling in strings. Dense footsteps came from the hallway, getting closer. Military boots stepping on carpet made muffled sounds. Over a hundred elite security guards urgently deployed from the corporation’s local headquarters completely sealed off the entire top floor. The fire door at the stairwell was locked from inside, the elevator set to exit-only mode. The guys I brought were trapped in the hallway, surrounded front and back by masses of uniforms. No escape. 4 Derek Stone wasn’t in a hurry to make a move. He just sat on the sofa watching me. Muffled sounds came from the hallway—my guys being taken down by stun batons. Screams came one after another. In less than two minutes, the hallway went completely quiet. A security captain walked in, blood on his boots, and nodded at Derek Stone. “Mr. Stone, everyone outside has been subdued.” Derek Stone nodded with satisfaction. He stood up and slowly paced over to me. He sighed. “You think picking up a weapon and having a fight can solve problems?” “In this city, how much are fists worth?” “Capital, legal teams, media, networks—things you’ve never even heard of. Any one of them can crush you to dust.” After speaking, he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a stack of hundred-dollar bills, weighing them. Smack! Ten thousand dollars slapped hard across my face. The bills scattered and fell to the floor. Williams came over, squatted on the ground, slapping his knee and laughing. “Hahahaha, Mr. Stone is so generous!” Derek Stone looked down at me from above, his voice not loud. “Kneel down. Lick the spilled alcohol off the floor.” “Then have your best friend properly serve the two bosses.” He tilted his head slightly, looking at Natalie trembling in the corner, then his gaze returned. “Do that, and this matter is settled. You take your people and get lost. I’ll pretend tonight never happened.” He stepped forward, bent down, almost pressing against my ear. “Don’t do it. You two will disappear from this world tonight. The fifty million debt, I’ll hang it on your family’s heads.” “Your sick mom, your uncle who sells sausages from a cart—heh, you think they can handle it?” He straightened up and adjusted his cuffs. I didn’t speak. I lowered my head, looking at the hundred-dollar bills scattered at my feet. Natalie suddenly moved. While everyone was staring at me, she quietly bent down and picked up a triangular piece of glass from the broken table on the carpet. She pointed the glass shard at her own neck. She wasn’t crying anymore. “Aria… you go.” Her voice was very soft, very calm. “They won’t let you take me… just go… I’ll handle the penalty myself… don’t worry about me anymore…” The sharp point of the glass had already pierced her skin, a thin line of blood seeping out. I kicked the glass shard out of her hand. She froze. I crouched down and wiped the blood from her wrist with my sleeve. Then I stood up and turned around. At my feet were scattered bills. In front of me were the smug Derek Stone and the sleazy-smiling Williams. In the hallway, all my guys had been taken down. I took a breath. Then I burst out laughing. Derek Stone’s eyelid twitched, and he took half a step back. Williams’s smile froze on his face. Even those security guards instinctively gripped their stun batons tighter. I laughed enough, raised my hand, and wiped the tears of laughter from the corner of my eyes. Then I pulled out my phone. “Williams, oh Williams. You don’t really think I’m just a poor MC rider, do you?”

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The man who had a secret crush on me jumped off a building. Reborn, I told him I loved him. But he threatened me, saying that if I truly loved him, I had to die with him. Wait, let me start from the beginning. That’s a different story for a different time. Here is the story of how a prank ruined everything. 01 It rarely snowed heavily in Seattle. After lunch, I was strolling around the hospital grounds with a few colleagues when we bumped into Daphne Price, who was taking photos of the snow. During med school, she was famously known as the “Ice Queen” of the medical faculty. Her personality was colder than the surgical scalpel she wielded; she never smiled. She was the goddess of many upper and lower classmen. “Dr. Price!” A male colleague called out Daphne’s name and shoved a coffee into her hand to warm her up: “It’s pretty cold out here, why are you alone?” “Thanks. I’m not a fan of crowds.” Daphne turned around coolly, her porcelain skin looking like it had a thin layer of frost under the sunlight. Everyone wanted to take a group photo under the tree, so I pulled out my phone to act as the photographer. I bent down to find the right angle and distance, counting down with my fingers: “Three, two…” In the very last second of the countdown, a sudden rush of wind swept past my ear. My boyfriend, Lucas Hayes, appeared out of nowhere. With a loud laugh, he hoisted my bent figure onto his shoulder and slammed me down hard, right shoulder first, in a vicious shoulder throw! THUD! “Look at you, you look so stupid! Hahaha!” I sank into the snow. The tree trunk buried beneath the snow shook gently from my impact, and snowflakes fell rustling from the branches, beautiful as a fairyland. For the first time ever, Daphne smiled radiantly, stunning everyone. 02 Why did Lucas do this to me? To intentionally make me look like a fool, just to get a smile from his goddess, Daphne? Then what did I do wrong? My mind went completely blank for a few seconds. It wasn’t until a wave of grievance and anger washed over me that I realized my entire right shoulder was numb. My right hand had completely lost feeling. When I opened my mouth, all that came out was a sob: “Help…” “Wow, Daphne, this photo of you is so beautiful! I’ve known you for seven years and this is the first time I’ve seen you smile!” Lucas picked up my phone and showed off the photo to everyone like he was presenting a treasure. “Yeah, Dr. Price, you really should smile more. You’re too pretty!” “Lucas, hurry up and pull your girlfriend up. How could you do that?” Lucas laughed, saying it was nothing, and crouched down to dig me out of the snow: “Stella is actually a comedy vlogger in private. We’re always playing pranks on each other, like bros. She’s fine…” Suddenly meeting my dim, lifeless eyes, Lucas’s words stopped abruptly. Digging further down and seeing my unnaturally twisted right arm, panic finally set in. 03 “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Stella. I was just joking…” My right shoulder had been pierced by a tree root, and I lost a lot of blood. I was rushed into the ER. The Chief of Surgery and the Vice President of the hospital had just gotten off a back-to-back shift. Seeing me, their faces changed color, and they hurried in one after another to start resuscitation. Lucas held my hand tightly, the corners of his eyes red. He kept wiping the snow off my face over and over again, trembling all over in panic. He was blocked outside the resuscitation room. In the very last second before the doors closed, I calmly said one word to him: “Scram.” 04 When I woke up in the hospital room, Daphne was asking a nurse about my medication from last night. The room was filled with a sweet fragrance. The cloying scent of plum blossom essential oil on her even masked the smell of disinfectant. Beside my pillow was Daphne’s phone. The screen was still on; she had posted that group snow photo on Instagram. Lucas was the first to like and comment: [Daphne, you really should smile more. You look beautiful when you smile.] I froze for a few seconds. My gaze fell on the medical chart next to the phone. I don’t know if it was carelessness or intentional, but my chart had been casually tossed there by Daphne. I am also a surgeon; I can read a chart. My right hand would never hold a scalpel again. 05 The sound of flipping pages was exceptionally clear. Daphne looked back at me, coldly pulled the chart away, and said nothing. Although we were from the same medical school and became colleagues, we weren’t very close. Daphne rarely interacted with men, and she didn’t interact with women at all. We had nothing to say to each other. “Is Stella awake? I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Lucas’s voice broke the silence of the room. He had just finished an all-night surgery. His handsome face was covered in sweat. His tall figure carefully approached the bed, and he grasped my hand through the blanket. “I really was just trying to play a joke on you back then. I’m sorry, Stella.” “I’ve already notified your parents. Don’t worry!” “…You only have a fracture. In a few days, after a minor surgery performed by our old Chief himself—I’ll be there too—your right hand will definitely recover!” Lucas’s voice trembled at the end. Like a helpless child, he lowered his head and rubbed my fingers over and over again. Seeing that I wasn’t speaking, he gave a stiff smile and tremblingly pulled a velvet box from his pocket. “Sorry, look at my memory! Actually, yesterday, I wanted to propose to you.” 06 I don’t know when Daphne had slipped out. Lucas’s eyes were burning with deep affection as he looked at me: “It’s never snowed this beautifully in Seattle. I just wanted to take advantage of the heavy snow to propose to you… You know, make you mad first and then bring out the surprise. You know, like they do online. I really just wanted to joke with you! It’s my fault, I’m an idiot. I promise there won’t be a next time!” But inside the box was a very ordinary ring. It didn’t look carefully prepared at all. Did I believe him? Lucas grabbed my numb right hand: “Marry me, Stella Mitchell.” The air was terrifyingly quiet. You could almost hear the sound of the IV fluid dripping drop by drop. Suddenly, I laughed. Lucas immediately let out a sigh of relief. He proactively pressed his cheek into my palm, rubbing it affectionately like a puppy seeking attention. “Look at your silly face.” Using my still-functional left hand, I grabbed him by the hair, my eyes cold and dark: “You’re still thinking about proposing at a time like this? Go to the police station and make a statement first. You’ve committed intentional assault.” “Angering me was for the proposal? Don’t make excuses for your mistakes. At that moment, you clearly just wanted to make me look like a fool to amuse your goddess. Do you think I’m stupid?” “Also, the people you should apologize to the most are my patients. They waited so long for a chance to get surgery. Only I and the 96-year-old professor can perform this specialized surgery. Now that my hand is ruined, who will help them?” 07 Lucas opened and closed his mouth, guilt rendering him speechless after his lie was exposed. I was left alone in the quiet room. The water stains from the melting snow on the ceiling slowly spread, just like my future, lost and without direction. I closed my eyes, and the eager faces of my patients flashed rapidly through my mind. How would I explain this to them from now on? “Lucas, you really can’t be blamed. No one can predict accidents. Stella is a girl, after all; she needs more coaxing. She’ll be fine once she thinks it through.” Hearing the voice, my eyes snapped open. Daphne was standing outside the room, comforting Lucas. “I guess this is why I don’t like getting close to anyone. I can’t bring myself to take out my anger on innocent people. Just because he’s a boyfriend, does he get blamed unconditionally? I look down on this kind of unreasonable woman.” I almost thought I was hallucinating. What was Daphne barking about? Lucas sighed heavily and said hoarsely: “Daphne, you’re right. I understand what you mean. No matter what, it’s my fault. I love her, and I can’t be as clear-headed and rational as you.” “You really care about Stella too, don’t you? Staying outside her room personally… I thank you on her behalf. You should go back and rest.” Through the gaps in the blinds, I could vaguely see Daphne standing in front of Lucas. Lucas rubbed his face helplessly, and finally, reverently and gently leaned on Daphne— “Thank you, Daphne.” …… I picked up the phone expressionlessly: “Hello, 911? I was maliciously injured by a male colleague. I suspect they are plotting a murder!” 08 I met Lucas in college. If there was anything about him that moved me, sincerity was probably his only winning trait. He held nothing back from me, unconditionally siding with me in everything, like a very silly, very clumsy puppy who loved to wag his tail frantically at his owner. I didn’t need to question his sincerity. I just needed to slowly teach him how to love, how to interact… But I didn’t want to accompany a boy as he grew up anymore. He could give his sincerity to me, but his soul would always lean towards that sacred, pure goddess. He disgusted me. My parents rushed to the police station and strongly supported my decision after learning what happened. What kind of joke involves slamming your girlfriend to the ground without hesitation? He ruined my future. And he had the audacity to tell my parents afterward: I slipped in the hospital because I wasn’t careful and broke my arm. 09 Faced with all my accusations, Lucas didn’t refute a single word and accepted any punishment. In the end, it was the hospital president and the department chief who stepped forward to mediate, hoping to keep the matter quiet. Lucas would face an indefinite suspension. The lawyers would negotiate a settlement amount for a private resolution. They just pleaded with me not to send him to jail, which would leave a negative stain on the hospital’s reputation. Besides, my 96-year-old mentor was hospitalized in a coma. Everyone wanted to avoid a huge scandal that might distress the old man. A private settlement was fine. Let Lucas get the money ready then. The hospital arranged surgery for me as quickly as possible, allowing me to heal my right hand first without worrying about anything else. But on my first day admitted as a patient, a fight broke out at the nurses’ station over overtime. The surgical department was short two doctors. All schedules and surgeries had to be rearranged, and the workload had increased tremendously. Daphne, passing by during rounds, stopped in front of the nurses’ station and said coldly: “Complaining is useless. If nurses are tired, aren’t doctors tired too?” “It was clearly just an accident, but Dr. Mitchell threw a tantrum and blew things out of proportion. She even got her boyfriend suspended. You can’t blame anyone else.” “Don’t mind me being blunt; I’m just telling the truth.” 10 The staff at the nurses’ station froze. They weren’t at the scene, so they didn’t know the whole story. And since it was Daphne—the aloof goddess who usually hated gossip—her words naturally carried weight. Just as Daphne turned to leave, I marched out and grabbed her wrist— “If you have something to say, Dr. Price, say it straight. Don’t be passive-aggressive. What do you mean I blew things out of proportion?” “Listen up, everyone. I am the one who was hurt! Put yourselves in my shoes: if your boyfriend threw you to the ground for no reason, breaking your arm so you could never hold a scalpel again, and then claimed it was just a joke, an accident—would you not be angry? Would you not hold him accountable? If not, then you’re truly saints!” The nurses’ faces changed. I pulled out the group photo and slammed it on the desk: “When it happened, Dr. Price was right there. When Lucas slammed me, you smiled brighter than anyone! What were you thinking? Were you that happy?” Daphne swayed on her feet, biting her lower lip tightly, the color draining from her face. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a strong force pushed me away from behind. Lucas stepped between us, shielding Daphne. “Stella, Daphne doesn’t understand all this petty drama between you women! Stop talking. Everything is my fault.” 11 “Dr. Price clearly started it. Everyone heard her. I’d be pissed too if it were me. Her boyfriend is a total psycho! But even if a stranger suddenly got body-slammed, she shouldn’t have laughed, right?” A young nurse suddenly spoke up, honestly sharing her perspective. Daphne’s face was as pale as frost. Her gaze was like shattered jade—fragile and pitiable. Suddenly, she grabbed her files and turned away coldly: “Think whatever you want. I don’t care what others think.” “Daphne, you don’t need to pay for anything with your smile! You felt happy at the time, so you smiled. Are you wrong?” Lucas stubbornly blocked Daphne, then softened his gaze, stepped in front of me, and whispered: “Stella, apologize to Daphne. How can we work together if things are so tense? Besides, she’s taking on both of our workloads. She’s exhausted, and it’s not easy for her.” As soon as he said this, the surrounding nurses gasped collectively. Bound by the presence of patients, they could only curse Lucas with their eyes. I grabbed the rubbing alcohol from the desk, unscrewed the cap, and poured it directly over Lucas’s head— “Looks like your brain is full of filth. Let me disinfect it for you.” “Hilarious. I should apologize to Daphne? Have you been a simp for so long you’ve forgotten who you are?” “There are things I didn’t want to say, but she took my workload? Does she have the ability to? Stop pretending to be some long-suffering martyr! I became a doctor to save lives, not to cater to her moods. And saying ‘how can we work together if things are tense’—when someone isn’t smiling and she just stands there grinning like an idiot, she deserves to be scolded. She laughed the loudest. Do I need to pick an auspicious day to curse her out?” 12 The entire hospital corridor fell silent. Many people were stunned by my outburst. Even patients’ families ran to the doorway to watch the drama. Daphne leaned halfway against the wall, her expression lost and helpless, her body swaying as if she would collapse to the ground the next second. A male patient, unaware of the situation, tried to help Daphne, slowly maneuvering his wheelchair closer. I suddenly smirked and said sarcastically: “Help me analyze this, everyone. Our mentor only took on two female students, and both of us ended up in Surgery at Hospital A. I’m younger, but I can perform specialized surgeries. Did I get in someone’s way?” One sentence woke everyone up. Now, Daphne’s two-faced behavior had a reasonable explanation. Daphne forced a bitter smile and lowered her eyes despondently: “Say whatever you want. I won’t defend myself. I only want to focus on medicine.” But the onlookers didn’t see it that way: “No wonder she smiled so happily. She must be jealous to death of Dr. Mitchell!” “Makes sense. A normal person wouldn’t smile like that, right? I never expected Dr. Price to be…” Lucas clenched his fists and suddenly yelled at me: “Enough, Stella Mitchell! Is it necessary to target Daphne like this?! How could she be that kind of person? Don’t drag her into the issues between us!” The situation was getting out of hand. Even the head nurse and the department chief were alarmed. Security guards were trying to stop people from filming. Amidst the chaos, the male patient in the wheelchair looked at me blankly: “Dr. Mitchell? What do you mean your hand is ruined?” 13 His name was Arthur Vance. He was my patient, actively cooperating with treatment. His surgery was originally scheduled for next week. “I went all over the country for this disease. Only Professor Wood understands it, and he said his student, Stella Mitchell, could save me.” “I’m supposed to have surgery soon. What does this mean now? …Can you not treat me?” In an instant, the three of us froze. The unshakable bottom line in my heart brought forth immense guilt. Lucas was the first to bow and apologize to the patient. I, too, lowered my head to apologize and explain. Daphne approached the wheelchair with red-rimmed eyes. For the first time, she offered gentle comfort: “Don’t worry. Let me look at your medical records. I will definitely cure your disease.” Arthur’s eyes were red. He angrily pushed Daphne away: “Who the hell are you? Professor Wood said only Stella Mitchell could save me. Do you have the ability, or are you just talking big?” 14 Daphne stared at him blankly. Her immense pride was instantly crushed; she couldn’t utter a word in rebuttal. She bit her bloodless lip and, under the scrutiny of the crowd, gathered her files and left. “Daphne!” Lucas immediately chased after her. My research focused on a rare spinal disease that manifests in adulthood. After onset, patients basically rely on wheelchairs, live in excruciating pain, and must have surgery as soon as possible. Because it’s a spinal surgery, it requires extreme precision and theoretical knowledge. The risks and difficulties are high. Among the many students our mentor had taught, only I barely met the standard. Now that my future was ruined, those patients who missed their chance for treatment might really have no hope left. No one suffered more than they did. The hospital also understood the gravity of the situation. They didn’t pursue my responsibility for the argument. They added another demerit to the suspended Lucas and issued a warning to Daphne. My room was upgraded to a private one. As if holding onto a grudge to cure Arthur, Daphne applied to the department chief to take over the patient. She did rounds three times a day to analyze the progress of his condition, prescribed a lot of medication to relieve his pain and inflammation, and promised to operate on him in a week. Several times, I was afraid something might go wrong and wanted to observe, but Daphne shut me out. “Don’t mess around! You don’t have experience in this area. Just take the medicine I prescribed before and wait until your right hand recovers!” Daphne’s eyes were indifferent, her face as cold as a snow lotus on a high mountain peak: “Stella, I am also Professor Wood’s student, and my ability is no worse than yours. Are you worried I’ll steal your thunder now?” I felt a chill run down my spine. Even the nurses were doubtful. They secretly told me that the medicine Daphne prescribed was useless. Arthur was quite optimistic when he was admitted. Now, he was in so much pain every night that he couldn’t sleep, banging his head against the wall. During the day, he threw tantrums, yelling that he didn’t want to live anymore. He seemed like a completely different person. “Dr. Mitchell, I can’t even imagine. What if Daphne messes up the treatment, Arthur might…” I immediately texted the department chief. The chief, based on protocol, contacted the psychiatric department for an evaluation first. After worrying for a few days, I received a private message on my social media account, submitted at 3 AM: [Can I make a wish to Jane? I have a terminal illness that can’t be cured. I want to see something happy.] I secretly run a comedy account called [Jane]. I post prank videos every week to treat my fans, based on their submissions, and donate all the proceeds. However, I only accept submissions from patients with terminal illnesses, severe diseases, or those who have lost hope, using a different way to make them happy. [I know the rules. I’ll take a picture of my medical record for you. Can you understand this rare disease?] I recognized it immediately as Arthur’s medical record. Based on his submission, I ordered glow sticks and a frog suit from a nearby supermarket, got the fastest courier to deliver them to the hospital, and told him not to lose hope, that his disease could be cured, and to wait for my video today. About two hours later, there was a knock on the hospital room door. “Thanks for getting the package. The hospital not letting patients go downstairs to get it is really—” I froze when I looked up. It was Lucas. He was holding a thermos and a lunchbox. He casually dropped a large bag of packages on the table and frowned as he advised me: “Filming comedy videos again?” “How much money can those videos make? You’re sick and you’re still doing this?” “Stella, sometimes I really don’t understand you. Why do girls intentionally make themselves look ugly and cheap? Can’t you be a bit more dignified and elegant?” 15 Cheap. So this is how Lucas had always viewed me. Compared to his elegant, dignified goddess Daphne, I was very cheap. So an over-the-shoulder throw as a joke didn’t matter. I was just a worthless joke. “Can I help you? Oh, I forgot. The lawyers must have finished talking. Are you here to pay the compensation?” My sharp words deeply pierced Lucas. His shoulders slumped. Sighing, he took out a bank card and offered it to me with both hands, his voice trembling: “Please, drink the soup my mom made first, okay? It’s good for your body.” I snatched it away and shoved it into my pocket. Grabbing the package, I walked away without looking back: “How much is on this card? Has it been notarized by a lawyer? I don’t accept installments; you better pay it all off at once!” I found an empty spot in the stairwell, put on the frog suit, and recorded “(G)I-DLE – Queencard.” Halfway through the dance, I suddenly heard Daphne and Lucas talking behind the fire door. Daphne’s cold voice was exceptionally clear: “Honestly, Lucas, that’s all your savings for getting married and buying a house. I don’t recommend you empty your bank account. Besides, you didn’t do anything wrong.” “I understand, Daphne. Actually, I don’t care about the money. It’s all going to be spent on Stella anyway. It was supposed to be her bride price and the money for the house.” My fists clenched. Just as I was about to burst out, I saw Daphne lower her eyes and smile slightly. Her radiant smile left Lucas dumbfounded. “I can’t understand you people with ‘love brain’. You have hands and feet, and you chose to marry. Why do you still need the other half to give a bride price and buy a house? It’s like you sold yourself for a price. I look down on that kind of woman, haha.” “I understand, Daphne. There are too few women in the world as clear-headed and independent as you. You deserve…” Before he could finish, I slammed the fire door open, rushed out, and punched Lucas hard: “You’re really talking out of your ass! It makes me sick!” Since I was wearing a frog suit and could act crazy as I pleased, I flying-kicked Daphne in the face. There were garlic sprouts growing in water on the windowsill, belonging to a patient’s family. I grabbed them and shoved them directly into her mouth: “Eat more garlic, since you’re so good at pretending! When will your medical skills be as magical as your pretentiousness?” Daphne’s thin body couldn’t stop trembling, and broken tears rolled down. While she was whimpering, I used my head to shove Lucas aside and sprinted away. Just as I took a step, an unusual dark shadow swept rapidly past the window, plummeting to the ground on the first floor like a bomb. BANG! A loud noise. Once everyone realized what it was, they were all stunned. 16 Arthur had climbed to the roof while pretending to go to the bathroom and jumped from the 16th floor of the inpatient building. He left only a note: [It hurts too much. I can’t be cured.] The psychiatric evaluation confirmed he had a severe mental illness. I forget how I ended up following the crowd to the first floor. My colleagues, not recognizing me in my frog suit, squeezed me to the back. On my phone was Arthur’s last private message: [Thank you, vlogger, but I have no hope.] Those black and white words gradually blurred with tears. For the first time in my life, I felt suffocated and powerless. It was truly awful. “Daphne! Daphne!” Lucas’s heart-wrenching screams came from the crowd. Daphne was the first to jump onto the stretcher. Her stunningly beautiful face was smeared with blood, and the wind gently lifted her long hair. She looked shattered and desolate. She reached out trembling to feel Arthur’s pulse. The moment her fingertips touched him, her slender body suddenly lost all strength and fell backward, like a feather dropping into the crowd, ready to be crushed with the slightest pressure— “Is there something wrong with her brain?! Does she think she’s filming a movie?! If she’s not going to resuscitate him, she needs to get the hell out of the way! Get her out of here!” The head nurse exploded with thunderous rage and cursed. Lucas immediately rushed up, caught Daphne, scooped her up, and ran towards the emergency room. On his way, I blocked him. “Stella, don’t cause a scene. Daphne is in critical condition!” I slapped Lucas expressionlessly. He froze. I took off my glove and pinched his chin hard: “I just want to tell you, this is the first life you’ve indirectly taken. You will pay for this.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “425837”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Except for me, everyone else knew the live cameras were rolling. They all teamed up to play me, keeping me completely in the dark while they praised me to the skies. Whoever managed to steal my first kiss would win a fifty-million-dollar bonus. After Carter Harrison won my first kiss, he wiped his mouth vigorously and furiously rinsed it out with mouthwash. “If it weren’t for the money, who would ever kiss a fat, ugly loser?” The entire internet erupted in a wave of mass mockery aimed right at me. [Why did she actually think a hot guy like him would ever fall for a pig like her?] When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the exact moment where I had to choose between “Romance” and “Prize Money.” “Of course I choose Romance,” I said. “I’m a hopeless romantic, after all.” It didn’t matter. I still had one last chance to switch my choice before the show ended. This time, I was going to take the money and the clout. 1 Waking up from my afternoon nap, having just selected my Romance Gem, I walked into the bathroom. I sat on the edge of the tub, buried my face in my hands, and laughed silently until my sides hurt. The humiliation from my past life was still fresh in my mind. Right after that brief peck of a kiss ended. Carter had smiled like a golden retriever, leaned into my ear, and whispered, “Did you eat lemon candy? Why do you taste like cheap air freshener? So gross.” Then, he asked the crew for a bottle of water and relentlessly rinsed his mouth. “If it weren’t for the money, who would ever kiss a fat, ugly loser?” Damon Sterling had been leaning against the second-floor railing, watching for God knows how long. “Losing the bet isn’t so bad,” he’d remarked. “If it were me… tsk, I couldn’t stomach the kiss anyway.” Carter had walked right past me as if I didn’t exist. “Rowan, I saw you looking at her. You can have her sloppy seconds.” Rowan Hayes had been slouched in a single sofa chair. The living room lights were dim, casting him in shadows. I didn’t know how long he’d been enjoying the show. Hearing Carter, he lazily waved a hand. “No thanks. I don’t eat fatty meat.” It was a sick game played by rich boys. Their good looks and massive wealth were the ultimate filters for their terrible personalities. No matter how cruel they were, the public would just squeal: He’s so toxic, but I love him! After the show, they donated a sum of money to charity. And the public magically “forgot” how they had toyed with me. They had a win-win deal with the production crew, raking in massive internet traffic. They boosted their family companies’ reputations. And me? In the public’s eyes, I became the poster child for a delusional, narcissistic fool. Trying to demand my right to know about the secret livestream only made me look like a sore loser. Pathetic and ridiculous. … Stepping out of the bathroom stall, I stood in front of the vanity mirror. In the glass, I was wearing a baggy, oversized gray long-sleeve shirt. My face wasn’t ugly, but it wasn’t stunning either. Soft features, almond eyes, rosy cheeks, and a small mole on the bridge of my nose. Only I knew that beneath the oversized clothes, my figure was incredibly curvy. During puberty, the kids at my old school had nicknamed me “Cow.” It caused me to slouch for years, too ashamed to stand up straight. In my world, the opposite sex was purely aggressive. When dealing with them, I was always stiff, shy, and overly cautious. Seeing my timidness, the male cast members easily deduced that I hadn’t had my first kiss yet. Without hesitation, they launched their offensive. Three gorgeous guys secretly competing for me—it was the ultimate ratings trap for the show. “Perfect. Now, everyone is in on the secret!” I curved my eyes, adjusting my smile. I washed my face and put on my heavy, thick black-rimmed glasses. I didn’t try to change my appearance. I displayed my “flaws” exactly as they were. Because what fun is a game if the prey doesn’t play along? 2 “Chloe, you’re downstairs! What do you want to eat for dinner?” Carter greeted me with overwhelming enthusiasm. That bright smile used to make me feel so warm and healed. Seeing it now just made me want to throw up. I played dumb, slowly looking up and pushing my heavy glasses up my nose awkwardly. “Hand-cut pappardelle pasta. What about you guys?” They were probably just going to boil some plain vegetables. Their main goal was just to look good for the cameras. The fridge was fully stocked with ingredients. I had no intention of eating rabbit food with them. After all, to play by their “rules,” I hadn’t brought any of my own snacks, but they definitely weren’t following the rules. Carter’s smile froze. “You’re eating that heavy for dinner?” In my past life, this asshole invited me to eat his boiled spinach. It was so salty I had to drink a whole pitcher of water. Having a soft temper became my original sin. The livestream audience despised me for a long time because of my “weakness.” Elena Vance, who was chopping vegetables nearby, chimed in casually. “One look at Chloe and you can tell she’s a foodie!” She paused, adding with an apologetic, gentle tone, “I’m not great with words. I didn’t mean to imply you were chubby or anything.” The gentle beauty, speaking with such earnestness. No one could ever bear to blame her. I lowered my head and forced a strained smile. “It’s okay. I’m used to it.” If she wants to play the victim card, two can play at that game. I sighed. “I gain weight even just drinking water anyway. Might as well eat whatever I want.” Without giving Elena a chance to explain, I walked past her. “Where are the others? Have they eaten?” A head popped up from the side of the couch. “I haven’t eaten yet!” The young man wore silver-rimmed glasses and a gentle smile. He leaned back on the sofa, and seeing me look over, raised a hand. “Hey~” Most of the time, Rowan Hayes slouched lazily on the couch with a book. It was hard to imagine that someone who looked so polite and refined… Could look at me and say, “I don’t eat fatty meat.” I smiled shyly. “Hi.” Very polite. Absolutely no romantic shyness. Without missing a beat, I walked straight to the kitchen island. I took out the ingredients and expertly began to mix the dough. Rowan shuffled over in his slippers, leaning against the counter. His amber eyes focused on my hands kneading the dough. “I’m not on a diet. Could you make a portion of that pasta for me too?” I shook my head. “No.” A stifled laugh came from nearby. Carter caught my eye and immediately put on an innocent expression, though his grin didn’t fade. I explained earnestly, “I don’t know what everyone else’s tastes are. It wouldn’t be fair if I cooked for you but not the others. Plus, someone else might get upset.” Rowan’s cool gaze flickered. His eyes reflected my seemingly panicked expression. “I get it. I was just hoping to be lazy. Can I steal some of your pasta next time?” I replied bluntly, “Who eats pasta every single day?” “Pfft—hahaha!” Carter doubled over laughing. I awkwardly rubbed the tip of my nose, pretending not to know I just smeared flour on it. I looked at their reactions and muttered, “Sorry. I’m not very good at talking to people.” Rowan grabbed a paper towel and sighed in amusement. “You got flour on your nose.” 3 I instinctively reached out to take the towel, but both my hands were covered in flour. “…” I looked at him with pleading eyes. “I’ll help you.” He leaned across the counter toward me. I knew my eyelashes were long. My eyes were my best feature, followed by the bridge of my nose, which gave my face a nice bone structure. My best friend always said I had a clean, unassuming face, but a body built for sin. I tilted my face up slightly, leaning in obediently. I met his gaze without any defenses. My almond eyes were clear and pure. He paused for a split second. I tilted my head a bit more, silently urging him. He lightly wiped the flour away with the tissue. I assumed he was done and tried to pull back, but he suddenly cupped the back of my head. “Hold still. Not done yet.” I held my breath. In a matter of seconds, my cheeks grew warm. I knew I was blushing. I saw a shallow, amused smile reach his eyes. I knew it—he was taking an interest in the game. Elena’s soothing voice broke the tension. “Have you guys looked at the rules yet? Did you pick the Love Seeker or the Gold Hunter?” The show Romance & Gold gave us two choices. A pink gem represented Romance. Gold represented Prize Money. Those who chose the money were the “Gold Hunters.” They had to win the affection of a “Love Seeker.” Only by being gifted the pink gem from a Love Seeker could they win the ten million dollar prize. But there was a hidden rule I wasn’t supposed to know about. [Identify a Love Seeker who still has their first kiss. Kiss them, and win a fifty million dollar jackpot.] Carter declared, “I’m here for love, obviously.” Rowan looked at Elena. “Me too.” Elena popped a grape into her mouth, looking at Rowan with interest. “Really? Me too! Want a grape?” Rowan didn’t refuse, naturally walking away with her. Carter strolled up to me. “What about you, Chloe?” My dough was almost ready. “Weren’t we supposed to keep our identities a secret?” He shadowed me, leaning in close. “You’re so nervous. Don’t tell me you’re a Gold Hunter?” I wanted to wash my hands, but they were caked in dough. “Could you help me roll up my sleeves?” He frowned, clearly reluctant to do something so servile. Seeing his hesitation, I just walked away and went straight to Elena. “Elena, could you help me roll—” Elena’s smile, which had been bright while talking to Rowan, faded. Before she could react, Rowan stepped in. “I’ll do it.” His fingers were long and elegant, his skin warm, occasionally brushing against my wrists. He rolled my sleeves up inch by inch, revealing my well-proportioned arms and pale, smooth skin. Touch was the key to building ambiguous tension. And given his experience with women, I knew he could tell from my arms that I wasn’t actually fat. “Thank you!” I said, returning to the counter without lingering. Carter wasn’t blind. He definitely noticed Rowan paying a bit too much attention to me. As a friend, he knew how Rowan operated. So, he leaned over to me. “I never said I wouldn’t help you.” The more attention he paid, the more he’d notice. I pressed my lips together into a small smile. “You were busy making soup. I didn’t want to bother you.” From this distance, he could see my shallow dimple. It was a sweet smile. He clearly zoned out for a second, blinking. “I’m making spinach, not soup.” I glanced hesitantly at his pot. “But…” He followed my gaze. The pot was boiling over, the spinach reduced to a mushy disaster. “Crap!” He immediately reached for the pot. I stepped back. “Careful, it’s hot!” Clang! The pot tipped, splashing boiling liquid everywhere. I was wearing sandals. The hot liquid splashed right onto my foot. Carter looked horrified, staring at the mess on the floor. Rowan and Elena hurried over, asking in unison, “Are you okay?!” 4 But for a second, no one moved to clean it up. They instinctively looked at me. I faked a brave face. “I’ll go get the mop!” I took one step and inhaled sharply, frowning in pain as I lifted my injured foot. “Don’t move,” Rowan said quickly. He stepped up and scooped me into his arms effortlessly. I nervously hooked my arms around his neck. It looked like I was afraid of falling, but really, I was just closing the distance between us until we were breathing the same air. Carter, realizing he couldn’t exactly sweep the floor now, followed us, looking guilty. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to.” I let out a soft “Ah,” pretending to snap out of a daze to look at him. “It’s fine. I’m just worried it’ll blister. It’s going to be hard to put on pants tomorrow. I didn’t bring any skirts, and my wallet was confiscated by the crew… Could someone help me buy a dress?” “I’ll have someone buy one,” Rowan offered considerately. Carter looked annoyed. “No, I’ll buy it. I’m the one who burned her. You have to let me make it up to you!” Elena walked over carrying the first-aid kit. “Oh, let’s stop talking about dresses for a second and clean the wound.” I looked at her, deeply moved. “Elena, you’re so sweet!” In my past life, Carter was into her type. She was the one who constantly made me look like a fool. One by one… anyone who stepped on me, I wouldn’t let them off the hook this time. Rowan knelt in front of the sofa, lowering his head to carefully clean my foot with a saline-soaked cotton swab. “Hiss—maybe I should do it?” My pant leg was rolled up, revealing a flawless, pale calf. The red burn mark on my foot was glaringly obvious. My face was flushed red, my toes curling awkwardly. “Stop moving.” His breath was burning hot. It brushed against the top of my foot. It felt strange. I reminded myself: It’s just a physical reaction. Normal. “Carter, could you pass me a tissue?” I asked. Rowan was showing enough interest. Carter was lagging behind. Carter’s attention had been entirely on my foot. He took a half-beat to react before grabbing a tissue from the coffee table. I took off my glasses to wipe a white speck off them. Looking around and not seeing a trash can, I naturally held the crumpled tissue out to Carter. He met my eyes, then looked at the tissue in my hand. “Give it to me.” Without the heavy black frames dulling my face, and without the gloominess that used to cloud my expression, my eyes were bright and watery. My nose was delicate, my lips full. I wasn’t a jaw-dropping bombshell, but I had a clean, alluring charm. It was the kind of innocent “girl-next-door” beauty that drove guys crazy. My best friend used to say: Before you take your clothes off, you look completely harmless. Once the clothes are gone, you’re a walking temptation. Seeing this, Carter was hooked. Otherwise, with his fake-friendly, secretly arrogant personality, he never would have taken my trash with his bare hands. The fish had taken the bait. 5 When Damon Sterling and Sierra Montgomery returned, I was blushing while holding up a dress. Elena smiled gracefully. “This is a new arrival from Catherine’s boutique. Don’t be shy, Chloe, go try it on! It’s a gift from Carter, after all.” I shook my head under Carter’s expectant, puppy-dog gaze. “I can’t wear this. It’s too expensive.” Sierra clicked her heels across the floor and tossed her purse casually onto the couch. “What are you guys doing?” It was a million-dollar Birkin, tossed like trash. Just looking at it, I knew the live chat was probably screaming. Sierra was a spoiled, wealthy heiress. She was arrogant, demanding, and blunt. In reality, her family’s company was bleeding money. She came on this show specifically to secure a marriage alliance with Damon’s family. Damon was her target. In my past life, because I was their “target,” Sierra hated me. She constantly used me to make herself look better. Elena explained what had happened. Sierra scoffed. “What do you mean ‘too expensive’? You just can’t fit into it, right?” Carter shook his head, replying instantly. “Impossible. I told them to bring the largest size they had.” Elena urged me, “Don’t feel bad accepting it. A dress like this is nothing to him.” My face burned bright red. I stammered, “I can’t! T-the chest is too small!” Rowan let out a muffled laugh. “It definitely won’t fit. Her waist isn’t that thick either.” He was sitting closest to me. Somehow, my leg was resting on his thigh. He was still holding the burn ointment. I nervously tucked a strand of long hair behind my ear, revealing a bright red earlobe. “Could someone… help me back to my room?” Carter didn’t give Rowan the chance. “My fault for buying the wrong size. I’ll carry you up.” I leaned softly into his chest. I felt his body instantly tense up. His ears visibly turned red. The energetic puppy was strong. He carried me up to the second floor effortlessly. Just as he was about to set me on the bed, I suddenly leaned right next to his ear. “You have ear piercings. Were you a rebellious kid?” Caught off guard by the teasing, he panicked and tried to pull back. I acted terrified and clung to him, and in the chaos, we tumbled onto the bed together. The soft mattress bounced. “Ow, ow, ow!” I cried out. Being pressed together like that, he suddenly got a very clear understanding of the size of certain… assets. His erratic breathing brushed against my collarbone. He scrambled to push himself up. Our eyes met, his gaze entirely scrambled. I had a tear in the corner of my eye from the pain. “Did I press on your burn?!” His face was completely red as he scrambled to inspect my foot. I knew it was time for phase two. 6 [Live Chat] [Omg, Carter looks like he’s about to spontaneously combust!] [Ahhhh! This is so spicy!] [Arrogant, awkward puppy boy! I’m dying!] [I swear, could Chloe step aside so I can take her place for two days?!] [Carter stealing the chance to carry Chloe, and Rowan’s face… I’m laughing so hard.] [I really want to know her measurements now. Am I the only one who remembers that?] [Girl, you’re not alone. Did you hear Rowan say her waist wasn’t thick at all?] That evening, I received some special treatment from the crew. They brought me a beautifully plated bento box. Sierra saw it when she walked in and smiled mockingly. “Wow, quite the feast. Wish I was the one who got burned.” In my past life, I would have been so embarrassed by her sarcasm that I wouldn’t know what to say. Now, knowing this was live, her motive was obvious. She was using me as a stepping stone to cement her “spoiled but straightforward princess” persona. “Trust me, you don’t. It hurts way too much.” I happily picked up a piece of pork katsu. “If you want some, I can secretly feed you a bite.” Sierra choked on her words, looking me up and down. “No thanks. I’m on a diet.” I happily munched on my katsu. I didn’t look lonely or sad about being rejected. It made her look at me several times. Compared to Sierra’s blunt probing, Elena was much higher level. She looked at my bandaged foot with a worried expression. “Can you still participate normally like this? Maybe we should have the fourth female cast member come early, and you can go home and rest for a bit?” Did she really think the producers would listen to her? I looked at my food, understanding her game. The internet was probably blowing up about me. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be this “nice.” The producers needed me to keep dragging the guys along. They would never replace me. “I’m fine. It won’t delay anything.” I pretended to think hard about it. “Besides, I don’t use my feet to date.” [Lmao! ‘I don’t use my feet to date!’] [Honestly, I didn’t like Chloe at first, but seeing her aggressively eat that katsu, I’m a fan.] [She’s amazing. I thought she was just a frumpy girl, but she can make homemade pasta and she’s got two hot guys carrying her around!] [The comments above make no sense, I couldn’t even dream this up. Chloe is the goat.] [Do you think she’ll get texts from two guys tonight?!] After dinner, I grunted as I tied a plastic bag over my foot. Sierra walked out in her silk pajamas, wearing a sheet mask. “Where are you going?” I hopped toward the door. “Dinner was salty. I’m going to get some water.” Elena put down her book. “I’ll get it for you!” “Oh, thank you so much, Elena!” I didn’t actually need to go out. I had been active enough today. “Sorry for the trouble. If there’s anything you want to eat tomorrow, I can cook it for you.” Elena’s soft eyes smiled. “It’s no trouble at all.” She took my cup and walked out. A full fifteen minutes passed. She still wasn’t back. It seemed she got caught up in something. Who did she run into downstairs? Carter was hyperactive and couldn’t sit still. Damon liked to stay in his room and look down from above. The only one likely chilling downstairs was Rowan. No, wait… 7 Damon had come back late today. Maybe he was downstairs making food. They were all on this dating show for ulterior motives. For Damon, the investor, his goal was clear. If the show was a hit, he won. He wouldn’t mind generating some drama. Chatting while cooking, some subtle physical contact—it would generate massive traffic. So, the two of them were probably having a great time downstairs. Sierra ripped off her sheet mask and threw it in the trash. Using her signature sarcastic tone, she snapped, “Did she fall into a spider’s nest down there?” I packed up my things, letting my long, dark hair down and running my fingers through it. “Maybe she’s helping someone.” She gave me a meaningful look. “She sure is busy.” I suddenly asked, “Oh right, we’re supposed to discuss cooking duties tomorrow. Is there anyone you like?” Sierra looked at me, her eyes freezing on my face for a second. She completely ignored my question. “I couldn’t tell before, but you’re actually really pretty. Why do you hide it?” She was doubting my motives? I touched my face, looking a bit sad. “You’re the second person to say I’m pretty.” She wanted to use me to build her persona. Why shouldn’t I use her right back? I looked at her with shining eyes. “My best friend says I’m too honest and that I slouch too much. But you guys saying I’m pretty makes me really happy.” Sierra hadn’t expected me to be so vulnerable. She had been full of calculations, but I had answered with pure sincerity. She cleared her throat and changed the subject. “I like Damon.” Answering my previous question. Turns out she couldn’t handle emotional sincerity. I filed that away. “I like Carter. If we have to draw straws for partners tomorrow, we can secretly trade.” She looked at me weirdly. “What do you like about Carter?” I blinked, offering genuine praise. “He seems so energetic. He always brings joy to everyone around him.” She stated bluntly, “You and him are a terrible match.” I looked at her, surprised. “Why?” Perfect. Keep going. She knew exactly what Carter was like. She knew that if I got involved with him, I’d just be a toy. The fact that she warned me meant she had subconsciously lumped me into the “friend” category. She thought I was just a naive, sweet girl. Sierra leaned against the headboard, flipping through a document. “No reason. If you don’t believe me, try dating him. Anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable is a bad match.” I smiled, satisfied. “Okay. I’ll give it a try.” Wooing three guys? Boring. If a girl is only friends with the guys, she gets labeled a pick-me. But if the girls like me too? Then I’m the untouchable darling of the house. [I was just about to say she’s manipulative, but she’s just a sincere puppy! My baby! She’s smiling but it looks like she’s about to cry.] [She really is pretty, her skin is flawless.] [Hearing her talk about her insecurities is breaking my heart.] [I see myself in her. In high school, I was called a pig because of my butt. It wasn’t until I started working out that people told me it was actually a good thing.] [Sierra is awesome too! She complimented Chloe immediately. The rich princess is actually a softie.] [But she was definitely throwing shade at Elena.] [Lmao, was she wrong though? Elena is downstairs flirting with Damon. She went to get water for Chloe, but stayed to chop vegetables for him.] [Poor Chloe is just sitting there dying of thirst.] [What the hell? Elena was nice enough to go, you guys are so toxic.] [Getting water isn’t an obligation.] [Please, if she couldn’t do it, she shouldn’t have offered. Now Chloe feels bad going down herself.] 8 I casually asked, “Oh, do you think you and Damon will cook together?” Sierra perked up. “Of course. Rich kids not knowing how to cook is just a stereotype.” I left it at that. I went into the bathroom, washed my hair, and wiped myself down. The summer heat was stifling. While in the bathroom, I heard footsteps outside. I smiled. Looks like Sierra realized Damon probably hadn’t eaten dinner, and it was him downstairs with Elena. In my past life, Elena and Sierra quickly formed a “besties” alliance and constantly made my life miserable. Would they still become friends now? Not long after, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Neither of them looked happy. Sierra looked furious, and Elena looked incredibly awkward. I looked around. No water cup. Elena froze when she saw me looking. “Sorry, Chloe, I forgot your water. I’ll go get it right now—” Sierra slammed her car keys onto the table. “Tsk. Rely on you and she’d die of dehydration tonight.” Looks like things were going even better than I thought. They had openly clashed! “I’ll go down myself. My foot only hurts on the top, I can walk fine.” I stepped barefoot onto the floor. “I got my foot wet while washing my hair. The first-aid kit is downstairs, so I’ll redress the burn while I’m at it.” Before either of them could say anything, I walked out and literally slid down the banister. [I am dying laughing.] [Never seen Sierra go off like that.] [It was totally a reality TV ‘catching the mistress’ moment.] [Omg, Sierra is following her downstairs! Chloe is caught in the crossfire.] [Chloe is a genius, sliding down the banister!] [Hahahaha, they are staring at each other. Chloe looks like a kid caught doing something bad by her parents.] I put away my fake guilt and awkwardly greeted them. “Eating dinner this late?” The man sitting at the table looked cold and distant as he ate. “I finished work late.” I had no intention of kissing up to him. In my plan, I wasn’t going to woo him directly. Avoiding him would make me stand out and draw his attention. I chugged two huge glasses of water. I grabbed the first-aid kit and retreated to the patio chairs outside to cool off. Rowan had cleaned it earlier, but I needed to put shoes on tomorrow. If the blister didn’t pop, my shoe would rub it raw anyway. Sierra pushed the door open and walked out. “Why are you hiding out here?” Seeing her, I forced a smile. “Mild social anxiety. I didn’t know what to say to Mr. Sterling, and I didn’t want to gross him out by popping a blister while he’s eating.” She crossed her arms, watching me pierce the blister. I suddenly stopped. “Wait, you aren’t out here to play defense, are you?” I gave her a knowing, gossipy look. She rolled her eyes, looking completely annoyed. “What defense? He’s not my boyfriend. I was just worried about you, okay?” I clicked my tongue. “Well, your taste is definitely unique. Who likes an ice cube?” Before I even finished, a slow tapping on the glass door made me freeze. I looked up and saw Damon standing in the doorway. My smile vanished instantly, and my spine stiffened defensively. He was the tallest of the guys, his face sharp and unapproachable. Even from a distance, he was intimidating. Compared to the playful Carter and the lazy Rowan… Damon emitted an aura that made people afraid of him. His cool voice carried a hint of mockery. “Who’s an ice cube? Me?” I looked at him, then panicked and turned to Sierra, frantically winking at her, practically screaming ‘save me’ with my eyes.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “425836”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Everyone said he only married me to spite my sister. But when he died in a horrific car crash, he left his entire estate to me. Along with a single voice recorder. When I clicked play, his deep, raspy voice filled the room. He said: “Harper… is it possible that you liked me too, even just a little?” Years too late, I finally saw the overwhelming, passionate love he had hidden beneath his icy exterior. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn. My adoptive mother was gripping my hands tightly, sobbing. “Harper, please. Will you go to prison in your sister’s place? Please?” 1 Before I turned sixteen, I was the pampered princess of the Sterling family. I had loving parents, an older brother who spoiled me, and a carefree life. But when Chloe showed up at our door with a DNA test, I learned the truth. The nurses had switched us at birth. She was the biological daughter. I was just the cuckoo who had stolen her rightful place in the nest. I wanted to leave. But my biological parents had already passed away, and Mrs. Sterling couldn’t bear to see me become an orphan. So, they officially adopted me. My adoptive parents treated me well. My brother didn’t give me the cold shoulder, and Chloe never made things difficult for me. I was incredibly grateful. But years later, Chloe got into a physical altercation backstage with a co-star, Mia Thorne. During the struggle, Mia fell down a flight of stairs and slipped into a coma. There were no security cameras in that stairwell. But someone had to take the fall. And I just happened to be there, witnessing the whole thing. My adoptive mother came to me in tears, begging me to take the blame for Chloe. Chloe knelt in front of me, sobbing, slapping her own face, and apologizing profusely. The whole family wept as if their hearts were breaking. So, I nodded. I took the fall. I went to prison. I suffered through unimaginable hell. At first, the Sterlings came to visit me. They would cry, looking at me with guilt and apologies. But slowly, the visits stopped. No one came anymore. Once, the warden organized an activity asking us to write down our plans for when we got out. I thought about it for a long time before carefully writing: [When I get out, I want to see my mom and dad.] My cellmate saw it and laughed at how simple my wish was. “Of course your mom and dad will come pick you up! Why wouldn’t you be able to see them?” I just smiled and didn’t argue. But when the day of my release finally came, there was no one. Only Mr. Sterling’s assistant, who drove me to the airport and handed me a large check. He didn’t say a word. But I understood everything. I didn’t have a mom and dad anymore. The Sterling family had abandoned me. 2 I didn’t take the money. Not because I was trying to act noble or proud. I just didn’t want to owe the Sterlings anything ever again. They raised me for twenty years. I spent five years in prison for their daughter. We were even. I rented a tiny, run-down apartment and ran my feet ragged until I finally found a job that didn’t care about my criminal record. But just two weeks in, I was fired. I begged for an explanation. The manager finally stammered out, “You messed with someone you shouldn’t have.” I froze. I couldn’t say a single word. Someone I shouldn’t have messed with. Other than the Sterlings, who else could it be? That day, I walked through the city with my bag clutched to my chest. A cold, misty rain fell, the wind blowing it directly into my face. As I passed the downtown plaza, the giant jumbotron was broadcasting Chloe’s live award ceremony. I stopped and looked up. On stage, she was glamorous, radiating beauty and success. The camera panned, and I saw Mr. and Mrs. Sterling looking up at her with tears in their eyes. They looked at her like she was their most precious treasure, their eyes brimming with love. For some reason, I suddenly remembered my adoptive mother’s promise during her first prison visit. Looking at how dangerously thin I had become, she cried and swore to me, “Harper, when you get out, Mom will take care of you for the rest of your life. Mom loves you.” But the last time I saw her, two years ago, her face held nothing but faint guilt. She said, “Harper, Chloe is engaged to Roman Vance now. She really loves him. When you get out, please leave the state. We can’t risk the Vance family finding out about the past.” Roman Vance. The untouchable heir to the Vance empire. We had a TV in the prison common room. I had heard all about the epic, fairy-tale romance between Chloe and Roman. Everyone said Roman was a notorious playboy, but Chloe had tamed him. He stepped into the entertainment industry—a world he usually despised—just to pave the way for her. He fed her endless resources, produced her movies, and personally handed her awards. Sometimes, I envied Chloe. I envied that she had parents who loved her and a boyfriend who favored her above all else. In just her twenties, she had everything: a soaring career and perfect love. Not like me. No parents, no career, no lover. Nobody loved me. 3 As for marrying Roman Vance, that was a complete accident. After getting fired, I moved to a smaller town and got a job as a waitress at a diner. It was a busy night. I don’t know how he found me, but when he walked in, I was serving beers to a table. One of the men had too much to drink and grabbed me inappropriately. I scowled and slapped him across the face. Enraged, the man kicked me hard, sending me crashing to the floor. Glass shattered. Hot food and beer spilled all over me. It burned. The man still wasn’t satisfied. He cursed at me and raised his fist to hit me again. But the next second, the diner went dead silent. I opened my eyes and saw a man standing over my attacker. Roman Vance had eyes as bright as stars. He smirked, a lazy, insincere curve of his lips. “Harper, you really are here.” I got up, brushing the food scraps off my clothes, nodded at him, and tried to walk past him to leave. But I didn’t even make it two steps. His voice rang out behind me. “Seeing as you’re a complete mess right now, do you want to marry me?” I whipped around, staring at him in shock. “Have you finally lost your mind?” “I’m dead serious.” Roman looked me up and down. His eyes were dark, devoid of emotion, but his tone was steady. “I’ll be honest. Your sister dumped me. I’m pissed off. And you’ve been driven into the dirt by the Sterlings. You could say we’re a miserable alliance of victims.” The streetlamp outside flickered yellow, buzzed twice, and burned out completely. I couldn’t see his face clearly. I could only hear his soft scoff and see the glowing red tip of the cigarette between his lips. “Besides, you have absolutely nothing to your name right now. Marrying me isn’t a loss for you. What are you afraid of?” I thought about it. I didn’t say a word. He just waited quietly. Until a cold gust of wind blew past, making me shiver instinctively. Roman took off his custom-tailored trench coat and draped it over my shoulders. In that instant, my senses were flooded with his faint, clean scent of tobacco and cedar. I said, “Okay.” 4 When the wedding news broke, everyone was shocked. They all said Roman only married me to spite Chloe. At our wedding, when Roman said “I do,” I noticed Chloe in the audience. Her eyes were red from crying, and she eventually lost her composure and fled the venue. I glanced at my new husband, but he just smiled. He didn’t even spare her a single glance. It was as if he had never loved her. As if he truly didn’t care. After we got married, Roman treated me incredibly well. He made me his personal secretary, keeping us tethered together every hour of the day. When I asked him why, he just gave me a flirty smirk. “I can’t just leave a gorgeous woman alone at home. What if a thief steals you away? I’d be taking a massive loss.” I laughed and called him ridiculous. I didn’t bother arguing with him. Those years in prison had taken a severe toll. I had suffered too much. My body couldn’t handle any stress. A common cold or cough for a normal person would turn into a severe illness for me. Roman flew in top specialists from all over the world to treat me. When I finally started getting better, he sat by my hospital bed, holding my hand with intense, devout seriousness. “Harper, I bought you. Your life belongs to me now. You are not allowed to die before me.” It sounded like a child’s demand. But seeing the hidden, bitter fear in his eyes, I nodded. I didn’t understand why he looked so heartbroken. But I had long learned not to ask questions, not to pry. “Okay,” I promised. “Till we’re old and gray.” But in the end, the one who broke the promise… Wasn’t me. It was Roman. 5 “Mrs. Vance, Mr. Vance was involved in a severe car accident at 3:10 AM. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” When I pushed open the doors to the morgue, Roman’s parents were already weeping uncontrollably. I looked at Roman’s pale, bloodless face. In my heart, I could only think: God favored him so much. He gave him wealth, looks, and power that others could only dream of. So why was God so stingy to only give him thirty-four years? What a tragedy. What a tragic waste. I organized Roman’s funeral single-handedly. Throughout our five years of marriage, many people had bet against us. Chloe, driven by a twisted mix of love and hate, was always waiting to watch me become a joke. But no one expected Roman to leave every single asset, every share of his company, entirely to me. His parents had no objections. When they left the reading of the will, their backs were hunched. The vibrant energy they once had was gone forever. A week later, Roman’s attorney, Mr. Davis, brought me the final estate transfer documents. Before leaving, he handed me a digital voice recorder. “This was among Mr. Vance’s personal effects. It was damaged in the crash, but we had it restored. I believe you should hear it, ma’am.” 6 “Harper.” From the recorder, the man’s voice was cool and clear, though mixed with static that made it sound even huskier. “I didn’t marry you to spite Chloe. I married you because I loved you.” I froze. But inside, I felt a strange calm. As if I had known all along. Roman let out a soft laugh. “You probably forgot long ago, but we met way before that diner. “Back in college, you were the untouchable straight-A goddess. You were brilliant, the absolute favorite of all the professors. My own mentor used to talk about you constantly. Every time he finished chatting with your professor, he’d come back, puff out his cheeks, and say—” “Roman, I hate you now. Stay away from me.” He imitated his mentor’s voice. It was incredibly cute. I let out an involuntary laugh. But a second later, the smile faded. Roman continued. “I really hated you back then. But I couldn’t stop looking at you. Guess I was just a glutton for punishment, huh? “But then… you went to prison. For intentional assault. “I didn’t believe it. I was determined to investigate. But it was a shame… the Sterlings wiped the evidence perfectly clean. So, I targeted Chloe.” Oh. The legendary, epic romance between Roman and Chloe that the whole world envied. It was just his excuse to get close to her and find the truth about my imprisonment. But Roman didn’t anticipate that Chloe’s lips would be sealed tight. Still, he eventually found traces of the truth. I suddenly remembered a day before our wedding. Roman had come to me, looking incredibly excited. “Harper, do you want revenge?” “No,” I had shaken my head. “We’re even now.” Years later, I finally understood. He must have found the truth that day. He investigated for my sake. And for my sake, he buried the truth again. It was all for me. My eyes trembled violently. My whole body shook uncontrollably. Tear after tear fell down my face. 7 “But anyway, my acting skills must have been absolutely stellar. I fooled everyone. I even fooled you. “Do you know how cute your face was when I asked you to marry me outside that diner? Never mind, I’m rambling again. “Actually, there’s always been one thing I wanted to ask you—” Roman coughed. He was usually so cold and arrogant, but right now, his voice carried the shy hesitation of a teenage boy. “Harper, is it possible… that you liked me too, even a little bit? “I guess I won’t get to hear your answer in this life. Tell me when I come find you in the next one.” Through the audio, I heard the piercing screech of tires braking. The screaming of a crowd. And then, his final words, clear as day. He said: “Harper, I really… really… really… loved you.” His final syllable even carried a hint of a smile. The emotions I had been suppressing completely collapsed in that moment. In the empty living room, the bouquet of lilies he had brought home a few days ago still sat on the table. I had always loved lilies. He had presented them to me like a treasured prize. “Harper, don’t they smell amazing? I picked every single stem myself. “From now on, I’ll be the only one to change the flowers in our house.” Back then, the soft affection in his eyes was like gentle starlight. How could I say no to him? But the man who made the promise was a liar. He left first. And he took the last trace of life from those lilies with him. The warm sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, landing on my shoulders. I reached up to touch it, but I only felt freezing cold. Today, finally, I saw the monumental, secret love Roman had hidden beneath the ice. But… it was a little too late. 8 Attorney Davis saw Mrs. Vance again a week later. He came to pick up the signed estate documents. He had followed Roman for many years, so he had met Mrs. Vance plenty of times. In his memory, she was always dignified, wearing a gentle smile, like a jade statue—coldly observing the chaos of the world. She didn’t show extreme joy, or extreme anger, or intense emotion. Even when she learned of Roman’s death, she only froze for a moment. Her eyes didn’t even turn red. Roman had treated her so perfectly. Yet all he got in return was a single tear. Mr. Davis often felt it wasn’t worth it for his boss. But when he stepped into the living room this time, he saw Mrs. Vance clutching a bouquet of withered, dead lilies. Her face was paler than falling snow. Seeing him, she didn’t even offer a polite smile. She just stated coldly: “Mr. Davis, donate all his assets to the orphanages. “I don’t want his money.” There was no room for negotiation. Before he left, Mr. Davis couldn’t hold back his question. “Ma’am, did you ever love Mr. Vance?” Mrs. Vance just smiled. She didn’t answer. Many years later, Mrs. Vance became a renowned philanthropist, heavily reported on by the media. She sponsored countless orphans. The next time he saw her was on her deathbed. She was only forty-five, but her hair was entirely white. At that moment, she was looking out the window, as if she saw someone waiting for her. Her face carried the innocent, shy sweetness of a young girl. She said: “I loved him. “I’ve always loved him.” 9 “Harper, Mom is begging you, please save your sister! She’s so young, how can she go to prison?!” “Harper, I know I was wrong! I didn’t mean to do it! I don’t want to go to jail! I’m a massive star—if I go to prison, my whole life is ruined!” As I woke up from the darkness, a cacophony of crying and screaming rang in my ears. My head throbbed violently. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the scene before me. Chloe was kneeling on the floor, sobbing hysterically. Mr. Sterling was holding her, comforting her with a heartbroken expression. And Mrs. Sterling was gripping my hands in a death grip. Her face was covered in tears. Her voice was choked with sobs, but she was entirely serious: “Harper, will you go to prison in your sister’s place? Please?” I stared at her in dead silence. She took it as encouragement. Mrs. Sterling gritted her teeth. “Harper, there were no cameras backstage. It was just you and Chloe. The paparazzi only got a blurry photo of someone’s back. They can’t tell who it is! If you just admit that you accidentally pushed Mia, the police won’t dig any deeper. “I promise you, once you’re inside, Mom will pay off everyone. I won’t let you suffer. And when you get out, the Sterling family will take care of you for the rest of your life.” Right. She said the exact same thing in my past life. But her promise only had a shelf life of one year. Once the promise expired, I was kicked out of solitary confinement into general population. Because I was pretty, I attracted the bullying and vengeance of the other inmates. I was beaten, humiliated, and even poisoned. It was a living hell. But no one ever came to see me. It wasn’t until I was temporarily released for medical treatment due to sodium nitrite poisoning from the prison food that Mrs. Sterling finally came to my hospital bed. That day, she looked down at me from her high horse, her expression faintly impatient. “It’s a prison, Harper, not a resort. Suffering a little is unavoidable. You can’t be this dramatic. “Chloe has a business trip overseas soon. I’m worried about her. I probably won’t have time to visit you anymore.” After that day, I never saw her again. Looking at Mrs. Sterling’s tear-stained face now, I believed she meant what she was saying in this exact moment. But genuine feelings change easily. Her guilt and remorse would eventually warp into deep, resentful fear of me as time went on. I gently pulled my hands out of her grip. “No.” Mrs. Sterling looked horrified. She probably never imagined that I—obedient, sheep-like Harper—would ever refuse her. But when I spoke again, my voice was serious and unwavering. “Mom, I am grateful that you raised me for twenty years. But I don’t want to sacrifice my entire future for it. You can call me selfish, you can call me an ungrateful brat. But I will not take the fall for her.” I was reborn. I didn’t come back to repeat the same nightmare. In my last life, Roman Vance saved me. In this life, I was going to save myself. And then— I was going to walk to Roman’s side with a clean record and my head held high. 10 My refusal threw Mr. Sterling into a rage. He screamed that I was an ungrateful wretch who had leeched off the Sterling family for years but refused to offer a single shred of help when they needed it. Mrs. Sterling and Chloe cried as if the world was ending. When they realized threats and tears wouldn’t work, they grew terrified I would run away. So, they locked me in my bedroom. Only my brother, Asher, remained silent from beginning to end. Just like in my past life. Mrs. Sterling confiscated my phone, but she didn’t know I had a burner. I turned it on. The news that Mia Thorne was in a coma from a severe injury was already trending at number one. The clues were scarce. The paparazzi only had one blurry photo of a back. The caption read: “Chloe Sterling and her sister were the only ones alone with Mia Thorne for a period of time.” The police were probably already on their way to our house. I flipped open my burner phone and instinctively typed out a phone number. Staring at the familiar digits, I froze. But ultimately, I didn’t press call. I didn’t know why. I was a little scared. Scared that the person on the other end wouldn’t be the man I knew. Scared that this was all just a dream, and if I woke up, I’d never see him again. In my past life, after Roman died, I kept paying his phone bill every month. In the dead of night, I would send him text messages. Sometimes mundane things, sometimes complaints. And I would always get the exact same reply: [Harper, I’m here.] It was an auto-reply. He had set it up before he died. Tell me, how could a man be so cruel? So cruel as to grip my heart so tightly that I wouldn’t be able to forget him for ten, twenty, thirty years. I stood up and pulled back the curtains. The warm sunlight poured through the glass, wrapping around me, but carrying a hint of chill. I saw the police cruisers pulling up outside. I saw Mr. Sterling’s dark, warning glare directed up at my window. My hands shook as I finally typed out a text and hit send. [Roman, can you come save me?]

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My boyfriend was found by a billionaire. I jokingly asked him if I was about to become the wife of a CEO. He paused, then said his family was strictly middle-class. 1 Seven days after my boyfriend reunited with his biological parents, he finally returned to our cramped studio apartment. He wore the same faded hoodie, his expression flat, his hair characteristically messy. He didn’t look like a guy who had just struck gold. But the internet told a different story. Trending everywhere: my boyfriend’s father was a real estate tycoon. Mansions, luxury cars, shell companies—you name it. His family had searched for him for twenty years. Now, they were ready to hand him the keys to the kingdom. Ethan was now the luckiest guy in America. I was genuinely happy for him. I nudged him and joked, “So, Ethan, are you here to pick me up in a limo so I can be your CEO wife?” That was the dream he used to paint for me. We were both foster kids. No parents, no safety net. Every step we took was a grueling uphill battle. We met five years ago by my street-side coffee cart in Chicago. He had just finished an 80-hour work week and bought an iced latte from me. For five years, we leaned on each other, surviving in this rundown apartment. Times were hard, but warm. He used to say that if he ever found his real parents, and if they happened to be filthy rich, he’d make sure I lived like royalty. Bodyguards clearing the way, Michelin-star dinners, Birkin bags, and Porsches at my disposal. I’d laugh and promise him right back. “If my real parents are the rich ones, I’ll make you the boss! Private jets, yachts, whatever you want!” We’d huddle in our cheap blankets on freezing nights, giggling at our impossible fantasies. And now, his rich parents actually found him. So I was thrilled. It was my turn to be the billionaire’s wife, right? “Actually, my family is just average. Don’t believe the clickbait online,” Ethan’s voice snapped me back to reality. I froze. He looked away, his tone eerily calm. “The family business is underwater. They owe the banks hundreds of millions. My rich-kid dream is dead.” Is it? I stared at him in silence. He cast a fleeting glance at me, then stood up and walked to the bedroom. “I need to head back there tomorrow. Just packing some clothes.” “Are you coming back?” I asked. He paused, sighing with his back to me. “Depends. I want to spend time with my parents. We just reunited, after all.” His implication was clear: I’m not coming back. What about me? Five years together, just over like that? I opened my mouth, but the question died in my throat. 2 Night fell. We had nothing left to say, but we still laid in the same bed. There was only one bed, so we had no choice. In the past, I’d wickedly slide my freezing feet under his shirt, and he’d gasp, complaining while warming them up with his body heat. Now, an invisible, thick wall stood between us. We were inches apart, yet separated by galaxies. Maybe the silence was too loud. Ethan finally spoke. “Maya, I’m leaving our joint debit card with you. Keep it safe.” That card held our savings from the last five years. Exactly $34,550. We had planned to use it for a down payment on a small house back in my rural hometown in Indiana, ending our endless drifting. For some reason, my nose burned. My eyes welled up. I didn’t answer. “There’s about thirty-something thousand in there,” Ethan continued. “I’ll take fifteen thousand tomorrow. The rest is yours.” “Is your family really struggling that much? You need to take fifteen thousand?” I sniffled. “Yeah. That’s why I don’t want to drag you down.” Ethan looked me dead in the eyes, perfectly sincere. In that split second, I knew he was breaking up with me. A tear slipped out, but I forced it to stop. I forced a smile. “You just want to break up, don’t you? I don’t buy that your family is broke.” He stiffened, then pulled me into his arms. “You’ve been brainwashed by the media. Don’t believe everything online. I would never lie to you.” Would he? Ethan had never lied to me before. He used to love me fiercely. Besides his grueling tech job and DoorDash side hustle, he spent every waking moment with me. Sometimes, when I ran the coffee cart until midnight, he’d run over with a small cupcake. “Cupcake for Maya? If you eat it, you’re mine,” he’d smile brightly. I loved his smile the most. I’d pack up my cart and shake my head. “Not eating it. I’m not yours.” But I’d always end up laughing. We used to be so in love. “Let’s just sleep,” I said, wiping my eyes, unwilling to dig deeper. When a woman is at her most vulnerable, she rarely wants to uncover a truth that might destroy her. “Goodnight, baby,” Ethan stroked my hair. Familiar and gentle. I drifted into a hazy half-sleep, only to feel Ethan roll over a long while later. A faint light pierced the dark. He had checked his phone. My heart dropped. I played dead. He nudged me gently, testing to see if I was asleep. I didn’t move a muscle. Satisfied, he turned his back and opened his messages. I carefully lifted my head and saw walls of text. He was messaging someone saved as “Sweet Tooth.” They had been texting relentlessly. In the seven days since he found his family, they must have exchanged thousands of texts. His last message read: [I’m worth hundreds of millions now. Are you ready to come back to me?] Lightning struck my spine. I started shaking uncontrollably. The truth was a butcher’s knife, and it shredded my heart into pieces. He was lying. He was a millionaire. He could have made me his wife. But instead, he was asking another woman to take the crown. 3 The woman hadn’t replied. Ethan stared at the screen, agonizing over his next move. He was so deeply engrossed he didn’t even notice my trembling. Finally, he sent another text: [Are you worried about Maya? She and I live in totally different worlds now. After tomorrow, I’ll never see her again.] Instant reply: [Really? You’re a viral sensation now. If you dump Maya, won’t I get canceled online for being the homewrecker?] [As long as we’re happy, who cares about the trolls? Besides, Maya is dumb as rocks. We’ll break up peacefully, she’ll go back to Indiana crying, and that’ll be the end of it.] My jaw rattled. My heartbreak violently morphed into sheer rage. Dumb as rocks. That’s how he viewed me? [Okay… Honestly, I’ve always liked you. I wanted to say yes in college, but my parents demanded a guy with a house in the city…] [Don’t worry about that! My dad just bought a mansion in the Gold Coast. We can move right in!] Ethan’s normally stoic face twisted into a grotesque, uncontrollable grin. It was the pure ecstasy of a man who finally won the lottery and his trophy wife in the same breath. I knew exactly who this woman was. Harper. His college crush, a local trust-fund baby whose background completely eclipsed an orphan like me. He once told me about her, sounding entirely indifferent, as if he was totally over it. But he had kept her number. And the moment he struck it rich, she was his first call. Men really never get over their shiny “what-ifs.” I wiped my face. I refused to shed another tear. The movement finally caught Ethan’s attention. He whipped his head around, looking at me like he’d seen a ghost. I sat up, turned on the bedside lamp, and blew my nose with a tissue. Ethan froze, his face draining of color, then flushing red. After a long silence, he asked, “You saw everything?” “Everything,” I nodded, laughing bitterly. His expression twisted again—from embarrassment to anger, before he finally stood up. “I’m sorry. Since you know, there’s nothing left to say.” He started putting on his clothes, completely shutting down. He was the textbook definition of a guilty man: turning guilt into defensive rage, and then converting that rage into cold apathy. All in the span of two seconds. “Not even going to explain?” I stared at him like he was a piece of trash. I had never looked at him like that before. My gaze triggered his defensive rage again. “Explain what? Water flows down, people move up. I finally reached the top of the mountain. Do you expect me to crawl back into the gutter with you?” “I didn’t ask you to come back to the gutter. But you could have taken me to the mountain.” Five years. Didn’t I even deserve a glimpse of the view? Ethan pursed his lips, scoffing coldly. “My parents made it clear. They don’t want a nobody orphan for a daughter-in-law. My hands are tied.” “Your parents literally said on live TV they’d accept anyone you loved.” Cornered by his own lies, Ethan kicked the wardrobe violently. “Enough! You just want my money! You’re a gold digger!” He glared at me with absolute disgust. I was speechless. I’m the gold digger? If I cared about money, I would have left him years ago for the guy with the BMW, leaving Ethan and his beat-up Honda Civic in the dust. I could have married my landlord’s nephew who owned three commercial properties. But I never entertained them. I never even told Ethan, terrified it would hurt his ego. “Nothing to say? Hit the nail on the head, didn’t I?” Ethan sneered, regaining his arrogant high ground. “We both know exactly whose true colors just got exposed,” I mocked. He pointed violently at the door. “Shut up! I wanted to give you a dignified exit, but you had to make a scene. So get out! And don’t forget whose name is on the lease!” 4 Wrapped in my oversized winter coat, beanie pulled low, I walked out of the apartment. The door slammed shut behind me. The noise stung my eardrums. That slam shattered whatever was left of our five-year relationship. It was almost funny. I had carried around a piece of trash for five years, and only today did I finally smell the rot. And the stench was so bad it made me want to vomit. The stairwell was pitch black; the motion-sensor light had been broken for months. I stood in the dark, sniffing, wiping the moisture from my eyes. I didn’t scream or break things. I didn’t want to wake the neighbors’ kids. I thought to myself: I am such a kind person. And because I am kind, I am stupid. I walked down the stairs. Opening the metal security door, the biting winter wind slapped my face. I took two steps, then turned back. Not because it was cold, but because I forgot my lifeline. Under the stairs in the storage area sat my coffee cart, complete with syrups and a dozen glass jars. My baby. I gripped the handle and pushed it out into the unforgiving wind. Out of habit, I headed toward the downtown riverwalk. That was my spot. In the summer, I’d stay there until sunrise. When I arrived, the cold reality set in. What was I doing here in the dead of winter? As I stood there shivering, a delivery truck pulled up. The driver rolled down his window. “Hey kid, got any hot coffee?” I shook my head. No. He looked disappointed and started to roll the window up, but then stopped and waved me over. “Wait, c’mere.” I walked over blankly. He stared at me, pulled a crumpled flyer from his dash, and squinted. “Kid, that mole under your right eye… you’ve had that since you were little?” I nodded. “Where’s your hometown?” “Indiana.” “Holy shit!” The driver practically jumped out of the cab. He shoved the missing person flyer in my face. “Look! This billionaire is looking for his daughter. Went missing from Indiana… mole under the right eye…” My brain was too numb to process it. I didn’t even look at the paper. He was practically vibrating. “You see that viral story about Ethan? Well, it sparked a trend! Now all the billionaires are looking for their lost kids. This guy is the richest man in the city! “He plastered these everywhere. $15,000 for a solid lead, a million bucks if you actually find her!” He was talking too fast, and his accent was thick. I just shook my head. “I don’t know. I need to go.” I pushed my cart toward the east side of the market. There was an awning there that could block the wind. “Wait! Hold on!” The driver tried to chase me, then shrieked, “Oh shit, the parking brake!” His truck was slowly rolling backward. He scrambled back into the cab. I kept walking, blowing warm air into my freezing hands. Under the awning, the dim streetlamp offered a miserable illusion of warmth. 5 I slept fitfully under the awning. I woke up shivering violently, my hands and feet like ice, my neck screaming in pain. The morning vendors were arriving. The smell of fresh bagels and breakfast sandwiches filled the air. An older woman setting up her bagel stand jumped when she saw me huddled on the bench. “Honey, are you okay? What are you doing out here in this cold?” She definitely thought I was homeless. I told her I was fine, just resting. She shook her head and handed me a hot bagel and a coffee. I devoured it. Heat finally spread through my veins. That sliver of warmth made me realize how incredibly stupid I was. Sleeping outside in this weather? A sudden freeze could have killed me! Imagine dying of hypothermia over a trash-bag ex-boyfriend. “Ma’am, let me help you sell these,” I said, forcing myself to stand up. A girl living on the margins like me has to be tough. If I stepped in shit, I needed to scrape it off my shoe and keep walking. The morning rush was brutal, and the lady was grateful for the help. I worked until 10 AM. The winter sun hit my face, and I felt a surge of new life. She paid me 50 bucks and apologized it wasn’t more. I thanked her, restocked my cart, and figured I could afford a cheap motel with heating tonight. Then I remembered the money. I am so stupid. My joint account with Ethan had over 30 grand in it. I was so angry last night I walked away without it. I needed to get my half back. It was my survival money. I pushed my cart all the way back to the apartment, only to find it empty. He had even changed the locks. I banged on the door furiously, but there was no answer. Did he run off with my money? “Scumbag!” I cursed out loud. The memory of our five years together literally made my stomach churn. I turned around, and there she stood on the stairs, looking down at me. Immaculate makeup, an expensive wool coat, clutching a Chanel bag. Next to her, I looked like a stray dog. “Are you Maya?” 6 The woman smiled. She looked polite on the surface. I nodded. She walked down the steps and pulled a debit card from her designer bag. It was my card. This was Harper. I had never seen her before, but her old-money arrogance radiated off her in waves. “Maya, Ethan told me everything. He was way too impulsive kicking you out,” Harper said, not bothering to introduce herself. A sneer flashed in her eyes. “I scolded him. And I brought your card back. He didn’t touch a single dime.” Her lips curled into a condescending smile. “Consider Ethan’s half of the savings your severance package. Take it, go back to Indiana, and live a quiet life. Don’t suffer in the big city anymore.” She was managing my life with effortless cruelty. She stood below me on the stairs, but she was looking at me like an insect. Using a tone of fake pity to dismiss me. To her, I should be on my knees thanking her for bringing me my life savings. It was almost comical. “Am I supposed to say thank you?” I stared at her. She smiled. “No need. You earned it. I looked it up—real estate in your little hometown is dirt cheap. You can buy a nice trailer with this. Your youth wasn’t totally wasted.” I didn’t respond. I just looked at her. “What?” she asked. “Nothing. It’s just rare to meet someone like you.” “Like me?” “Yeah. You’re the other woman, but you stand in front of the victim acting like you’re the Queen of England. How do you manage that mentally?” I asked with genuine curiosity. Her smile vanished. She realized I wasn’t some fragile little girl who was going to collapse and run back to the Midwest in tears. “Looks like our little coffee girl has a big appetite,” Harper sneered. “Tell you what. I’ll add an extra $15,000 if you leave the city today. Deal?” “You could give me ten million, and I’ll still live wherever the hell I want,” I mocked. “You’re actually terrified of me, aren’t you? Afraid I’ll expose Ethan? Afraid it’ll ruin your pristine socialite reputation?” Harper’s face contorted. I hit the bullseye. Ethan was a viral star now. If the internet found out he dumped his ride-or-die for a trust-fund kid, they’d both be crucified. “Ethan underestimated you. You’re not entirely stupid,” she said. “Thanks.” “Don’t thank me. Thank you for saving me fifteen grand.” She regained her composure, her eyes turning cold. “Do you think playing tough gives you leverage? Let me be real with you. You’re a bottom-feeder. You have no power, no connections. All you have is a big mouth.” “What’s your point?” “My point is, I’m done playing nice. You have until sundown to pack up and leave this city. I never want to see your face again.” She stretched her arms casually. “Honestly, I haven’t bullied anyone since high school prep. I forgot how fun it feels.” She wasn’t a gangster. She was just entitled. And that entitlement bred a terrifying kind of cruelty. 7 Harper delivered her ultimatum, clutched her Chanel bag, and walked out elegantly. A black Mercedes S-Class was waiting for her. She got in and sped off. I didn’t care. I went straight to an ATM to check the balance. $34,550. I exhaled. It was all there. My blood, sweat, and tears. I pushed my cart back to the riverwalk, secured my spot, ate a hot meal at a diner, and waited for night to fall. Despite the cold, hot coffee and cider sold well. By 1:30 AM, I was completely sold out. I happily counted my cash, ready to pack up and get that warm motel room. I looked up. Five men on heavy motorcycles pulled up. They yelled at me to make them lattes. I told them I was sold out. They erupted. “You playing with us, bitch? You’re a coffee cart with no coffee?” I jumped, suddenly remembering Harper’s ultimatum. Before I could react, one of the guys kicked my cart. Because it was empty and light, the kick sent it crashing to the pavement. The heavy metal handle slammed into my knee, sending me crashing to the ground. The few remaining vendors nearby watched in stunned silence. “Where’s the coffee? I’m thirsty!” Another guy stepped up, his eyes cold and dead behind his helmet visor. “Help!” I screamed. The man snapped, slapping me hard across the face. “Shut up! You looking to die?” Another biker pulled out a baseball bat and started smashing my glass jars. Glass rained everywhere. “If you’re not selling, get the fuck off the street! Next time we see you, we’re putting you in the ground!” The leader grabbed me by my coat and dragged me up. “Get out of the city, or next time, we won’t just hit you!” He backhanded me again. Blood filled my mouth. My vision went black. Satisfied, they dropped me and sped off into the night, their engines roaring. My cart was destroyed. Everything was ruined. Nobody dared to approach me. I couldn’t stand. I lay on the freezing concrete, gasping for air, blood and tears mixing on my face. Terror and helplessness suffocated me. I wasn’t tough. I had been alone for so long. I gave up college to pay medical bills for my foster grandma. I worked the streets. I met Ethan, got betrayed, and here I was. Still completely alone. Beaten bloody, unable to crawl. It hurt so much. In the distance, I heard footsteps running toward me. “I saw her right around here that night! I knew I shouldn’t have let her walk away… where did she go?” An older man was scratching his head, leading a wealthy, middle-aged couple down the path. It was the truck driver. As my consciousness faded, I heard the driver yell, “Over there! Oh my god!” Before I passed out, warm arms wrapped around me. A woman’s trembling voice whispered urgently, “Don’t be afraid, sweetie… she looks just like me. Oh god, Harrison, she’s identical…” 8 I woke up in a VIP hospital suite. A senior doctor in a white coat was respectfully giving a report to a man by the window. “Mr. Sterling, her condition is stable. We are monitoring her closely. As for the DNA test, it’s being rushed. We’ll have results by tonight.” I blinked, staring at the ceiling, feeling disoriented. The woman sitting by my bed noticed I was awake and burst into tears. “You’re awake! Honey… are you okay?” I looked at her. I didn’t know her. But she radiated an incredible elegance. She looked like old-money royalty. Even her simple cardigan screamed luxury. The man standing beside her had a strong, commanding presence. Even in a casual suit, he looked like a king holding court. “Can you speak, sweetheart?” the man asked gently. My throat was dry and painful. The senior doctor practically sprinted over to pour me a glass of warm water. I took a sip. It felt heavenly. “Thank you… for saving me,” I croaked. The woman covered her mouth, sobbing harder. “I’m Harrison Sterling. And this is my wife, Victoria,” the man said, taking my hand gently. Harrison Sterling? The name clicked. The wealthiest man in the city. The guy who basically owned the skyline. Even the street I sold coffee on belonged to one of his real estate groups. “You know who I am?” Harrison laughed softly, refusing to let go of my hand, his eyes scanning every inch of my face. “Don’t scare her, Harrison,” Victoria gently swatted his arm, then stroked my shoulder. “Don’t be afraid, honey. He’s just… so happy.” “Why?” I asked, confused. Before they could answer, another doctor burst into the room holding a folder. The senior doctor snatched it, read it, and gasped. “Mr. Sterling… it’s a 99.9% match. She’s your daughter!” 9 That single sentence shattered their composure. Victoria wailed, throwing her arms around me, holding me for dear life. Harrison Sterling, the billionaire titan, trembled and turned his face away to wipe his tears. I lay there, completely paralyzed. I am… a billionaire’s daughter? I remembered the truck driver. He must have called them. A heavy, suffocating ache began to swell in my chest. Twenty years of suffering, loneliness, and grinding poverty condensed into a single moment. The tears fell silently. I had parents. I finally had a mom and a dad. Overwhelmed, I turned my face away. They panicked, thinking they had upset me. “Sweetheart… Mom is here. Mom finally found you,” Victoria cried. Harrison steadied himself, his protective instincts kicking in. He pulled out his phone. His voice was laced with pure, terrifying ice. “Did you find the men who put hands on my daughter?” “Mr. Sterling, they fled the state. But we will track them down,” a voice replied. “Do it. I want to know exactly who gave the order. No one touches my blood.” He was hunting down Harper’s biker gang. I tried to speak, but Harrison leaned over. “Rest, sweetheart. I know this is a lot to process. When you’re discharged, we are throwing a massive gala. The whole city will know my daughter has returned.” Victoria kissed my forehead. “Just rest, my love. Whatever you want, Mom will give it to you.” They didn’t interrogate me about the attack. They just wanted me to feel safe. I closed my eyes. The sheer joy of being loved was intoxicating. I wasn’t a nobody anymore.

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