I’ve been Alexander Sullivan’s blood source for twenty years. Just because my blood was special, I was adopted by the Sullivan family to be their blood slave. To ensure a daily supply of blood, the Sullivans went as far as implanting a curse in my body. This curse not only produced blood but also controlled one’s desires. The sixth time I uncontrollably approached Alexander due to the curse’s poison, begging him to help me neutralize it, He cruelly threw me into the swimming pool. But what Alexander didn’t know was— From that day on, I found a new person to neutralize the poison. I struggled to open my eyes, only to find myself surrounded by darkness. As I tried to sit up, I realized my hands and feet were tightly bound. Looking down at my wrists, I saw they were covered in countless needle marks – scars left from years of blood extraction. They looked like ugly centipedes crawling across my skin. Footsteps from outside broke the silence of the basement. The butler walked in expressionlessly, carrying a tray. He approached me and said coldly, “Miss Aria, it’s time for your blood extraction.” His voice was devoid of any emotion, as if he was merely carrying out a routine task. I looked at him fearfully, my body trembling uncontrollably. The bright red blood flowed slowly through the transparent tube into a glass bottle. This routine of being locked in the basement and having my blood regularly drawn had been going on for ten long years. Ten years ago, after my parents died in an accident, I was adopted by the wealthy Sullivan family. At the time, I naively thought I had found salvation, not knowing this was just the beginning of a nightmare. My blood was rare and special – the ideal source for Alexander Sullivan, the young master of the family who suffered from a terminal illness. The Sullivans adopted me only to use me as a tool to sustain Alexander’s life. Due to the need for daily blood supply, the Sullivans even went so far as to plant a curse in my body. This curse accelerated blood production in my body, but also turned me into a complete puppet. I could see no hope, no way out. As my blood was continuously drained, I heard familiar footsteps approaching in my dazed state. Alexander had arrived. He walked to the bedside, bent down, and gently stroked my head. “How are you feeling today?” “Young Master Sullivan, how do you think I should feel?” I weakly questioned him, my tone filled with undisguised anger and sarcasm. “Being kept like livestock, having my blood drawn every day, should I be grateful to you?” “The Sullivan family feeds and clothes you well, of course you should be grateful,” he replied. “After all, no master likes a dog that bites.” Perhaps because we had repeated this conversation too many times, Alexander seemed unfazed by my attitude. He took a bowl of soup from the butler, held my chin, and forced me to drink it spoonful by spoonful. With most of my blood drained and then being forced to drink that bitter medicine, my body grew increasingly weak. I had no strength left to struggle and could only let Alexander hold me. As my consciousness began to fade, I felt my entire body burning up, as if a fire was raging inside me. I couldn’t help but start writhing, trying to ease the unbearable pain. “So hot… it hurts…” I could feel the curse in my body greedily consuming what little blood I had left. I moaned in agony, unconsciously pressing closer to Alexander, trying to draw some coolness from his body to ease the heat inside me. Alexander seemed startled by my actions and frowned in disgust. He roughly pulled me away from him and threw me to the ground like a rag doll. “Don’t touch me!” But if the curse wasn’t dealt with, the consequences would be unthinkable. I crawled to his feet, clutching at his pants leg, begging, “Young Master… please… save me…” “If you can’t stand it, go cool off!” Alexander roared, throwing me aside. He stood up and dragged me to the edge of the swimming pool. The next second, I was mercilessly pushed into the water.

The ice-cold pool water instantly submerged me. I instinctively struggled but my limbs were too weak, and my body began to sink. There was no one left by the pool’s edge – Alexander had left. As the air in my lungs was slowly depleted, the specter of death loomed over me. Just when I was about to give up hope, I saw a blurry figure swimming towards me. I couldn’t make out his face clearly, but I desperately reached out to him. He quickly approached, pulled me into his arms, and swam powerfully towards the surface. The moment I could breathe air again, I felt as if I had been reborn. The man’s strong arms supported me. I instinctively held onto him tightly, my body shaking uncontrollably from the cold and weakness. But strangely, as our skin touched, the curse that had been raging inside me gradually calmed down. “Are you okay? Do you feel unwell anywhere?” he asked. I shook my head. After we got out of the pool, perhaps realizing that my condition was not just a typical reaction to near-drowning, the man waited while I went to the bathroom by the pool to clean up. I changed into dry clothes and opened the door to find that the man who had just saved me was still standing guard outside. He had somehow changed into dry clothes as well. He was a stranger, but handsome and gentle, looking at me with eyes full of concern. “You…” He was about to ask something when urgent footsteps were heard from outside. “Damn it, where is she?” The newcomer’s voice was urgent and tinged with anger. It was Alexander! I instinctively felt a wave of fear, and my body began to shake more violently. Why did he come back? Was he here to confirm if I was dead? The man seemed to sense the fear in my expression and immediately pulled me back into the bathroom. “Stay here and don’t move. No matter what happens, don’t make a sound,” he whispered, then left the bathroom and closed the door. He turned the corner and met Alexander, who was hurrying over. “Lucas, what are you doing here?” Alexander looked surprised to see Lucas. “You should ask Mrs. Wang about that. I left my car keys here yesterday, and she said she couldn’t remember where she put them,” Lucas said, spreading his hands to reveal the red sports car key in his palm. “She mentioned a few places, and since she’s getting on in years, I didn’t want her running around, so I came to look myself.” Hearing this, Alexander seemed to relax a bit, though his eyes swept over the swimming pool. “By the way, did you see anyone just now? I thought I saw a figure coming this way.” Lucas’s face still wore a faint smile: “No, I just came out and saw only you wandering around here.” “…Maybe I was mistaken then.” Alexander narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see if Lucas was lying. But after careful consideration, he realized that Lucas and I were not acquainted, and Lucas had no reason to lie for me. The two men stared at each other for a moment. Alexander suddenly smiled and patted Lucas on the shoulder, saying, “Alright, now that you’ve found it, head back soon. In the future, just let the housekeeper handle these small matters. No need to trouble Dr. Carter to come all the way here after a night shift.” “I have some business to attend to, so I’ll be going now.” With that, he left the pool area with his men. Hearing Alexander leave, I finally let out a sigh of relief and collapsed onto the floor.

Imagining what Alexander would do when he couldn’t find me, my body couldn’t stop shaking. The changing room door was gently pushed open, and Lucas walked in. “Are you alright?” he asked. I gave a faint “mm” in response, tidying my clothes as I stood up. “Thank you… for today,” I said. “It’s nothing, I would have saved anyone I saw drowning,” the man replied. He seemed to have a belly full of questions he wanted to ask, but after hesitating for a moment, he only added, “I’m Alexander’s friend. You can call me Lucas.” “I haven’t seen you at the Sullivan house before… you’re his friend?” I asked. As I finished the last two words, I inwardly mocked myself for a moment. Of course, a playboy like Alexander would have friends from all walks of life. If Lucas were really his friend, he would surely know me. He probably thought I was one of Alexander’s kept women. But a kept woman is docile and vibrant. I was just what the Sullivan servants called “the blood slave in the basement.” Not knowing how to respond, I could only lower my head and stare at the ground awkwardly. In the end, it was Lucas who broke the silence. “I won’t tell Alexander about what happened today,” he said. “You fell into the water and caught a chill. It would be better if you took some medicine when you get back.” He turned to leave, but suddenly, a strange idea welled up from the bottom of my heart. As if possessed, I grabbed the hem of his clothes. “Mr. Carter, could you… help me with my illness?” When I returned to the basement, Alexander was sitting on the sofa in my bedroom. Seeing me return, he put down his wine glass. “Where have you been?” he asked, his tone calm and emotionless. “I… I felt out of breath after climbing out of the water, so I went for a walk in the garden,” I replied. Alexander’s gaze was piercing, as if trying to see through me. “Is that so?” He slowly walked up to me, his tone low and dangerous. “The garden is windy. With your weak body, you should be careful not to catch a cold.” “I… I understand,” I said, lowering my head, not daring to meet his eyes. “Don’t wander around at night in the future. I’ll worry about you.” Alexander reached out his hand, gently stroking my cheek. But I trembled violently all over. It was happening again. Every so often, Alexander would use this method to check on the curse inside me. Only after confirming there was no problem would he let me leave. I endured the pain of the curse resonating with its master, forcing out an obedient smile. “I… I understand. It won’t happen again.” Sure enough, after feeling for a while and finding nothing unusual, he smiled with satisfaction. He pulled me into his arms, stroking my hair. I stood there stiffly, letting him hold me. My mind unconsciously recalled how Lucas had held me in the water. Under his wet shirt, his muscles were clearly defined and powerful. He was… handsome. “Today, why didn’t you beg me for help?” Alexander suddenly spoke, interrupting my thoughts. Coming back to my senses, I replied flatly, “I could endure it.” Alexander was momentarily at a loss for words, as if wanting to explain something, but in the end, he didn’t. After a moment of silence, he only added, “That’s good. You should understand, I don’t do that to you because I’m being responsible for you.” I nodded slightly. He seemed to have forgotten that the reason I reacted that way was not because of my own desires. It was because of the curse, which made me completely lose control. The reason I became like this, who was to blame after all?

The first time I saw Alexander was a week after I was brought to the Sullivan house. That pale, sickly boy lying in bed. The painful source of the curse planted in my body, the one who needed my blood. At that time, young as I was, I was locked in the basement, never seeing the light of day. Yet Alexander’s condition improved day by day after my arrival. He began to get out of bed, to move freely around the Sullivan house. Due to frequent blood transfusions, Alexander would even take me along when he went to school. The children at the prestigious school were mostly arrogant, knowing even at a young age the most direct way to humiliate others. On my first day stepping into the classroom, I felt the malice from those around me. “Well, well, where did this country bumpkin come from? How dare she attend school with us?” “Don’t you know? She’s Young Master Sullivan’s personal blood bank. In other words, she’s just a high-class blood slave!” “Disgusting. Who knows if her blood is clean? Hope she doesn’t infect Young Master Sullivan with some dirty disease!” I tried hard to ignore them, finding a corner to sit down. But they wouldn’t leave me alone. Several of them deliberately tripped me, throwing my backpack hard on the ground. “Oh, sorry, sorry, didn’t see you there. Are you okay? Young Master Sullivan’s blood slave, it wouldn’t be good if you got hurt.” I lay on the ground, reaching for my books. A pair of shoes stopped beside me. In an instant, the shoes stepped over my face. Alexander nonchalantly found a seat and sat down. He watched coldly as they emptied my backpack and tore everything inside to pieces. The piercing laughter was like needles stabbing into my heart. “Alright, that’s enough,” Alexander finally spoke up. His tone held no trace of protection, but rather a hint of indulgence. “She’s weak, she can’t take your teasing.” Alexander’s words, far from stopping their mockery, only made them more unrestrained. “Young Master Sullivan is so kind, even treating a dog so well.” “Of course, after all, it’s a dog he needs to suck blood from every day. It needs to be kept well. If it dies, where would Young Master Sullivan get his blood from!” Alexander laughed freely, but it made my heart freeze to the bone. Tears fell uncontrollably. “What are you crying for? If you can’t even bear this little bit of grievance, how will you serve me in the future?” Alexander spoke to me. “I… I just feel wronged,” I sobbed. “Wronged? What do you have to feel wronged about? The Sullivan family feeds and clothes you well, lets you live a life of luxury. What more do you want?” His tone was impatient. “I… I just want a little respect,” I said. “Respect? You think you deserve that?” Alexander sneered. “Is what they’re saying wrong? You’re nothing but a dog raised by the Sullivan family, a dog kept to keep me alive. What right do you have to talk to me about respect?” At that moment, I finally understood. In Alexander’s heart, I would forever be just a lowly, inferior blood slave. A tool that anyone could trample on at will. But now I was dependent on the Sullivan family with nowhere to escape, unable to resist. I became even more cautious, silently swallowing those taunts and malice. In front of Alexander, I tried my best to appear more submissive and obedient. He seemed to enjoy it, and when no one else was around, he would be very kind to me again. He would bring me some food, or some interesting books. And he also knew well what damage the curse had done to me in my childhood. Every time the curse acted up, I would be tortured by excruciating pain, rolling on the ground. I even thought about ending my own life through self-harm. Alexander would grab me, hold me, letting me struggle madly until I gradually calmed down. This continued for a full twenty years. And the side effects of the curse became more uncontrollable after I reached adulthood.

That day, after an episode, I really couldn’t bear it anymore. Regardless of dignity or rules, I just wanted to live. I rushed to Alexander’s room. “Mr. Sullivan, I feel so awful. Can you please save me…” But I came at the wrong time. Alexander’s face, which had been laughing and chatting with a woman, turned ashen when he saw me. The woman’s eyes darted between us, and she laughed. “Alexander, I don’t mind you keeping someone on the side.” “Now that we’re engaged, I just hope your little pet doesn’t appear in front of me.” “She’s just a dog that can’t leave its master,” Alexander said coldly. “The curse is acting up again, she can’t live without me.” “How pitiful. Alexander, aren’t you too kind to her? Can’t you just find someone to take care of her needs?” Alexander lifted my chin, his eyes cold and his tone contemptuous. “You want me to help you? Fine.” “Get down on your knees and beg me like a dog, and I’ll consider it.” I bit my teeth in humiliation, my body trembling uncontrollably from the pain. “Alexander, don’t be like that. She looks so pitiful,” the woman said with a smile. “Why don’t you just help her? After all, this kind of woman, it’s no big deal to play with her a bit.” Alexander burst into laughter, grabbing Sophia’s waist and saying in a frivolous tone, “Sophia is right, it’s no big deal to play a bit. Aria, did you hear that?” “As long as you make Sophia happy, I’ll agree to help you.” Sophia smiled contemptuously: “How about this, crawl from here to the door, bark three times like a dog, and I’ll consider letting Alexander help you.” I bit my lip hard, my nails digging deep into my flesh. But I knew I had no choice. To survive, I could only do as they said. Trembling, I knelt on the ground and crawled forward step by step. By the time I reached the door, I had used up all my strength and didn’t even have the energy to open my mouth. In my last memory before fainting, I saw Alexander walking towards me. His face was cold as he grabbed me and threw me out the door. “Get lost,” he said. The door slammed shut, and the woman’s laughter could be heard from inside.

Since that night when Lucas saved me at the swimming pool, I started seeing him more often. He always appeared when I least expected it – in the garden of the Sullivan mansion, on the small path leading to the backyard, or even in the studio where I was occasionally allowed to move freely. In those brief moments when I could catch my breath, he seemed to be able to find me. Every time he saw me, he would first inquire about my health condition with concern. Then he would secretly slip me some herbs and nutritional supplements he had prepared. He told me that the curse Alexander had planted in me was not unsolvable; it could be controlled and even removed. He searched everywhere for methods, trying various approaches with me. Although there wasn’t much progress in the short term, and I still felt feverish and uncontrollably drawn to others during episodes, the medicine Lucas brought did alleviate my pain considerably. Taking advantage of Alexander’s business trip, Lucas started visiting my room more frequently. We talked about everything from my condition to casual chit-chat. He told me how wonderful the outside world was. He said I shouldn’t be trapped here, that I should live the life I want. He said, “Aria, I can help you escape from here.” His words made my heart race uncontrollably. But could I really break free from Alexander’s control? The long imprisonment had worn down my edges and made me timid and cowardly. Even if I did escape from here, where would I go?

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0 It was late at night, and I had just put my daughter to sleep. I was leaning against the headboard, scrolling through my phone when a news alert popped up. “On February 17th at 9 PM, Jason Stewart, CEO of Zenith Corp, was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles. He has been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Sources say Jason suffered severe head trauma and is currently in a coma. Stay tuned for updates…” The accompanying image showed a nearly totaled Bugatti Chiron. Jason was being lifted onto a stretcher, his head covered in blood, eyes closed, brows furrowed even in unconsciousness. I felt a sudden wave of disorientation. It had been three years since I’d last seen him. Those memories of intimate moments, of heartbreaking pain – things I once thought I’d never forget – now felt like a lifetime ago, blurred by the passage of just a thousand days and nights. I lowered my gaze, about to put down my phone and go to sleep, when suddenly there was a violent knocking at the door! Worried the noise would wake Emma, I quickly slipped on my slippers and went to the living room. But when I looked through the peephole, I froze. Jason stood there, his head still wrapped in bandages that were starting to bleed through. His face was contorted with frustration. “Jane, open up!” he shouted. “I know you’re in there, I asked the doorman!” I was at a loss, my mind a jumble as I opened the door. “Weren’t you just in a car accident a few days ago? How did you-” Jason barged in as if he owned the place, barely sparing a glance at the men’s slippers by the door. “It’s freezing out there,” he complained, tossing his coat at me. “Why the hell are you living in this dump? What happened to that villa I bought you?” I was stunned by his familiar tone, momentarily at a loss for words. When we broke up three years ago, it had been ugly. Jason’s face had been so dark with anger, I thought he might actually kill me. He had said: “Jane, you and your new boy toy better stay the hell away from me.” “Or I can’t guarantee his safety.” Now he was acting as if nothing had happened, casually dropping onto the sofa and patting his thigh, raising an eyebrow at me: “Come here.” The dim lamplight cast shadows across his face, his eyes still holding that sharp, slightly cruel glint I remembered. But with his handsome features, that cruelty became a kind of rebellious charm. I took a step back, frowning. “What are you doing here? We broke up, remember?” Jason scoffed. “Oh please, I know you too well.” “You’ve probably been crying at home these past few days, haven’t you?” “Come on,” he beckoned impatiently. “So I went to the hospital with Olivia, big deal. Do you have to be so petty about it?” When I still didn’t approach, Jason stood up with a sigh and pulled me close, placing his hand on my stomach with unexpected gentleness. “I get it, you’re pregnant so your emotions are all over the place, right?” “If you really want this baby so badly, then let’s keep it. I’ve even picked out names – if it’s a boy, we’ll call him James. If it’s a girl-” I finally realized what was wrong. The Jason in front of me was talking about events from three years ago. I grabbed his wrist, my voice catching in my throat. “Jason, did you lose your memory?” He paused, then shrugged it off. “They all keep saying I hit my head and lost my memory. What a load of crap. My mind’s a bit fuzzy, but it’s no big deal. Nothing important anyway. You can fill me in on the details.” He pulled me close, tilting his head back to look at me with eyes full of love, as if we had never been apart these past three years. I pushed him away, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Jason, we broke up. I-” He quickly cut me off, the warmth vanishing from his smile. “Jane, that’s enough.” “You really expect me to believe that?” His thin lips curled into an arrogant smirk. “After all these years by my side, if you wanted to leave, you would’ve done it long ago.” “You can’t live without me.” Just then, the sound of a doorknob turning came from the hallway. I shoved Jason away hard. My daughter came out rubbing her eyes, clutching her favorite stuffed rabbit. “Mommy.” She frowned at Jason. “Who’s that?” 0

My breakup with Jason had been far from amicable. I was Jason’s childhood friend. His parents had taken me in when we were kids, basically giving him a playmate. From day one, everyone told me I had to look after Jason, to take care of him. I was three years older than Jason, so I naturally fell into a big sister role. Jason was spoiled rotten as a child, with a nasty temper. When I first arrived, he often tormented me. He’d put snakes in my bed, gather his friends to mock my background, drag me out of bed in the middle of the night to snarl at me: “Jane, don’t you dare think you’re really my sister.” “You’re just a stray dog my family took in, got it?” I knew I had no right to argue with Jason. The truth was, I was grateful to Jason’s parents. They had taken me out of foster care. If not for them, I probably would have ended up trafficked by my crooked caseworker. But kids’ tempers come and go quickly. Under my constant care, Jason soon softened. He became affectionate towards me, not letting others bully me. When he couldn’t sleep, he’d come to my room. He started calling me “sis”. I always thought I’d play the role of his sister forever. Until Jason fell in love at 19. With Olivia. The Stewarts and Olivia’s family were equally wealthy. Like Jason, Olivia was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She was a dazzling, beautiful girl who became the campus sweetheart in her freshman year, catching Jason’s eye. They naturally got together, but both being spoiled, Jason and Olivia had explosive tempers. They fought often. During one of their fights, to make Olivia jealous, Jason kissed me right in front of her. Our relationship changed irrevocably in that moment. Jason and Olivia quickly made up, but Jason never explained that kiss to me. We both tacitly agreed to never mention it again, but we both knew we could never go back to how things were before. Jason and Olivia were together for three years before finally breaking up after a big fight. Heartbroken, Olivia left the country. And Jason, in a drunken stupor one night, crawled into my bed. I still remember that chaotic night. His breath heavy with alcohol as he nuzzled my neck, pinning my hands above my head: “Don’t reject me,” he slurred, his actions forceful but his voice pleading. “Don’t reject me.” I lay frozen, finally managing to ask in a trembling voice: “Jason, do you know who I am?” He answered with a kiss. Much later, when I was nearly asleep, I vaguely heard him sigh in my ear. “You’re Jane.” … And just like that, we were together. No confession, no ceremony, not even a word of affection exchanged. I still played the role of his caretaker, looking after Jason’s daily needs. He was just more intimate with me now. We’d walk on the beach at sunset, cuddle up to watch movies in the dark of night, hold each other close as thunder rumbled outside. For a while, I felt truly happy. I’m not sure when I fell in love with him, but I knew I did. So when Olivia came back looking for Jason, I endured it. When he stood me up on my birthday to have dinner with her, I endured that too. I loved Jason. I knew he still had a lot of growing up to do, so I was willing to give him chances to make mistakes and correct them. Until I found out I was pregnant. I sent Jason the test results. It took him a long time to call me back. His voice sounded distorted over the phone, irritated: “Jane, I don’t want a kid right now.” “I’m not ready to be a father, I still want to have fun. Don’t keep it.” Half an hour later, a friend doing her residency at the hospital sent me a photo. It was Jason and Olivia. He was supporting her carefully, his movements as gentle as if handling a priceless treasure. My friend sent a voice message: “Why is Jason here at the OB-GYN with some other girl? She looks pregnant. Who is she?” That’s when I understood. It wasn’t that Jason didn’t want children. He just didn’t want my child. From the very beginning, he had never forgotten Olivia. This girl who first taught him about love was the one that got away, someone he could never let go of. Now that she was back, I was just a substitute to be discarded. Along with my child, tossed aside like garbage. After that, I broke up with Jason. But Jason kept dragging his feet, refusing to agree. With no other choice, I enlisted an old classmate to help me stage a scene of reuniting with an ex. I’ll never forget Jason’s eyes that day. He stared at me as if he wanted to burn me alive with his gaze. “Jane, you and your new boy toy better stay the hell away from me.” “Or I can’t guarantee his safety.” His final words dripped with contempt: “You’re nothing but a dog I kept around.” “Remember this – I’m the one dumping you, not the other way around!” After that day, I never saw Jason again. He soon went abroad to expand the business. I heard he got engaged to Olivia. Both families were thrilled – it was a perfect match. Their engagement made the front page news. And now, he’d been in an accident, his memory reset to three years ago. In the silent living room, even the sound of traffic was muffled by the night. A heavy silence settled over us. I picked up my daughter, speaking softly as Jason stared at me in shock: “Jason, we’ve been broken up for three years.” “I’m… married now. With a child.” 0

It took Jason a moment to react. He opened and closed his mouth, disbelief and confusion warring on his face as he reached out to grab me. “That’s impossible,” he said, seemingly trying to convince himself as much as me. “Jane, how could you possibly be married to someone else?” “Don’t you love me?” His gaze shifted to the child in my arms. He forced a smile, “I lost my memory, so… this child is mine, right?” “Did you keep that baby from back then without telling me?” I stepped back. “Jason, stop this madness!” “This isn’t your child!” The light in Jason’s eyes was gradually consumed by darkness. “Not mine? Then whose child is it?” he snarled, grabbing my arm. “Jane, who the hell did you have a kid with?!” “With me.” Just as I was starting to panic, the door opened and Mark walked in, taking our daughter from my arms. The night air clung to his black suit, making it slightly damp, but his powerful presence made him seem anything but disheveled. He regarded Jason with mild interest. “We have a guest? You should have told me,” he said, handing me a package and completely ignoring Jason’s increasingly dark expression. “That cake you like – I almost didn’t get there in time to buy it.” Jason looked Mark up and down, his fists clenching. “Jane, when the hell did you get mixed up with him?” Before I could answer, Mark laughed. It was a cold, mocking sound devoid of any warmth. “When?” he echoed. “To be precise, we got together three years ago, had our daughter two years ago, and got married this year. Which ‘when’ are you asking about, Mr. Stewart?” In the quiet living room, the two tall men faced off. Rage blazed in Jason’s eyes while Mark regarded him with the condescending air of an adult humoring a child, emanating the confidence of a victor. I sighed, pulling Mark back as I addressed Jason: “What he said is true.” “Jason, we’ve been apart for a long time now. We both have our own lives – you’re about to marry Olivia, and I’m married with a child.” “You just lost your memory in the accident and can’t remember clearly right now. We stopped…” I paused before continuing, “We stopped being part of each other’s lives a long time ago.” “Part of each other’s lives?” Jason took a step back, his expression suddenly turning bitter. “Jane, we lived together for over a decade.” “And now you’re telling me we’re just ‘part of each other’s lives’?” I lowered my gaze, speaking softly: “You’ve grown up. We both need to have our own lives now.” Mark leaned against me, holding our daughter in one arm and taking my hand with the other, silently asserting his claim. The three of us stood together, physically not far from Jason but separated by an invisible, impassable line. After a long moment, Jason laughed. He stared at me, his voice cold. “Fine, Jane.” “You win.” 0

After Jason left, Mark didn’t say anything, but I could tell his jealous side was acting up again. He was so distracted, he barely kissed Emma when she asked for a goodnight kiss. His whole body radiated an aura of: “I’m angry, explain yourself now.” I sighed and went to hug him. “I didn’t know he was coming. He just showed up at the door, having lost his memory. I explained everything to him.” “It won’t happen again, okay?” Mark yanked off his tie and tossed it on the floor, saying nothing as he sprawled his long legs out on the couch. After a while, seeming to have calmed himself down, he finally spoke: “When I heard he’d lost his memory and immediately flew back, I had a bad feeling. I rushed back as fast as I could, but he still got in.” He looked utterly disgusted, swearing for the first time I could remember: “Damn it, why couldn’t that crash have killed him?!” I nearly laughed at his reaction. Mark always seemed so cool and composed, like nothing in the world could ruffle him. But when it came to Jason, he turned into such a jealous mess. Back when Jason first went abroad, Mark had practically thrown a party to send him off, hoping he’d never come back. Now that we’d just gotten married and Jason was back to stir things up, of course he was upset. It took a lot of coaxing and swearing I’d never get entangled with Jason again before he finally calmed down. But he still took out his frustrations on me after Emma went to sleep, leaving me sore all over. The next morning, I dragged my aching body out of bed, silently cursing Mark. What happened to men losing their drive after 25? If anything, he seemed to be getting more intense! Just then, my phone rang. It was an unknown number. Thinking it might be a delivery, I answered, but before I could speak, a familiar female voice came through. Even over the phone, I could hear the contempt in Olivia’s tone. “Jane, let’s meet up.” I frowned. “What for?” “I think we need to talk about Jason. Don’t you agree?” I rubbed my temples in frustration, cutting straight to the point: “I have nothing to do with Jason. I didn’t cause his accident or his memory loss. Whatever issues you two have, work it out between yourselves. It has nothing to do with me.”

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On the day of our wedding, my mother-in-law jumped from the second floor and died instantly. From that moment on, Anthony Reed hated me. The security footage showed that his mother had seen me shortly before she jumped. But I was in the bridal suite, getting my makeup done. I never even saw her. No matter how much I explained, he refused to believe me. He locked me in the mansion, tormenting me however he pleased, while parading woman after woman in front of me. At my breaking point, a fire consumed everything. When I opened my eyes again, I was back—back on the day of our wedding. “Quinn, I finally get to marry you. I’m not dreaming, am I?” A voice filled with excitement sounded next to my ear. The next second, I was pulled into a warm embrace. The familiar scent made my entire body freeze. I shoved him away with all my strength, raising my hand to slap him across the face. “Get your hands off me. You make me sick.” The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the room. Anthony stared at me, stunned. “Quinn, what’s wrong? Why did you hit me?” My pupils shrank as I looked down at my trembling hand, red from the force of the slap. My gaze swept the room in confusion. This… was the bridal suite? Had I been reborn? Anthony frowned, concern flashing across his face. He reached out to check my forehead. “Quinn, did you not sleep well last night? Why don’t you rest for a bit? The ceremony won’t start for a while.” In my last life, it was on this very day that Anthony’s mother died. I could still see him holding her lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably. When he watched the security footage, he completely lost his mind. The wedding I had once looked forward to became the start of my personal hell. Taking a deep breath, I suppressed the fear rising in my chest and grabbed Anthony’s hand tightly. “Anthony, listen to me. There are a lot of people here today, and things could get chaotic. Please, keep an eye on your mom. Don’t let her out of your sight, okay?” He frowned, confused by my serious tone, but eventually nodded. “Don’t worry, Quinn. I’ll make sure she’s fine. You’ve been working so hard to prepare for this wedding—you must be exhausted. Leave everything else to me and just focus on resting.” As soon as Anthony left, I collapsed into the chair, my legs weak. My mind was a mess. What if something happened to her again? I couldn’t go through the same nightmare twice. If only I’d been reborn a few days earlier, maybe I could’ve stopped this wedding altogether. But fate had thrown me back to today, forcing me to face it all over again. I paced back and forth in the room, anxiety eating away at me. It wasn’t until the officiant’s voice echoed through the venue that I finally exhaled in relief. In my past life, Anthony’s mother had jumped before the wedding began. It seemed Anthony had taken my words seriously and kept an eye on her, preventing the tragedy. After the ceremony, I finally let my guard down. Anthony wrapped me in his arms, gently massaging my shoulders. “You were so tense, Quinn. See? The wedding wasn’t as bad as you thought, was it?” “From now on, my mom has fully accepted you. We’re a family now. Remember, you can always share what’s on your mind. I want to know how you feel, no matter what.” I nodded, a weight lifting off my chest. That night, Anthony brought me a warm glass of milk, as he always did. Noticing my low spirits, he didn’t press me or try to get intimate. Half-asleep, I was startled awake by the sound of my phone buzzing. Anthony answered it, frowning slightly. He sighed, leaned down to kiss my forehead, and whispered, “Quinn, something came up at the office. I need to head out for a bit. You rest, okay?” The door clicked shut behind him, and I drifted back into a deep sleep. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when I was abruptly yanked awake. Rubbing my drowsy eyes, I looked up to see Anthony’s furious face hovering above me. “Quinn Taylor,” he spat, his voice trembling with anger, “what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

I stared blankly, frozen in confusion. Anthony Reed didn’t care that I was wearing nothing but a thin nightgown. He grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the bedroom forcefully. Panicked, I clutched my chest to keep myself covered, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. No matter how much I screamed or begged him to stop, he didn’t listen. He was like a man possessed, his grip unrelenting as he pulled me through the house. The mansion was fully lit, and the household staff stood in two neat rows, their faces tense and uneasy. Anthony flung me down the stairs. I tumbled, rolling down step after step, until I finally hit the cold, hard floor. Disoriented and aching all over, my hand brushed against something icy and wet. Ignoring the pain, I turned my head to look. What I saw made my breath catch in my throat. It was… my mother-in-law. She lay in a pool of blood, her lifeless eyes wide open, her pupils dull and dilated. Her face was twisted in terror, as if even in death, she couldn’t find peace. How was this possible? The wedding had gone perfectly. She had survived that day. How could she be dead now, in our home? I couldn’t understand. Why, despite my second chance, had she still died? Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my scalp. Anthony grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back to force me to look at him. His eyes were bloodshot, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might crack. “Quinn Taylor,” he hissed, “don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” “My mom had finally come around to accepting you. She even gave you the family heirloom bracelet to show she welcomed you into the Reed family. What more could you possibly want? How could you be so cruel?” I sobbed, shaking my head violently. “It wasn’t me, Anthony! I swear, it wasn’t me! I was asleep! When you left, I was already asleep—I couldn’t have done anything to her!” The Reeds were a prominent family, wealthy and powerful. My family, by comparison, was ordinary—completely out of their league. At first, my mother-in-law was vehemently against our relationship. Anthony, however, was determined to marry me. He defied her, rejected every woman she tried to set him up with, and even threatened to give up his position as the heir to the Reed family fortune. This only made her hatred for me grow stronger. She once declared that I would only enter the Reed family “over her dead body.” But Anthony’s resolve didn’t waver. If anything, her opposition only strengthened his commitment to me. Later, when his mother fell ill and needed a bone marrow transplant, I turned out to be a match. When she learned that I was her donor, her attitude softened. Slowly, she began to accept me. I had saved her life. How could I possibly be the one to harm her? Anthony let out a bitter laugh and shoved my head away. “Oh, really? So you’re saying the security footage is lying to me?” He glared at me with disgust, his voice dripping with venom. “Quinn Taylor, I never thought you’d be the kind of person to stab someone in the back. To act so respectful and obedient in front of my mom, only to turn around and kill her behind closed doors. Look at this, and tell me it’s not you!” My head hit the floor with a thud, leaving me dizzy and in pain. Anthony held up his phone, showing me a surveillance video. On the screen, a woman wearing a nightgown identical to mine appeared. Her build, her face—everything about her screamed that it was me. In the footage, the woman said something to my mother-in-law, causing her expression to change drastically. She raised her hand as if to strike the woman, but the woman shoved her instead. My mother-in-law stumbled backward, falling down the stairs. She landed hard at the bottom, groaning in pain. But the woman didn’t stop there. She picked up a vase and smashed it over my mother-in-law’s head. Again and again. Finally, my mother-in-law’s neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and she stopped moving. The woman stood there, disheveled and cold-eyed, before calmly walking back upstairs to the master bedroom. I watched in horror, my body trembling uncontrollably. Anthony grabbed me by the throat, his grip tightening as he leaned in close. “Look at yourself,” he snarled. “There’s blood on your nightgown—my mom’s blood. And it matches exactly with the video. Are you still going to deny it, Quinn? Are you still going to pretend you didn’t kill her?” My eyes dropped to my white nightgown, and sure enough, there was a large stain of dried blood on it. It was in the exact same spot as the bloodstain on the woman’s nightgown in the video. How… how could this be? Was it possible that I really had killed her? I clung to Anthony’s shirt, tears streaming down my face as I broke into uncontrollable sobs. “Anthony, I… I think I’m sick. I don’t remember anything—I don’t remember! I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” In my first life, I had been so sure of my innocence. Even after being reborn, I had clung to that belief. But now? Now I wasn’t so sure.

Anthony Reed tilted my chin up, his voice hoarse and bitter: “Quinn Taylor, you’ve finally admitted it, haven’t you? Tell me—how can you be so heartless? How could you do something so cruel?” Tears streamed down my face as I gasped for air, barely able to breathe. Scenes from my previous life flashed through my mind like a nightmare I couldn’t escape. In that past life, Anthony had locked me away, forcing me to share a cage with the dogs I was terrified of. He had replayed the footage of his mother jumping to her death over and over, making sure I saw it every waking moment. He knew I loved him, so he brought women into the house, flaunting them in front of me, using them to humiliate me. My body trembled uncontrollably as the memories suffocated me. The world around me seemed to darken. Anthony stood up, towering over me with cold indifference. “Quinn,” he said, his voice sharp and cutting, “you didn’t just ruin my mother’s life. You destroyed my sister’s as well. Lila came home from school just to meet you, her new sister-in-law. But what did she see the moment she walked through the door? She saw you kill our mom with her own eyes.” His words hit me like a punch to the gut. “When you pushed her,” Anthony continued, “did you even notice Lila standing there? No, of course not. You scared her so badly she fainted on the spot. Do you know how long she lay there, unconscious? Do you know she’s still in the hospital, in a coma?” He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “You need to atone, Quinn. You need to beg forgiveness—from my mom, from my sister.” Lila Reed. In my past life, she had been a graduate student studying abroad. By the time she returned home, her mother was already gone. I had only met her once—at the funeral. She had seemed so sweet and gentle, but when she attacked me, her strength was terrifying. If Anthony hadn’t stopped her, I had no doubt she would have beaten me to death. She hated Anthony for not handing me over to the police. She thought he spared me because he still loved me. She didn’t know the truth—that he kept me around only to exact his own revenge. Anthony never explained himself to her. Furious and heartbroken, Lila cut ties with him and left the country. She never came back. This time, though, Lila hadn’t left. Maybe that was the reason Anthony didn’t lock me up like before. Instead, he dragged me to the hospital and made me serve as Lila’s caretaker—his way of punishing me until she recovered. After I calmed down, I asked Anthony to take me to a psychiatrist. I needed answers. I needed to know if I was sick—if there was something wrong with me that could explain everything. Anthony’s lips curled into a mocking sneer. “Oh, I see. You want to fake a mental illness now? Is that your plan, Quinn?” He leaned in closer, his voice dripping with venom. “Don’t think for a second that claiming insanity will get you out of this. Even if you were diagnosed, I wouldn’t let you off the hook.” His words cut deep, but I forced myself to push past the pain. “Anthony,” I said, my voice trembling, “I know you hate me right now. But we’ve been together for years. You know the kind of person I am. “When your mom hated me, I still donated my bone marrow to save her. She finally accepted me, and we were happy. Why would I hurt her after everything? “I love you, Anthony. And I love your family. I just want to know the truth. Please, let me do this.” For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—hesitation, maybe even guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it came. He sighed, his jaw tight, and finally relented. The test results came back a few days later. I wasn’t mentally ill. My heart sank as I stared at the report. If I wasn’t sick, then why… why had I done something so monstrous? Before I could process what that meant, Anthony snatched the papers from my hands. His expression darkened, and the air around us seemed to grow heavier. “Well?” he snarled. “What’s your excuse now?” He threw the report onto the table, his voice rising. “Quinn Taylor, stop lying to me. You killed my mom. Just admit it!” “No!” I shouted back, tears streaming down my face. “It wasn’t me, Anthony! I swear!” My voice cracked as I pleaded with him. “Please, just wait. Lila saw everything. She might wake up and prove my innocence. Please, Anthony, I’m begging you—just give me one last chance. I don’t want our relationship to end in nothing but hatred.” Anthony’s jaw tightened, his eyes bloodshot. Finally, he growled through gritted teeth, “Fine. One last chance, Quinn. Just one.”

I looked at Lila Reed, still unconscious in her hospital bed. Maybe, just maybe, this time, she was the miracle sent to save me. For three long days, I stayed by her side. During that time, Anthony was busy organizing his mother’s funeral. He only came by occasionally to check on things. He wasn’t worried about me escaping. He’d rented out the entire hospital floor and stationed guards everywhere to watch my every move. The security was airtight—nothing could get in or out, not even a bird. When Lila finally woke up, Anthony happened to walk into the room. I barely had time to feel relieved before she suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream. Her eyes were wide with terror as she pointed at me, her hand trembling. “You… You’re the murderer!” “Anthony, it’s her! She killed Mom! It was her!” She clung to Anthony’s arm, sobbing uncontrollably. “Why is she here? She killed Mom! Why is she still here?” I stood frozen, unable to react. A chill ran down my spine, leaving me paralyzed. Anthony held his panicked sister tightly, gently stroking her back to calm her. “It’s okay, Lila. You’re safe now. Don’t get upset.” “Call the police, Anthony! Arrest her! She killed Mom—you have to call the police!” “Lila, look at me,” I pleaded desperately. “That night, it wasn’t me. Please, look carefully—it wasn’t me!” I inched closer, hoping for her to see reason, to remember something that could clear my name. But the closer I got, the more hysterical she became. The room descended into chaos. Nurses rushed in, trying to restrain her. Then, out of nowhere, a sharp slap echoed through the room. Pain erupted in my left cheek. I stood there, stunned, the side of my face burning. Anthony’s voice cut through the air, cold and furious: “Get out, you murderer.” His finger pointed toward the door, his eyes blazing with hatred. I felt as though I’d fallen into an abyss of ice. My last shred of hope was gone. At his mother’s funeral, Anthony forced me to my knees in front of the grave. The guards pressed down on my head, making me bow again and again against the cold, unforgiving tombstone. Every time my forehead hit the hard stone, stars burst in my vision. But until Anthony gave the order, the bowing wouldn’t stop. I didn’t know how long it went on. My head was spinning, my entire body weak from the blood rushing to my head. Just when I thought I couldn’t take another second, someone shoved the guards aside and pulled me into their arms. “Anthony Reed, have you lost your mind? What are you doing to Quinn? If you want revenge, go find the real killer instead of torturing her like this!” I forced my swollen eyes open just enough to see the figure standing over me. It was Lily Hart—my best friend, my sister in everything but blood. From high school to now, Lily had always treated me like family, protecting me no matter what. “Lily,” I whimpered, tears finally streaming down my face. “You believe me, don’t you? I didn’t kill her. I didn’t kill his mom.” Lily’s eyes filled with tears as she gently wiped the blood off my face. “I know, Quinn. I believe you. You’d never do something like that.” The cemetery was almost empty now, only a few people lingering. Anthony waved his hand, and the guards immediately separated me from Lily. Barely able to support myself, I leaned on the ground to keep from collapsing. Anthony let out a cold laugh. “How touching. Sisterhood at its finest.” He leaned down, his voice low and venomous. “Quinn Taylor, if you think this is the end, you’re sorely mistaken. My revenge is far from over.” I was dragged back to the mansion and locked in the same cage as before—just like in my previous life. The security footage of that night played on a loop in front of me, over and over. I began to have visceral reactions. My body would shake uncontrollably, and every time I closed my eyes, I saw his mother’s bloody face, accusing me, asking why I killed her. “I didn’t,” I whispered into the darkness. “I didn’t kill you. I swear I didn’t.” I didn’t know how much time had passed. My nerves were frayed beyond recognition. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. The nightmares never stopped. My body withered. My reflection in the mirror was barely recognizable—gaunt, hollow-eyed, and lifeless. One day, I collapsed in the cage. When the maids found me, I was unconscious. Anthony had me taken out of the cage and put on an IV drip. But even as my body recovered slightly, my mind remained a fractured mess. That afternoon, I wandered near the window, staring listlessly outside. Then I saw them. A figure in the distance, slipping through the garden. My heart stopped. My pupils dilated, and my chest tightened as my breath caught in my throat. There they were—the real murderer. The one who had killed Anthony’s mother.

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In my previous life, I didn’t realize how much Jack Shaw hated me until the moment I died. All because I slapped his precious first love, Chloe Quinn. For that, he locked me in the basement for three days and nights. I had severe claustrophobia, and in that suffocating darkness, I screamed, begged, and struggled until I finally passed out in despair. When I woke up again, I was back to the night before my wedding to Jack. This time, I didn’t hesitate—I climbed out the window and ran. Three years later, I saw Jack again at my best friend’s wedding. He was there with the same Chloe Quinn, the woman who had ruined me in my past life. When Jack saw me, his eyes filled with disdain as he sneered, towering over me like he always had: “Nina Carter, is this your new game? You think just because our horoscopes are a perfect match, I have no choice but to marry you? You ran away for three years just to play hard to get? To make me fall for you?” He leaned in, his voice laced with arrogance. “Let me make one thing clear: it’s not going to happen. I can marry you again, but don’t even think about controlling me.” “In public, you can play the part of Mrs. Shaw. But at home, you’ll always be beneath Chloe.” I didn’t respond. Instead, I smiled, grabbed the arm of the man beside me—the heir of one of the most powerful families in the city—and said sweetly: “Honey, did you hear that? Sounds like a dog barking.” The moment I called another man “honey,” Jack’s composure shattered. His eyes turned bloodshot as he roared: “Nina! Weren’t you desperate to be Mrs. Shaw? How dare you call someone else your husband?!”

At my best friend’s wedding, I had just stepped off the stage in my bridesmaid dress when my parents dragged me to a table. “Nina,” my mom scolded, “you don’t answer our calls, you ignore our texts—were you planning to cut us out of your life forever if we hadn’t come to this wedding?” Her eyes were red, tears threatening to fall. “Mom, I already told you—I’m not marrying him.” Three years ago, I ran away because I refused to marry Jack Shaw again. In my previous life, when Chloe returned from overseas, Jack blamed me for everything that had gone wrong in his life. He claimed I was the reason he couldn’t be with her, the reason his freedom was gone, the reason his life was ruined. So, when I slapped Chloe for provoking me, Jack retaliated by locking me in the basement. For three days and nights, I was consumed by darkness, hunger, and the feeling of ants crawling all over my skin. That cold, helpless despair haunted me, even after I was reborn. For three years, I stayed away from my family, unable to face them or the memories of that life. The only reason I came back was because my childhood best friend begged me to be her bridesmaid. In this life, Jack hadn’t taken over his family’s business. Instead, he had entered the entertainment industry and become a mid-tier director—successful enough to be envied by others. Chloe sat beside him, her designer dress radiating sophistication, her brightly colored hair giving her a bold, carefree look straight out of a Western fashion magazine. Their fingers were intertwined, and Chloe’s eyes were full of disdain as she glanced at me. Compared to her, I was nothing. I wore a cheap, ill-fitting bridesmaid dress, my makeup hurriedly applied by the stylist. I didn’t need to look around to know what people were thinking—the judgment and scorn in their eyes were loud enough. “Wow, Mr. Carter,” one of the guests said with a smirk, “you must be so proud. Look at Jack—he’s made it as a director without relying on his family. And Nina’s been in the big city for three years now, hasn’t she? Surely she’s accomplished something too… right?” Another chimed in, shaking their head with a tut: “Nina, you’re being so stubborn. What’s wrong with Jack? The Shaw family has so much money. Marrying him would mean a life of luxury, and your parents could even get a nice dowry out of it. What’s there to complain about?” A woman across the table laughed and added, “Jack’s not even the type to mess around. He only has eyes for Chloe. So what if he likes to keep her around? You’re not as good as Chloe in any way, but at least you’d get to be Mrs. Shaw. Isn’t that enough?”

The voices around me grew louder, each person chiming in with their unsolicited opinions. To them, my marriage was nothing more than a transaction, a business deal where I was the product. And yet, Jack Shaw’s eyes never left me. For a fleeting moment, I thought I saw a trace of longing. Longing? I couldn’t help but laugh. In my previous life, Jack once told me I was the best woman he had ever met, that marrying me was his greatest fortune. I believed him. I poured my heart and soul into our marriage, into his family. But in the end, I found out the truth—he married me because his parents told him our horoscopes matched perfectly, that I would bring good fortune to his family. When I lay dying, he screamed at me, blaming me for ruining his life, for keeping him from Chloe Quinn, his true love. Now, in this new life, the very idea that he might feel anything other than relief that he didn’t marry me was laughable. Turning to the table, I forced a polite smile and spoke in a calm, measured tone. “Uncles, aunts, Jack already has someone he loves. Marrying me was a lie—a sham. That’s fraud, you know, and fraud is illegal. This isn’t the 1800s anymore. Even if you drag me to some ancestral hall, it won’t work. Besides…” I paused, my smile sharpening. “I’m already married.” Jack’s expression shifted from shock to disbelief, then finally to a mocking sneer. “Nina Carter, three years away, and you’ve learned how to lie so effortlessly? I know I’m the best man you’ve ever had access to. You can’t have me, so now you’re inventing some imaginary husband?” Beside him, Chloe leaned against his shoulder, her gaze dripping with condescension and hostility. “Miss Carter,” she said smoothly, her voice exuding false sophistication, “I’m not like you. I don’t define my worth by finding a man to marry. I have my own career and my own freedom. Jack and I are both free spirits, dedicated to a life without constraints. I’m not here to threaten your position—you’ll always be Mrs. Shaw. But let’s be real: you can’t shake what Jack and I have.” She tilted her head, her tone turning patronizing. “Look, Jack only married you to keep his family happy. Consider the dowry your compensation. And if you want, I can even offer you a job at my company. At least that way, you’ll get a glimpse of a world far beyond anything you’ve ever known.” Her words dripped with elegance and confidence, painting a picture of glamorous galas, exclusive auctions, and a life of freedom. But I knew better. Not once had I seen her name on any invitation list to the kind of events she claimed to frequent. I raised an eyebrow and turned to Jack. This was the independent, worldly woman he admired so much? Jack’s expression was a mix of discomfort and pride. “Chloe’s a jewelry designer,” he said, his voice tinged with arrogance. “That’s something you could never achieve, Nina. Look at your hands—they’re so rough. What are you doing with your life now? Still working as a reporter?” I nodded, unbothered by his insult. In my previous life, I had given up my career for him, abandoning opportunities to work with top mentors and eventually burying myself in the demands of his household. But in this life, I embraced my freedom, taking on the assignments no one else dared to touch. My hands bore the marks of hard work, but I felt no shame. Seeing my silent nod, Chloe let out a laugh, covering her mouth as if to stifle it. “Miss Carter, as long as you don’t cling to Jack after your divorce, I’ll have him send you $1,000 a month as support. That’s generous enough, isn’t it?” She wrapped her arms around Jack’s, her posture exuding triumph. To her, I was nothing more than a disposable servant she was graciously offering to pay off. The others at the table jumped in, their words dripping with mockery. “Being a reporter sounds fancy, but what’s the monthly pay? $500? $1,000, tops? Nina, are you even able to afford food for yourself out there?” “Women like you are better off finding a husband. What’s the point of struggling when you’ll just end up starving on your own? It’s a good thing the Shaw family is so generous. Otherwise, if you ended up in debt, your parents wouldn’t be able to bail you out.” Their ridicule grew louder, more cutting, and my parents’ faces turned dark with anger and embarrassment. Just as I was about to respond, a new voice cut through the noise. “Are you people mocking Miss Carter?” The room fell silent. Jack shot up from his chair as if spring-loaded. “Mr. Walters!” he exclaimed, his tone turning ingratiating in an instant. “What brings you here? Are you here to discuss a collaboration with my father? It’s such an honor to have you here!” Jack’s smile stretched wide, oozing flattery. After all, Mr. Walters was one of the most powerful figures in the capital—a man the Shaw family couldn’t even dream of currying favor with. But Mr. Walters ignored him completely. “I’m here because I happened to see Miss Carter.” I quickly stepped in, cutting him off before he could say more. “Mr. Walters, it’s an honor to see you again. The interview I conducted with you has already been finalized and submitted to the paper.” I stood up, subtly positioning myself between him and Jack. This was my best friend’s wedding, and my parents were here. I didn’t want to cause a scene. Turning to Jack, I met his gaze head-on. “Jack, I’m never going to marry you. I told you—I’m already married. My husband will be here to pick me up soon.” Mr. Walters seemed to understand my intentions. He glanced toward the door and said, “The heir to the Hayes family is stopping by to discuss business. I’m just here to check in before his arrival.”

The moment the name “Hayes family heir” was mentioned, the room fell into stunned silence. Everyone stood up, their faces filled with nervous excitement. “Mr. Walters,” Jack Shaw said eagerly, rubbing his hands together. “Could you do me a favor and introduce me later? Just a quick word with him would mean so much—” Mr. Walters gave him a polite but insincere smile. “Mr. Shaw, I think you should focus on sorting out your personal affairs first.” As his words landed, Jack turned to me, his expression immediately darkening. Pointing his finger at me, he began to shout, his voice full of anger and frustration. “Nina Carter! Don’t think you can just rely on that nonsense about our horoscopes matching to manipulate me! You’ve been lying through your teeth, making up some story about being married. Where’s the marriage certificate, huh? Show it to me!” His voice grew louder, his tone more accusatory. “You’re just trying to control me, trying to stop me from being with Chloe. Well, guess what? It’s not going to happen! If you’re so determined not to marry me, fine—I’ll take back the dowry tomorrow!” At that, my parents panicked. They immediately began apologizing to Jack while scolding me at the same time. “Nina, listen to your mother,” my mom pleaded. “I know you young women today have your own ideas, but we don’t have the luxury to be so stubborn.” “The Shaw family is offering five million dollars and a shopping mall as part of the dowry! You can’t just throw away your future over some silly idea you got from the Internet!” My dad’s face was grim, his tone sharp. “Think about your life, Nina. You’re not going to find a better offer than this!” I looked at them, their faces a mix of worry and anger, and my heart sank. Their desperation reminded me of my past life. In my previous life, Jack and I had once been… happy, or so I thought. But it was the kind of “happiness” that felt more like a performance, something we put on for his parents. Behind closed doors, he lived a life of indulgence while I gave up my career as a reporter to become the perfect “Mrs. Shaw.” I believed him when he said he loved me. I sacrificed everything for him, becoming the dutiful wife everyone expected me to be. But it all fell apart the moment Chloe Quinn came back into his life. He told me that women like Chloe—vibrant, passionate, full of life—were what real women should be. And me? He said I was nothing more than a rotting piece of driftwood, a coffin for his dreams. He blamed me for ruining his life, for making him feel like he was staring at death every time he looked at me. In the end, he resented me so much that he became violent, lashing out when I refused to fund his vacations with Chloe. My parents told me to endure it. And when he locked me in the basement for three days, they told me it was my fault for upsetting him. I died filled with hatred for him and for myself. This time, I wasn’t going to let history repeat itself. “I really am married,” I said calmly. I took out my marriage certificate and placed it on the table. My parents gasped, jumping to their feet in shock. “Where’s the dowry?” my mom cried. “Did you run off with some lowlife? You didn’t even get a dowry, and you call this a marriage? How am I supposed to explain this to the Shaw family?” “Five million and a factory, Nina!” my dad added, his voice shaking with frustration. “You need to divorce whoever this is and come with us to apologize to the Shaws immediately!” I stared at them, their words blurring together. In their eyes, I wasn’t their daughter. I was just a price tag—five million dollars and a factory. The people around us laughed mockingly, their disdain obvious. “Nina, come on. Don’t make your parents worry so much. Did you get involved in something shady out there?” “Look at this marriage certificate. It looks so cheap and fake—it’s probably just something she printed out to fool us.” But Jack wasn’t laughing. He stormed over to the table, grabbed the certificate, and ripped it to shreds. “Nina Carter, you’ve really outdone yourself this time,” he snarled. “You’ll fake a marriage certificate just to try and trick me?!” Chloe’s eyes flickered with jealousy, but she quickly masked it with a smug smile. “Jack, it’s just a horoscope match. There are plenty of other women born under the same stars. She’s nothing but a good-luck charm. Let’s just focus on greeting the Hayes family heir, okay?” Before Jack could respond, the hotel manager entered, followed by a team of bodyguards who quickly cleared a path through the crowd. Jack leaned closer to me, lowering his voice. “Nina, you think you can just run away because of some horoscope nonsense? Do you think playing hard to get will make me fall for you? “Let me tell you something—it’s not going to happen. “Agree to the marriage now, and I’ll take you back. But don’t even dream of controlling me. In public, you can be Mrs. Shaw. But at home, you’ll always be beneath Chloe.” Before he could say more, the crowd parted, and the heir to the Hayes family, Nathan Hayes, walked in. Jack eagerly stretched out his hand, only for the bodyguards to block him. Nathan ignored him completely, his sharp eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. He walked over, his expression softening. “Nina,” he said quietly, his voice full of complaint. “You said you were just here to be a bridesmaid for your best friend’s wedding.” I glanced at him, feeling a little guilty. “I was,” I replied, my voice soft. “You’ve never even worn a wedding dress for me,” he muttered, his lips forming a slight pout. Nathan Hayes, the cold and distant heir everyone feared, was now standing in front of me, looking like a sulking puppy. I quickly turned to my parents, pulling them closer. “Mom, Dad, this is my husband, Nathan Hayes.” My parents’ expressions shifted rapidly—from anger to shock, and finally to a fawning smile. They stared at our intertwined hands, their disbelief written all over their faces. Jack, however, completely lost it. He stormed over, his face red with fury. “Nina Carter! Did you blackmail Nathan Hayes into this? Did you dig up some dirt on him to force this marriage?!” His voice rose, filled with desperation. “You’re supposed to be my wife! How could he possibly want someone like you?!”

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All of this started because I reported my boyfriend’s “bestie” after she humiliated me at the train station, forcing me to strip during a security check. That same night, my boyfriend listed me on a secondhand resale app—for $9.99. “Wait, seriously? Nine bucks? Is she diseased or something?” “Dude, that’s Anderson’s girl! Didn’t she just scream her lungs out in the next room? Anderson, how could you let someone like her go? She’s a rare find!” Shane Anderson chuckled coldly. “Are you kidding? She’s blind. And after what happened at the train station—getting stripped down in front of everyone, with her photos all over the internet—I couldn’t even bring myself to look at her. She’s disgusting.” “She cost Tessa her job. A heartless, disabled piece of trash like her doesn’t even deserve the $10 price tag,” another voice chimed in. The room erupted in laughter. Their vile comments were like daggers, and I felt as though I had been plunged into an icy abyss. My trembling fingers managed to send a single message to my professor: “Professor, my vision has been restored. I’m ready to accept the offer to study abroad.” “She can’t see, so keep it down. Don’t scare her too much.” “Weren’t you planning to marry her a few days ago? Feeling guilty, Anderson?” someone teased. Shane Anderson snorted like he’d just heard the funniest joke of the year. “Marry her? The Anderson family would never allow a blind woman through our doors. And besides, after what Tessa’s been through, this is nothing. Letting her think it’s still me she’s with—that’s just for my own entertainment. Keeping her around makes it easier to break her down.” As he spoke, the screen of the private theater suddenly lit up. Playing on the massive display was a silent clip of Shane and me—intimate, recorded just minutes earlier. “Just made a little video,” Shane announced with a smirk. “No sound, so you can enjoy it while you play.” “Don’t worry, there are no cameras in here. Have fun.” My hands trembled as I tried to button my shirt. Shane had always loved dragging me to strange places—parks, parking garages, and now a private theater. I thought it was just another one of his quirks. But now, trapped in the suffocatingly narrow space, I could feel the crushing weight of humiliation pressing down on me. Footsteps outside the door grew louder and louder. Panicking, I leapt off the balcony. For three years, I thought Shane Anderson was my light in the darkness. He never minded my blindness and even traveled the world with me, seeking out the best specialists to restore my vision. When I finally regained my sight, I couldn’t wait to surprise him. I booked the earliest train ticket to his city and arrived at the station. Shane even asked Tessa, his best friend who worked there, to “take care of me.” I had heard whispers before—if the Brown family hadn’t gone bankrupt, the Andersons and Browns would have been joined by marriage long ago. But Tessa had always reassured me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Relax. Shane and I have known each other forever. If we wanted to be together, it would’ve happened long ago. I’m not interested in him.” I believed her. Naively. But at the security checkpoint, Tessa accused me of carrying a concealed weapon. She demanded that I strip for inspection. Using my blindness as an excuse, she tore my clothes off herself, leaving me completely exposed. Only after she “found” a knife—God knows where she pulled it from—did she let me go, smugly advising me to “be more careful next time.” A girl nearby, outraged by what she witnessed, called the railway authority to file a complaint. Tessa tried to get Shane to smooth things over for her, but instead, he forced her to apologize to me. By the end of the day, Tessa was fired for misconduct and barred from ever working in government or public enterprises again. Shane’s reaction was calm as ever. “She deserved it,” he said nonchalantly. But by that night, photos of me at the train station—humiliated and exposed—were spreading like wildfire online. And Shane? Shane Anderson listed me on a resale platform for $9.99, turning me into an object of ridicule and abuse. I was subjected to horrors I wouldn’t wish on anyone. And then Shane called. “Where the hell are you?” he demanded.

Dragging my injured leg, I slipped through the crowd and hid in a narrow alley. “I wasn’t feeling well,” I said over the phone, trying to keep my voice steady. “I noticed you weren’t around, and I couldn’t find the door… I accidentally fell off the balcony.” “You can’t see—why would you wander around? Stay where you are. I’m coming to get you,” Shane’s voice replied, laced with impatience. The memory of those men’s disgusting laughter flashed through my mind, sending shivers down my spine. “It’s fine. Someone already took me to the hospital. I’m okay now,” I lied, cutting the call before he could respond. Just then, a voice message popped up on my phone—it was my professor, her tone filled with excitement. “Good girl! You finally made up your mind. I’ll handle the application paperwork immediately. We leave in seven days!” She paused, then sighed. “The Anderson family’s wealth and influence must have caused you so much pain before your surgery. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?” Her unexpected concern undid me. Every emotion I had been suppressing came flooding out. I had once dreamed of standing proudly beside Shane Anderson. I worked hard, earned a scholarship, and even secured an opportunity to study abroad. But Shane rejected it on my behalf, claiming it wasn’t safe for a blind woman to live overseas alone. Instead, he found me a job as a massage therapist in Bayview, insisting I didn’t need to work so hard. “Focus on being my future wife,” he’d said with a smile. Little did I know, it was all just a game to keep me entertained while he waited for Tessa Brown. Thankfully, my professor never gave up on me. When I got home that night, I saw Tessa’s latest post on social media. The photo showed her holding an employee badge from Anderson Enterprises, captioned: “A million-dollar goal, here I come! @ShaneAnderson.” Shane had replied: “I’ll be waiting for you.” I stared at the screen, the bitterness rising in my chest. After graduation, I had applied to Anderson Enterprises, but they hired someone far less qualified than me. When I asked Shane about it, he brushed it off, saying he couldn’t interfere with “company policies.” Now, it was clear—I simply wasn’t worthy enough for him to bend the rules. I liked Tessa’s post sarcastically and fell into a restless sleep. The next morning, I prepared to hand in my resignation at the massage parlor. But as soon as I arrived at the door, Shane was there, blocking my path. He leaned in close, his breath warm against my neck. “You ran off so quickly last night. Want to try something fun here today?” His playful tone made me sick to my stomach. I couldn’t stop the image of the group chat from flashing in my mind. “Shane, you’ve tried so many wild places with Leah. Why don’t you take Tessa somewhere exciting too?” “Nah, the outside world is filthy. I wouldn’t let Tessa go to places like that.” It all made sense now. In three years of dating, Shane had never once taken me to his house. I was nothing more than a disposable distraction, while Tessa was the one he truly cherished. I moved to step around him, but he grabbed my wrist, his voice turning serious. “You saw Tessa’s post, didn’t you? Where are your glasses?” I quickly hid my resignation letter behind my back. “It was an accident. I didn’t mean to.” Before I could say more, Tessa appeared from behind him, her tone dripping with mock sweetness. “Sis, why don’t you invite me in? Shane came all this way to make sure I apologized to you in person.” Her words reeked of sarcasm, and her posture with Shane was far too intimate. My voice turned cold. “No need. I don’t accept.” Tessa feigned a sigh. “Come on, Leah. I was just doing my job. It wasn’t personal. If you drop the complaint, I can get my job back. It’ll be better for everyone.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Better for everyone? Who’s going to erase the photos of me that are still circulating online? Who’s going to give me back my dignity?” Shane’s grip on my wrist tightened. “You’re blind. Just pretend you don’t know about it. Leah, since when did you become so heartless?” Pain shot through my injured ankle, and I lost my balance, collapsing to the ground. My resignation letter slipped from my grasp. Shane’s expression softened for a moment, and he bent down to help me. But Tessa stepped in first, crouching beside me with a smug smile. “Forget it, Shane. She has every right to be mad at me. I’ll come by a few more times to show her how sorry I am. She’ll forgive me eventually.” She turned to Shane with a pout. “By the way, aren’t you supposed to take me to the office today? You promised to help with my onboarding paperwork. Don’t flake on me.” Before leaving, Tessa stepped on my resignation letter, grinding it under her heel. They left together, laughing and teasing each other. Later, Shane sent me a voice message: “You’ve always wanted to work at Anderson Enterprises, haven’t you? Once your eyes are fully healed, if you drop the complaint against Tessa, I’ll personally bring you into the company.” In the background, I could hear Tessa giggling. I didn’t reply. After handing my resignation letter to the shop owner, she smiled warmly. “Your eyes are better now? Shane must be thrilled!” I shook my head. “He doesn’t know. Please keep it a secret.”

The day before I planned to leave, Shane Anderson rented out a private yacht to throw himself a grand birthday party. As his girlfriend, I was expected to attend. The moment I stepped on board, I felt the weight of all the judgmental stares. Their hushed voices weren’t hushed at all. “Can you believe a blind girl has the nerve to hang onto Shane Anderson as his girlfriend? A masseuse, no less. God knows how many people have had their hands on her.” “I heard she got stripped at the train station. How does she still have the guts to show her face? If it were me, I’d have jumped overboard already.” The sharp scent of flowers hit me like a slap. My skin began to itch and burn as hives broke out across my body. I was allergic to pollen. Shane knew this. But as I looked around, the entire venue was decorated with white roses—symbolizing pure love. The centerpiece of the display? Photos of Shane and Tessa Brown. “I’m having an allergic reaction,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. “I need to go take my medication.” Shane ignored me, pulling me closer instead. “I’ve got fireworks planned just for you. Stay with me a little longer, alright?” Soon, the sky lit up, the fireworks reflecting off the ocean waves. Leaning close, Shane whispered in my ear, his voice gentle and full of affection: “My birthday wish is to be with you, Leah, forever and always.” If my vision hadn’t been restored, I might have believed the sincerity in his eyes. But the fireworks that Shane claimed were “just for me” spelled out Tessa’s name in bright, glowing letters. Laughter erupted around us. Someone shouted, “Kiss! Anderson, give her a kiss!” Shane smiled, tugged my hand—and kissed Tessa instead. Cheers filled the air as they kissed passionately, completely ignoring me. Then I felt it—an unfamiliar pair of lips suddenly pressing against mine. Shane had signaled to one of the men nearby, and now this stranger was kissing me. The cheers grew louder as Shane and Tessa continued their display, while I was left reeling, my mind blank. How many times had Shane played out this sick scene behind my back while I was blind? No wonder he was so confident, so practiced. The way they looked at me—like I was some kind of circus act—made my stomach churn. “I’m leaving,” I said, grabbing my white cane and stumbling through the crowd. The yacht hadn’t docked yet, so I found a small storage room to hide in. As I sat there, trembling, my phone buzzed. Shane had posted a new listing on the same resale platform. To appease the growing number of buyers, he added a new photo: me in the lace dress I was wearing that night, a bow tied around my waist like I was some kind of gift waiting to be unwrapped. Just then, I heard voices outside the door. “Anderson says she can’t see. As long as we keep quiet, she won’t even know we’ve swapped out.” “Man, there’s so many of us. She’s gonna have the night of her life.” “Should we give her something first? You know, to loosen her up?” Their laughter echoed in the narrow hallway, their words sending a chill down my spine. Then my phone rang. Shane’s name lit up on the screen. Panicking, I silenced it immediately, praying the sound of the waves had drowned it out. I stayed frozen until their voices faded away, then quietly slipped back into the main cabin. When I opened the door to my room, the lights came on. Shane was there, leaning casually against the wall, a group of strange men standing behind him. Their eyes roamed over me, greedy and predatory. I felt bile rise in my throat as I tried to play it cool, pretending I hadn’t noticed anything. I took a step toward the door, desperate to escape. A hand suddenly grabbed my waist. The room erupted into laughter. Someone even whistled. Shane glared at the man who had touched me, then pulled me into his arms. “It’s fine. It’s just me,” he murmured. Then, as if nothing had happened, he added, “These guys are curious about your massage skills. Why don’t you give them a session?” I shook my head instantly, pulling away from him. “It’s my birthday, Leah. Don’t ruin the mood.” Gripping his sleeve, I pleaded with him, my voice breaking. “I don’t want to stay here anymore. Please take me home.” Before Shane could respond, Tessa appeared out of nowhere. She crouched down, meeting my gaze with a smirk as she tilted my chin up. “You want to leave?” she said sweetly. “Fine. Eat this gummy first.”

I grabbed the gummy from Tessa’s hand and swallowed it without thinking. Almost instantly, the room erupted in cheers. “Too late now,” Tessa sneered, grinding her heel into my palm, twisting it cruelly. “This is a new kind of aphrodisiac,” she said mockingly. “Perfect for someone like you. Who told you to cross me, huh? Shane treats me like a queen, protects me like I’m his everything. And you? Leah, you’re nothing more than his plaything—a blind masseuse who doesn’t know her place. Do you really think you’re his girlfriend? If I weren’t trying to make my own way in life, you wouldn’t even be in the picture.” I tried to move, to escape, but my body betrayed me as the strength drained out of me. One of the men in the room suddenly ripped my dress. “Well, we were going to make this fun for you, but you figured it out too soon. No matter—don’t keep the boys waiting. You can’t see anyway, so it doesn’t matter who it is, right?” As the last shred of my dignity was stripped away, I reached out a trembling hand toward Shane, praying for a sliver of mercy. He stood in the doorway, watching from a distance, shielding Tessa’s eyes with his hand. “Don’t look,” he murmured to her. “It’s dirty.” Before leaving, he glanced back one last time. “Go easy on her,” he said to the men. “And make sure she takes enough of the drug so she won’t remember anything tomorrow.” “Got it, boss. Nine bucks and ninety-nine cents, right? We’ll send the payment when we’re done.” When I woke up, Shane was sitting by my bedside, his eyes filled with feigned concern. Next to him sat Tessa, her expression as smug as ever. “Leah, thank God you’re awake,” Shane said, his voice soft. “You fell off the deck last night. I thought I’d lost you forever.” “Yeah, Leah,” Tessa chimed in, her tone dripping with mock sympathy. “What happened to you? You’re covered in bruises. If I didn’t know you fell into the ocean, I’d think something else happened…” I stared at the bruises and marks covering my body as the memories came rushing back—being stripped, dragged by my hair, held underwater in the bathtub. The laughter. The suffocating darkness. The overlapping shadows. I gripped the bedsheets tightly, gasping for air like I’d just narrowly escaped drowning. Shane shot Tessa a warning glare, then reached out to pat my hand in what he probably thought was a comforting gesture. But Tessa wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss right in front of me. Their breaths grew heavier as they made no attempt to hide their passion. I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. The anger, humiliation, and heartbreak threatened to overwhelm me. It took me a long time to find my voice. “Shane,” I said, my voice trembling. “If you’re not feeling well, you should go home. I’d like to be alone.” Shane hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright,” he said hoarsely, before scooping Tessa into his arms and leaving without a second thought. The moment they were gone, I snapped. I tore through the hospital room, smashing everything within reach. When there was nothing left to destroy, I grabbed my ID and phone, threw on whatever clothes I could find, and hailed a cab to the airport. On the way, I made the mistake of checking the resale platform Shane had used to list me. Underneath his post, there were “reviews” left by buyers—photos and videos of me from the night before. The torn dress. The disheveled hair. The familiar room filled with strangers. My hands shook as I slammed my phone shut and yanked out the SIM card, throwing it out the window. When I arrived at the airport, still wearing my hospital gown, my professor was waiting. She didn’t ask any questions, simply took my hand and held it tightly. “You’re here. That’s all that matters,” she said gently. Before boarding the plane, I erased every trace of my identity back home. Ten hours later, I landed in a new country, free at last. What I didn’t know was that back home, Shane had returned to the hospital, staring at the mess I’d left behind. “Where’s the patient?” he demanded, his voice filled with panic. “She’s blind! How could you let her leave on her own?” The doctor looked confused. “Mr. Anderson,” the doctor said cautiously, “Miss Leah completed her final treatment in Capital City last week. Her vision has been fully restored for days now. Didn’t she tell you?”

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My husband hated me for a lifetime because I couldn’t save Ava Moore, the woman on the operating table. He forced me to terminate my pregnancy, his eyes filled with rage. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? Because she was my first love, you let her die!” But later, when a patient’s enraged family came to attack me, he shielded me from the fatal blow. I tried everything to save him, but he gave up his will to live. “I can finally… see Ava again…” At the morgue, my father-in-law blocked me from entering. “You cursed us! One wasn’t enough—you had to take my son, too!” His eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse with grief and fury. No one stood up for me. To everyone, it seemed like I was the source of all their misfortune. When I woke up in the past, I put down the scalpel and said calmly, “Give my heart to Ava Moore.” This time, I would step aside and give them their happiness. When I announced my decision, the entire operating room fell silent. The head nurse stared at me in disbelief. “Are you out of your mind? If you give her your heart, what happens to you?” I answered calmly, “Ava will get my heart, and I’ll take an artificial one.” He tried to reason with me. “Artificial hearts are still experimental. They come with serious risks and side effects. We don’t even recommend them for our patients unless it’s a last resort.” I shook my head, cutting him off. “There’s no need to say more. I’ve made my decision. Schedule the surgery right now.” This time, I would make sure Ava survived. In my previous life, I spent 32 hours in the operating room trying to save her. When I finally walked out, exhausted, I was met with a stinging slap from Mason . His bloodshot eyes burned into mine as he demanded, “Why? Why couldn’t you save Ava? Aren’t you supposed to be the best surgeon in the city?” I couldn’t answer. His disappointment crushed me, and I fainted from sheer exhaustion. When I woke up, I was met with devastating news: Mason had made me terminate our baby. When I confronted him, his voice was full of hatred. “She was my first love, and you let her die on purpose, didn’t you?” “Someone as vile as you doesn’t deserve to have a child!” The thought of our unborn baby twisted my heart with pain. My uterine wall had been too thin, and during the procedure, I’d hemorrhaged badly. The damage was irreversible—I’d never be able to have children again. Mason used to love kids. Losing the chance to be a father would become one of his deepest regrets. This time, I would make sure he had no regrets. Ava. The baby. And… The marriage he had always wanted to leave behind. The surgery was a success. When the operating room doors opened, both Ava and I were wheeled out on stretchers. Mason rushed in immediately, his focus entirely on Ava. Tears streamed down his face as he grabbed her hand. “Ava, are you okay? Please don’t leave me. Don’t leave me alone in this world.” He began to cry harder, his voice breaking. “Where’s Rachel? She’s the best doctor in the city—why couldn’t she save you?” The head nurse interrupted him coldly, barely able to contain her anger. “The patient didn’t die. She’s still unconscious because of the anesthesia.” She pointed at the other stretcher. “And Rachel? She’s right here. Do you even know what she did for Ava?” The nurse caught my pleading glance and bit her tongue. She didn’t reveal the truth about how I’d given Ava my heart. Instead, she said, “Rachel collapsed from exhaustion in the operating room, all for Ava’s sake. You’re her husband—don’t you feel even a little guilty?” Mason finally noticed me—my pale face, my barely breathing body. His anger faded, replaced by a flicker of guilt. He bit his lip, hesitating for a long moment before whispering, “Rachel… thank you for saving Ava.” I forced a weak smile and gestured for him to step closer. He looked confused but still obeyed, moving toward my bedside. My voice was barely audible as I pleaded, “Mason… promise me. No matter what happens, don’t take this baby away from me.” This was the second thing I needed to do for him: give him the chance to be a father. Mason froze, his expression conflicted. For a brief moment, something soft flashed in his eyes. “Ava and I… it’s not what you think,” he said quietly. “I’m not going to leave you for her. And I won’t make you terminate the pregnancy. Stop overthinking things.” I didn’t respond. In my previous life, he didn’t leave me either. But in the end, we became nothing more than bitter strangers. He resented me until his dying breath. This time, I wouldn’t let that happen. I opened my mouth to tell him I wanted a divorce, but before I could speak, a sound came from the bed next to mine. Ava’s fingers twitched. She was waking up. Mason immediately straightened, his focus shifting entirely to her. Without hesitation, he rushed to her bedside, leaving me behind. Watching his retreating back, a bitter smile tugged at my lips. No matter how many times I was reborn, Ava would always be the one who mattered most to him. 2 After lying in bed for several days, Mason finally found time to visit me a few times. With a tone of irritation, he said, “Why are you weaker than Ava Moore? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were the one who just had surgery.” After saying that, his expression shifted slightly, as if he regretted his words. He added with a touch of guilt, “Anyway, you’re only in this state because of Ava. She just told me earlier that once she’s feeling better, she wants to throw a big party to thank you properly.” “I know you’ve always held a grudge against her because of my past with her, but we’re married now.” At the mention of marriage, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He paused for a moment before continuing. “It’s over between Ava and me. Don’t overthink it. Let’s just focus on living our lives.” As he spoke, he reached out and gently took my hand. The warmth of his hand against mine made my chest tighten. If this had been my previous life, hearing these words would have made me so happy I’d forget everything else. But after everything I’ve been through, I knew better. Ava still held a place in his heart. His promises to me now were nothing more than an obligation to honor our marriage. I pulled my hand back, looked at him calmly, and said softly, “I know you still have feelings for Ava. I’m willing to let go and give you two my blessing. Don’t worry—I’ll explain everything to my parents.” I didn’t expect Mason’s expression to darken so quickly at my words. His eyes locked onto mine, his voice rising in frustration. “Rachel, what nonsense are you talking about now? I told you—it’s over between Ava and me!” “What do you mean by this? Are you accusing me of betraying you? Can you stop assuming the worst about everything?” I tried to get up, reaching for his sleeve to explain, but a sharp pain shot through my chest. I collapsed back onto the bed. Seeing my pale face, Mason’s expression turned cold. “What are you trying to pull this time? You’re not the one who had surgery, yet you’ve been lying in bed for days. Isn’t that enough?” “Ava was right—you’ve been faking this whole time, haven’t you? Trying to make us feel guilty for you?” “Rachel, you’re a doctor. Saving lives is your job. Don’t think you can use this as leverage against us!” Every “us” he uttered was a reminder that, to him, I was the villain who tore them apart. I tried to smile bitterly, but all I managed was a faint twitch of my lips. The pain in my chest was so overwhelming, it felt like I might pass out. When he noticed the cold sweat beading on my forehead, Mason’s tone wavered with unease. “Rachel, stop pretending. I’m not falling for it!” “What’s wrong with you? Someone get in here! Nurse! Is anyone there?” The head nurse rushed in with a team, quickly starting an examination. Mason was pushed out of the room, left to watch anxiously through the glass. For a moment, I caught a glimpse of the worry on his face. But it didn’t bring me any comfort. Maybe he was only worried because if something happened to me, Ava would owe me even more. Thanks to the medical team’s efforts, my condition eventually stabilized. The head nurse let out a long sigh and scolded me, “I warned you, didn’t I? Artificial hearts come with side effects, but you wouldn’t listen!” “Look at you now! If we hadn’t acted quickly, you wouldn’t have made it this time!” Mason happened to walk in just as she finished speaking. He couldn’t help but interject. “What do you mean, she wouldn’t have made it? She was just exhausted from too many surgeries, wasn’t she? She just needs more rest.” His eyes shifted between me and the nurse, suspicion creeping into his expression, as if he thought we were hiding something from him. The nurse, clearly annoyed, snapped, “Why don’t you ask her yourself?” I forced a weak smile and said lightly, “I’ve just been overworking myself recently. I need some time to recover, that’s all.” The nurse sighed but didn’t say anything more. Mason stood in silence for a while before walking over to change the water in the flower vase on my bedside table. When he placed a fresh bouquet of calla lilies into the vase, I couldn’t hide my surprise. “How did you know calla lilies are my favorite flower?” He pressed his lips together, avoiding my gaze. “You mentioned it before.” I suddenly remembered. When we first moved into our new home, his parents had suggested adding fresh flowers for a more lively atmosphere. I’d casually mentioned calla lilies at the time. I hadn’t thought he’d remember something so trivial. Staring at the pristine white flowers, a complicated mix of emotions welled up inside me. Finally, I asked the question that had been buried in my heart for two lifetimes. “If Ava had come back before we got married… would you still have married me?” Mason’s hand froze. He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he frowned in confusion. “Why are you asking something like that? We’re already married. What’s the point of bringing this up now?” But I refused to let it go. I locked eyes with him, determined. “I need an answer. Can you be honest with me?” A flicker of guilt crossed his face. He turned his head, avoiding my gaze. After a long pause, I finally heard him mutter under his breath, “No.” The sword that had been hanging over my head finally fell. Any lingering hope I had been clinging to shattered completely. Seeing the pain on my face, Mason’s tone softened, a rare hint of panic in his voice. “But that’s just a hypothetical. The reality is, we’re married now. Those ‘what ifs’ don’t matter. I’m not going to leave you or get back together with Ava.” He abruptly stood, pulling the blanket over me. “Focus on getting better. Once you’re well…” He hesitated, his expression hardening with resolve. “We’ll move to the next city over. I won’t have any more contact with Ava—ever again.” After saying that, he slumped slightly, as if the decision had drained him, then turned and left the room without looking back. I watched his retreating figure and pressed the call button by my bed. When the head nurse returned, she looked at me, confused. “Can you help me print a divorce agreement?” I asked softly. If there’s no love, then I’m willing to let go completely. This will be the last thing I ever do for Mason . 3 After a few days of recovery, I was finally able to get out of bed. The first thing I did was go find Mason . As expected, he was in Ava Moore’s hospital room. During this time, Mason had requested to stay by her side, taking care of her 24/7. Through the glass window, I could see Ava saying something that made him laugh. I stood there quietly, watching. Mason rarely smiled like that when he was with me. In our time together, it was either silence or arguments. Moments of joy like this were almost nonexistent. Maybe separating was the right choice after all. I knocked on the door, breaking the moment between them. Mason turned to see me, his expression instantly flustered. He stood up quickly, looking like he was about to explain something. But before he could speak, Ava started coughing violently, cutting him off. Mason immediately turned all his attention to her, rushing to pour a glass of warm water. He gently helped her drink it, his face full of concern. As Ava cast me a smug, triumphant glance, I stood there silently, my heart calm. When Mason had finished helping her, I stepped forward and handed him the paperwork I was holding. “This is Ava’s treatment plan. It requires your signature.” Ava had been born with a congenital heart condition. Her parents had abandoned her years ago, considering her a burden. Since then, Mason had been the one signing off on all her medical procedures. He took the documents from me, skimmed through a few pages, and quickly signed them without much thought. As I watched him sign the final page, the weight in my chest began to lift. “Mason,” I said softly, “could you leave us for a moment? I need to talk to Ava alone.” Mason hesitated for a moment, but eventually, he nodded and left, closing the door behind him. The moment the door clicked shut, the gentle expression on Ava’s face disappeared. She looked at me with disdain. “What is it? Did you come to beg me to leave Mason?” I shook my head, my tone calm. “No. I’m the one leaving. Mason and I are already divorced. I just hope you’ll take good care of him from now on.” Ava froze, staring at me in disbelief. “You actually divorced him? I thought you loved him so much you’d never let go.” Bitterness welled up inside me. What good is love when it’s one-sided? I had learned the hard way that forcing something will never lead to happiness. Remembering something important, I added, “I’m still carrying Mason’s child. The baby is innocent. After you two are together, I hope you’ll keep the child.” Ava blinked in surprise, then let out a derisive laugh. “Are you insane? You expect me to raise another woman’s child?” I frowned, trying to stay calm. “I’ll provide child support. If you don’t want to raise the baby, I can take care of them myself. You won’t have to pay a dime.” Ava’s face turned cold as she sneered, “What does his kid have to do with me? If you want to keep it, fine, but you’d better take it away and raise it yourself.” She paused, then added with a smirk, “But if you want me to deal with your mess, you’d better pay me. Call it… emotional damages. If I’m going to take over, you’d better come up with something worthwhile.” I stared at her, stunned. Ava had always acted so devoted and selfless in front of Mason. It was that image of her that had made me willing to step aside for them. But now, I realized what kind of person she truly was. “Are you with him just for the money?” I asked, my voice shaking with anger. Ava glanced at me, then let out a mocking laugh. “What else? Where else am I supposed to find someone stupid enough to pay for all my treatments?” The rage inside me boiled over. I grabbed her by the collar, my voice trembling as I prepared to speak. But before I could say a word, the sound of the door unlocking interrupted us. “Bang!” Ava twisted her body and deliberately threw herself off the bed, landing clumsily on the floor. She sat there in a heap, looking pathetic. “Mason burst into the room, his eyes wide with anger. “Rachel! What the hell are you doing?”

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I Became a Fidelity Tester to Save My Sick Father To earn quick money for my critically ill father’s treatment, I became a fidelity tester. With no experience, I struggled to land my first job. It came from a wealthy young woman who wanted me to test her boyfriend’s loyalty. Following her instructions, I deliberately seduced her boyfriend at a bar and succeeded. The next day, I sent her the evidence of her boyfriend’s infidelity as agreed. Just when I thought the transaction would go smoothly, she replied, “You knew he was taken and still seduced him. How shameless can you be?” I was bewildered when I saw this message, my face flushing hot with embarrassment. I wanted to curse back, but for the sake of that life-saving money for my dad, I politely responded, “Miss Tang, you asked me to do this. Besides, this is how we usually conduct these tests in our line of work.” But Olivia Tang wouldn’t listen to reason. “Bitch! You’re just a slut who throws herself at any man. What are you, a bitch in heat?” With trembling hands, I typed back, “I’m truly sorry I couldn’t meet your expectations, Miss Tang. But I did exactly as you asked. Can we settle the payment now?” Olivia Tang never replied again. I thought she might be busy, so I waited patiently. But instead of the money she owed me, I saw her lovey-dovey SnapChat post. In the photo, she was kissing Ryan’s cheek with the caption “Sorry I doubted you, baby.” I nearly lost my balance. I was terrified. Afraid she wouldn’t pay me. My dad urgently needed that money. The silver lining was that Olivia Tang couldn’t just disappear. Since the Tang family was quite well-known in the city, I went straight to one of their company buildings and knelt at the entrance. Even when security tried to chase me away, I refused to leave. The incident quickly blew up online. Olivia Tang saw it too. She called me, yelling, “Are you insane? What the hell are you trying to do? Stop causing trouble for me, will you?” “Miss Tang, I just want the money I’m owed. Once you pay me, I’ll leave immediately. Please, my father is critically ill. We desperately need this money to save his life.” Olivia cursed, “You seduced my boyfriend and now you want me to pay you? Are you out of your mind? I may be rich, but I’m not stupid! Besides, did we sign a contract? Do you have any proof that I’m obligated to pay you? Even if we had a contract, I’m not afraid. Go ahead and sue me if you dare.” “Your dad’s sick? Then just let him die! What’s that got to do with me? You uneducated poor people don’t create any value for society anyway. You’re just wasting resources by being alive.” I bit my lower lip until it bled to hold back the urge to curse her out. “If you don’t pay me, I’ll kneel here every day. As soon as you pay, I’ll disappear and never bother you again.” Olivia scoffed on the other end of the line. “Hah, are you threatening me? Fine, I’ll give you the money. It’s cash though. Your dad’s critically ill and needs money urgently, right? Okay, I’ll have someone deliver the cash to your place tomorrow. Give me your address.” Olivia asked for my address. I hesitated for a moment but still gave it to her. As long as I got that money, anything was fine. After I gave her my address, Olivia immediately hung up. I wiped away my tears and stood up, heading home under everyone’s stares. But soon after, my phone started ringing non-stop. I thought it was spam messages, so I ignored it. Later, when it got too annoying, I put my phone on silent and glanced at the messages. That one glance made my head spin. Without exception, all the messages began with the name “Ethan Young”. I knew this name all too well. Ethan Young, my boyfriend of ten years, from our student days until now. Now these messages were coming to my phone, each one saying: debt overdue. I completely broke down and rushed back home. Ethan was in the living room, looking down at his phone, scratching his head in circles. I took out my phone and showed him those messages. “What’s this about debt being overdue?” A flash of panic crossed Ethan’s eyes. He crouched down, pulling at his hair. “I don’t know.” “You don’t know? Your name is all over these messages and you don’t know? Did you really take out online loans? When did this happen? How much do you owe in total?” “I said I don’t know. I haven’t calculated it. I just played around on some websites at first. It wasn’t much in the beginning. Damn it! They promised to give me an extension. They said they wouldn’t blast my contact list…” “Not only did you take out loans, but you also gambled online? Ethan, how could you do this? We’re engaged! How… how… Did you want me to help pay off your loans after we got married?” Ethan suddenly got agitated. “It was all for you! Where else was I supposed to get money to buy you gifts? Valentine’s Day gifts, anniversary gifts, Christmas gifts – I might as well have sent you gifts on Memorial Day too!” “Where was I supposed to find money to take you out to eat and play if I didn’t borrow? I know your family is poor. I’ve spent so much money on you and never complained about you having a deadbeat dad to support. Now you’re questioning me? I haven’t even spent this much on my own mother!” My lips trembled. “So you’re saying this is all my fault? If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have gambled online? If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have taken out loans? You know very well whether you used those loans to spend on me or to pay off debts. Look at the numbers in these messages. Even if you took me out to eat and bought me gifts for a hundred years, you couldn’t owe this much!” “My dad may be sick, but I’ve earned all the money for his treatment myself. I’ve never spent a cent of your money on that! You know my background, yet you talk about my dad like that. We’re done!” Ethan suddenly exploded. “Done? Fine, fine, fine! Gold digger, huh? You were all smiles when I had money to spend on you. Now that I’m broke and in debt, you want to break up. How thick-skinned can you be? Disgusting!” “Fine, let’s break up. You want to get nasty? Then let’s get nasty! Now it’s my turn to ask you!” He took out his phone and showed it to me, then questioned me: “I didn’t want to say anything at first. I wanted to give you a chance, wanted to save you some face. But now I see there’s no need. You’re just that kind of person. It’s no surprise you’d do such shameless things! You have no shame left, so I don’t need to save face for you either!” “I was wondering why you suddenly quit your job. Turns out you went to seduce the Tang family heiress’s boyfriend, wanting to be a mistress, trying to get their money. Calling you a mistress is too kind! Hah, you even wanted to become the official girlfriend.” “Spreading your legs in other people’s beds to make money – that’s easier than my way of earning, huh? How about we don’t break up? You can go let that Chen guy sleep with you a few more times. That should be enough to pay off my debts. Then I’ll change my ways, and we can live a good life together. Haha!” “No wonder your parents abandoned you! If I were them, I’d have dumped you too!” As Ethan spoke, he started laughing at me. His phone was playing a video showing me kneeling at the entrance of the Tang family’s company. It said I was a mistress who seduced Olivia Tang’s boyfriend, using this method to force Olivia and Ryan to break up so I could take her place. But Olivia and Ryan’s love was too strong, so I failed. The comments section was unbearable to read. Ethan suddenly started laughing: “Hahaha! Keep pretending! Go on, keep pretending! I never imagined you were so hypocritical. I wasted ten years on you! Trash father raises trash child.” I was terrified. I felt like Ethan had gone mad, like he was possessed. He was no longer the Ethan I knew. He had become a stranger. The things I once confided in him had now become daggers stabbing at me. I remember telling him once that my dad had found me abandoned, that he had raised me by collecting and selling scrap. That my birth parents had thrown me away. I still remember how he had hugged me gently then, comforting me softly. But the him now was completely different from the him back then. My heart was being torn to pieces. I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that I wasn’t a mistress, but the words wouldn’t come out. I had no strength left to speak. There was no point anymore. “It’s over,” I suddenly said weakly. “Get out. We’re done. Never see each other again.” My voice had gotten quieter, and the room suddenly became much more silent. Ethan plopped down on the sofa. “We rented this place together. What right do you have to kick me out? Are you going to pay me back for the rent I’ve paid? If you can’t stand me, you can leave. I’m not stopping you.” “Do whatever you want,” I replied with a cold laugh, then turned and left. This rented apartment was suffocating me. I went to the hospital, breathing in the smell of disinfectant, listening to the cold beeping of machines, taking care of my dad lying in the hospital bed, chatting with him. Looking at the wrinkles on my dad’s face and hands, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I lay on top of him and started sobbing loudly. Dad patted my back and asked, “Sweetie, what’s wrong? Tell Dad. Is the pressure too much? I’ve told you, I’m fine now. We can leave the hospital and go home. I’m all better, no need for more treatment.” “Is the work pressure too much? Did your boss yell at you? If you’re being mistreated, we can quit. Come back home, Dad can still support you.” I sobbed, “Dad… it’s not… it’s not that. I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Dad… Work… earning money is so… so slow, I earn so… so little. It’s not like what I thought. I’m sorry, Dad!” Dad didn’t say anything more, just quietly patted my back. I looked up. Dad’s eyes were staring straight at me, filled with a smile and fatherly love. Just then, my phone rang. A message from an unknown number asked me to test her husband’s fidelity. The price offered was very high. More money never hurts. Another job means more security. I wiped away my tears, said goodbye to Dad, and left. Following the information on my phone, I arrived at the location the client specified – a quiet bar. I looked around but couldn’t find the target matching the client’s description. I took out my phone, about to send a message to ask, when suddenly someone blew a breath of air by my ear. “You fidelity testers are wearing $19.99 dresses from Amazon to act now?” A man’s voice said teasingly. I jumped, startled, and turned around. The man standing behind me was none other than Ryan Chen! I looked at his playful expression and asked, “You sent that message?” “Mm-hmm.” “You knew from the beginning?” “I knew. How else could I play along with you guys?” I asked him, “Then does Olivia know that you know?” Ryan smiled and said, “She knows. That stupid woman, a few sweet words and she’s fine. After I told her I knew, she even apologized to me for not trusting me. I told her how you tried to seduce me. You should have seen how jealous she got.” Feeling disgusted, I didn’t want to say more and turned to leave. But Ryan suddenly reached out and pulled me into his arms. “The game is more fun when played as a team. How about we go another round? I’ll help you piss off that stupid woman.” I broke free from his embrace. “No need.” Right now, I was only thinking about getting the money Olivia had promised to give me tomorrow, helping Dad get better, cutting ties with Ethan cleanly, then taking Dad away from here to start a new life. I walked towards the exit. Ryan overtook me in a few steps, then turned to walk backwards, making a phone gesture at me. “You have my number, right? Call me tomorrow.” “Why would I call you?” Ryan just smiled charmingly without answering, then turned and left. I took out my phone and blocked his number. I didn’t go back to the rented apartment. Instead, I went to the hospital and stayed with Dad all night. Early the next morning, I got a call from Olivia Tang. Olivia said, “I’m having someone deliver the money to you now, okay?” “Alright, I’m heading back to get it now.” After hanging up, I rushed back to the apartment. As soon as I got back, I was stunned. The door was open. Everything inside had been smashed to pieces. It was a complete mess. Ethan was curled up on the floor, his face bruised and swollen. Several burly men stood around him, looking like trouble. “What’s going on?” I asked in shock. A tattooed man turned to look at me. “This guy owes money and can’t pay up! We’re teaching him a lesson!” Just as he finished speaking, a bald man started to move. The bald man took out a knife, crouched down, and said to Ethan, “Since you can’t pay, we’ll take something else as payment.” Saying that, he started pulling at Ethan’s hand. Ethan immediately started howling, “No! No! I’ll pay! I’ll definitely pay!” “Aria! Help me! Help me! They’re really going to cut off my hand! Help me! Lend me some money! I’ll pay you back, I swear!” The bald man turned to ask me, “You gonna help him pay?” I shook my head. “I don’t have money to help him pay.” Ethan started cursing at me. Just then, another man wearing glasses walked in. The man with glasses asked, “Excuse me, is this Miss Thompson’s home?” I turned and answered, “Yes, that’s me.” The man with glasses was very polite. He took out a black briefcase. “Miss Thompson, Miss Tang asked me to deliver this to you. The agreed-upon cash.” As he spoke, he opened the black briefcase. Inside was a pile of crisp cash. A glimmer of hope rose in my heart. Just as I was about to reach out and take it, Ethan suddenly got up from the floor, rushed over, and snatched the briefcase from the man’s hands. “What are you doing!” I grabbed the briefcase, confronting him. Ethan’s eyes were bloodshot now. He kicked me to the ground, then handed the briefcase full of cash to the bald man behind him. He fawned, “Boss… Boss, here’s the money, take it. I’ll pay back the rest later, okay? Can you let me off now? I promise I’ll pay it all back. Just give me some more time!” The bald man looked at the money, clearly pleased. “That’s more like it. Alright, I’ll give you another year for the rest. Let’s go, boys.” The bald man took the briefcase and was about to leave with his men. I tried to rush forward and grab the briefcase, but Ethan held me back tightly. No matter how much I screamed, hit, bit, or scratched him, he wouldn’t let go. The money was taken away. The man with glasses had disappeared at some point too. Only Ethan and I were left sitting exhausted on the floor of the wrecked apartment. “Ethan, you’ve gone crazy. You’ve really gone insane. That was my dad’s life-saving money!” I said in despair. Ethan stood up, kicking at the debris on the floor as he walked towards the bedroom. “You’ve spent plenty of my money over the past ten years anyway. Consider this paying me back. Hmph, you saw I was about to get my hand cut off and didn’t even flinch. Women really are the most poisonous.” The bedroom door closed. I left. I went to the hospital. I still had to bring food for my dad. Seeing my dad’s increasingly gaunt face, facing his worried eyes, I comforted him: “Everything will be okay, Dad. When you get better, we’ll go somewhere else. I’ll earn money and buy you a big house.” Dad’s lips turned down. “Sweetie, you’re troubled by something. You can’t hide it from Dad.” My nose stung. “Really, it’s nothing, Dad.”

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After receiving the tenth call from his mistress, I finally decided I’d had enough and asked for a divorce. All that talk about a business marriage and mutual benefits can go to hell. I just want to get away from that cheating bastard. When I told my mother-in-law about my plan to divorce in advance, she was silent for a long time. Then, suddenly, she said, “Lily, I’m coming with you. Take me with you when you leave.” What the hell? What’s going on here? I sat on the couch, stunned for a long time, doubting if I had heard correctly. Otherwise, how could I have heard such words? “Lily…” I looked up to meet my mother-in-law’s eager, expectant eyes and tentatively asked again, “Mom, what did you just say?” “I said, I’m coming with you. From now on, it’ll be just the two of us!” “But, Mom… James is your son…” To be honest, I never felt that my mother-in-law was particularly fond of me. When our families had dinner together to discuss the marriage, she barely said a word the entire time. After marrying James, every time we visited, she would only exchange a few pleasantries with me before ignoring me completely. So how could this same mother-in-law say she wanted to leave with me when I divorced her son? “Lily…” My mother-in-law came over and held my hand. “I mean every word.” “But… but how can you come with me? I’m leaving this family.” “I’m leaving too! I’m divorcing your father-in-law!” “What?” I stood up in shock, looking at my mother-in-law’s serious face in disbelief. “Mom, what are you saying?” You should know that in our city’s high society, James’s parents were considered a model couple. For the past thirty years, my father-in-law’s daily needs were all taken care of personally by my mother-in-law. She never relied on anyone else. “Lily, I’m serious. You divorce James, and I’ll testify about his affairs during your marriage. We’ll try to make sure he leaves with nothing. I’ll divorce your father-in-law and get half of the family assets. Then we can live together, buy a big house, hire seven or eight maids, and live comfortably for the rest of our lives.” Wait a minute… She’s got it all figured out? I couldn’t help but feel her forehead. “No fever…” “I’m telling the truth!” Seeing that I didn’t believe her, my mother-in-law hurried upstairs and came back with some papers. “Look at this.” I took the documents she handed me and my eyes widened again. “Divorce agreement?” My mother-in-law nodded solemnly. “I’ve got everything prepared. Now it’s up to you.” Seeing this divorce agreement made me start to believe that my mother-in-law was serious. I put down the agreement and looked at her, voicing my confusion, “Mom, I don’t understand. You never seemed to like me before, so why…” “Ah. I never got close to you before because I thought you had poor judgment for falling for James.” Me: “???” “I raised James myself until he was three years old. But after his third birthday, Robert’s family took him back to the family estate, saying they wanted to start grooming him as the heir from a young age. From age three to twelve, I could count on one hand the number of times I saw James.” As she said this, a worried look crossed my mother-in-law’s face. She continued, “But what you don’t know is that Robert’s mother never liked me from the start. She looked down on me because of my ordinary background and always felt I wasn’t good enough for Robert. Everything she did afterwards was just to drive a wedge between me and my son. Sadly, she succeeded. I’m sure you can see that James isn’t close to me…” Indeed, it was true. After marrying James, we rarely visited the family estate, except for major holidays. We mostly stayed at our own home. Even when we did visit the estate, James acted like a young master, expecting to be waited on hand and foot. He would occasionally get angry if the food his mother prepared didn’t suit his taste. At the time, I didn’t find it strange because James told me that his mother had sent him to live with his grandmother when he was young because she found him too mischievous and he interfered with her work. I never imagined the truth was like this. “But now it’s different. You want a divorce! This proves that you do have good judgment after all.” At this point, my mother-in-law’s eyes lit up as she looked at me. “These past three years, even though we haven’t interacted much, I’ve seen how you’ve treated James. Despite how terribly he’s behaved, you’ve still been able to tolerate him, which shows your excellent character. And now you want a divorce, proving that you know when to cut your losses. That’s why I want to go with you!” After hearing all this, my mind was completely blown. Is this supposed to be a compliment?

I left the family estate in a daze, needing time to process everything my mother-in-law had said. Now, while I still had the courage, I hurried back to my own home, intending to tell my parents about this. Standing at the front door, I took a deep breath before pushing it open and walking in. As soon as I entered, I saw them eating dinner. Seeing me, they were clearly surprised. “Why are you here?” My father was the first to speak. Listen to that tone, as if some unwelcome guest had arrived. I ignored him and walked straight over. “Oh, Lily, why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” My mother stood up and came over, looking behind me. “Don’t bother looking. I came alone.” My mother’s expression immediately became awkward. “I came back today because I have something to tell you.” “What is it?” Look at this couple. Their daughter comes home and they don’t even offer her a seat. Whatever, it’s not like this is the first time. My heart had long since grown cold to it. I took a deep breath and said, “I’m divorcing James.” “What?” The sharp voice rang out, hurting my ears. I saw the shocked and angry expressions on their faces and for some reason felt a strange sense of satisfaction. “I’m planning to divorce James. I came to let you know.” “What divorce? Don’t be ridiculous!” “I’m not being ridiculous. I can’t take it anymore. These past three years, I’ve lost count of how many women he’s been with. At least ten have come to confront me. I don’t want to be a puppet anymore.” “That’s because you’re not capable enough!” My father shouted. “If you had the skills, why would James go looking elsewhere? Look at yourself now, dull and boring. What man would like you?” How ironic that my own father would say such things about me. Hah, it’s truly disgusting to think that such blood flows through my veins. “Lily, you can’t blame everything on James. What man doesn’t do this? Besides, our family’s current success is all thanks to the Evans’ investment. Just turn a blind eye and let it pass…” “Then you can turn a blind eye yourself.” I cut off my mother’s words, looking at her with hatred. She was always so weak, always trying to persuade me to compromise. If it wasn’t for her threatening suicide back then, saying that if I didn’t agree to the marriage with the Evans family, my father would definitely divorce her. If she divorced, she said she would kill herself. If it wasn’t for her, how could I have broken up with my boyfriend of five years and lived like a puppet in the Evans family for three years, submitting to James’s every whim? “You’re weak yourself, but you insist on dragging me down with you. I’m sorry, but I’m not falling for it anymore.” “Lily…” Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to be so resolute. She stared at me with those innocent big eyes, as if I were some kind of criminal. “I came to inform you. Now that I’ve done that, I’m leaving.” But the next second, with a “bang,” blood flowed down my forehead. My mother screamed in shock. I had no reaction, looking at the bowl that had rolled onto the floor, my heart dying completely along with it. “Fine! Lily Evans, if you dare divorce James today, we’ll sever all ties with you!” I looked up at them, flashing a sincere smile. “Mr. Evans, a man of his word. That’s exactly what I want.”

When I got home, as soon as I walked in, I frowned. There was a smell of cigarettes. It seemed James was back. Sure enough, as I walked in, I saw the man sitting on the couch. He saw the wound on my forehead and smirked, “Lily, why put yourself through this misery?” I ignored him and went upstairs by myself. I didn’t expect him to follow me up, constantly nagging behind me. “Your parents called me to apologize, saying you only wanted a divorce on a whim. Considering you’re hurt, I can forgive…” “What do you mean by that?” James was stunned when he saw the divorce papers in my hand. “Are you blind or illiterate?” “Lily, how dare you speak to me like that?” “I’m divorcing you anyway, what do I have to be afraid of!” I threw the divorce papers at him. “I’ve already signed. You sign it and let me know. We’ll go queue up at the registry office first, then get the certificate in a month…” “Lily, I haven’t agreed to a divorce.” James cut me off urgently. “What’s the point of not divorcing? I’m just making room for all your mistresses. This mansion is so big, you could fit another ten or eight of them.” “You’re jealous!” James suddenly smiled, as if he had found the reason why I insisted on divorcing. Actually, it’s not his fault for being so confident. I’ve given him the illusion that I really liked him all these years. Initially, for the sake of my mother and the Evans family, I tried my best to please James after the marriage. When he said east, I didn’t dare go west. If he asked for the moon, I wouldn’t dare give him stars. Because he made a bet with his friends, I waited for him for three hours on a cold winter night. When I was numb with cold and about to leave, he slowly drove up, smiling at me and saying, “Good wife, you helped me win money today. Hubby’s happy, I’ll invest in your family’s company tomorrow.” When he drank with those fair-weather friends until dawn, one phone call and I’d crawl out of bed to pick him up. “James is so lucky, having such a full-time maid. This money wasn’t wasted.” I endured his friend’s mockery. “Hah, money talks. What can’t you find with enough cash? Right, Lily?” I took all his taunts in stride. It’s a fact that I took the money, so there’s nothing to complain about when doing the job. But now it’s different. I don’t want to take this money anymore. I don’t want the weak mother I can’t support. There’s nothing holding me back anymore. These three years have been the limit. Seeing that I didn’t speak, James thought he had guessed correctly and said smugly, “I knew you were just trying to make me jealous. Alright, I’ll make her leave tomorrow, and we’ll…” “James, stop being so full of yourself. The premise for jealousy is love, and I’ve never had any of that for you. Want to make me jealous? Keep dreaming!” “You… Lily, don’t push your luck. I’m giving you a way out here. Be smart and take it. Don’t make me angry, or your family’s company will go bankrupt tomorrow.” “Go ahead, I’m begging you not to hold back.” “You…” James wanted to say more, but his phone rang at that moment. He frowned as he looked at it and answered, “Hello, Dad.” “What did you say? Alright, I’ll head back now.” After hanging up, James suddenly looked at me angrily, “Come back to the family estate with me.” When James and I arrived at the family estate, we found the place in chaos. Fiona was sitting calmly on the sofa, while Robert was still angrily smashing things.

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I couldn’t sleep from excitement when I found out I was adopted. My adoptive mother, Mrs. Johnson, looked at my dark circles with disdain as she hugged the newly found biological daughter, Chloe, in her arms. “I know all the tricks you adopted kids play – sabotage, playing the victim, using the benefits and education we’ve invested in you to suppress my real daughter. Let me tell you, I’m not that brainless. None of those tricks will work.” I didn’t argue with her. I quickly packed my bags to find my birth parents. A year later, they came looking for me again, begging me to come back home with them. The year I turned seventeen, my adoptive father, Mr. Johnson, brought a skinny girl to us and told my adoptive mother, “This is our biological daughter. There was a mix-up at the hospital when she was born.” The girl, Chloe, looked malnourished with her sallow complexion and short stature. She timidly hid behind Mr. Johnson, cautiously observing everyone in the family. Mr. Johnson placed the DNA test results in front of us. “Chloe has been living in an orphanage for the past seventeen years, enduring all kinds of bullying.” Mrs. Johnson’s hands trembled as she held the test results. She then rushed to embrace Chloe. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. It’s all our fault. You’ve suffered so much all these years.” I stood there, stunned by the scene unfolding before me. The people who had always criticized me in the name of love, who had made me feel worthless, who had told me to die if I couldn’t bring home another trophy from the next competition – they weren’t my real parents? As I watched them hugging, confessing, and crying, I felt an unexpected sense of relief wash over me. Just then, my adoptive brother Jack rushed back from the office. “Sister,” he called out. I turned to look at him, but he pushed me aside and walked straight to Chloe, patting her head. “My dear sister, you’ve suffered so much all these years.” I fell backward, my forehead hitting the corner of the table and starting to bleed. Damn, the whole family was full of drama queens. They huddled together, chatting for a long time before finally remembering my existence. “Lily,” they called. “I’m here,” I replied, covering my bleeding forehead with my hand. I ran to Mr. Johnson, forcing myself to smile. “I’m happy that my sister has come home too.” In truth, I wasn’t happy at all. But my adoptive father had taught me from a young age that a lady from a wealthy family must always maintain her composure. If he ever caught me showing any negative emotions, I would face severe punishment. Mr. Johnson didn’t show any particular expression. He simply ordered, “Give your room to Chloe.” I maintained that stiff smile and politely asked, “Then where should I…?” Jack glanced at me impatiently. “Isn’t there an empty room next to the housekeeper’s? You can move there.” I nodded in agreement, smiling. That night, I couldn’t sleep because I was too excited. According to the usual plot, shouldn’t they be kicking me out now? I still had over a hundred thousand dollars in my account, all earned from various competitions. Finding my birth parents shouldn’t be a problem. The next day, when I appeared with dark circles under my eyes, Jack rolled his eyes and laughed. “This trick is so old-fashioned, it’s laughable.” Speechless. What a thick-headed guy. Mrs. Johnson looked at my dark circles with disdain as she hugged the newly found biological daughter, Chloe, in her arms. “I know all the tricks you adopted kids play – sabotage, playing the victim, using the benefits and education we’ve invested in you to suppress my real daughter. Let me tell you, I’m not that brainless. None of those tricks will work.” I took out the suitcase I had packed the night before. “I won’t bother you anymore. I’m going to find my birth parents.” Before they could react, I dashed out, hoping they wouldn’t try to stop me. When I found my birth mother, she was watering flowers in the yard. She looked older than my adoptive mother, with streaks of gray in her hair. I stood at the gate, the word “Mom” that I had rehearsed in my mind for so long stuck in my throat. As if sensing my presence, she looked up at me. In that instant, I forgot how to breathe. I saw tears rolling down her cheeks as she ran towards me, her arms wrapping around me like vices, afraid I might disappear again. “Lily, is it really you?” she asked, her voice trembling. Lily? That must be my real name. Her tears fell on my neck, cool and wet. I hugged her back. “Mom, it’s me.” Mom pulled me into the house. She didn’t ask how I found her or how I had been living all these years. She just kept staring at my face, as if trying to etch every detail into her memory. She smiled, but tears kept flowing from her eyes, impossible to wipe away. “You must be hungry. Sit down for a bit, I’ll make you something to eat,” she said. I sat quietly, looking around. The living room was small and shabby. The walls were bare except for a single photo of a newborn baby hanging in the center. The person who helped me find my birth parents had told me that my birth parents were originally quite well-off. But after losing their child, they quit their jobs to search for me full-time, using up all their savings and even selling their house. I asked, “Is that my photo?” Mom paused while cutting vegetables. “Yes, it was taken right after you were born.” Then her voice noticeably dropped. “We only have that one photo from over ten years ago. It was all our fault for being careless. We’re so sorry.” I walked over and hugged her shoulders, comforting her softly. “It’s okay. We still have many, many years ahead of us. We can make up for lost time.” “By the way, I didn’t say anything earlier. How did you know I was your daughter?” Mom smiled and lovingly patted my head, simply saying, “A mother’s intuition.” Mom called my dad, who rushed back covered in sweat, his clothes dirty and torn, with injuries on his face. When Dad saw me, he was so excited he didn’t know what to do. He spread his arms wanting to hug me but didn’t dare come closer. I went forward and hugged his waist. “Dad.” His voice choked up. “Don’t hug me, don’t hug me. I’m dirty.” Mom had finished cooking and urged him, “Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner. Look at you, all disheveled. What happened?” Dad scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. “I was so excited, I wasn’t paying attention and tripped over some rebar at the construction site.” I bit my lip, trying to contain my emotions. What a normal, loving family! As Dad took off his dirty, torn jacket, a piece of paper slipped out of his pocket. I picked it up and saw it was a lottery ticket. Dad said, “Yesterday, I passed by the lottery store and a coworker insisted I buy a ticket. It’s all a scam, how could anyone win so easily?” The ticket hadn’t been scratched yet, but it was already crumpled. I thought, since he bought it anyway, might as well scratch it and see. So I leaned over the table and used my fingernail to scrape off the coating line by line. When the numbers were fully revealed, I froze. After seeing the numbers clearly, I almost dropped my water glass. The ticket had won. And it was the first prize – five million dollars. That night, I was too excited to sleep again. The doorbell rang while Mom was busy in the kitchen. She said that today was the anniversary of finding me a year ago, so we should celebrate every year on this day. I wanted to go help her in the kitchen, but Mom wiped the sweat from her forehead and pushed me out. “You’re always so tired from studying. Go rest. If you’re hungry, eat some of the snacks on the table. We’ll have dinner when your dad gets home.” The table was loaded with my favorite dried fruits and pastries. I stuffed my mouth full and asked with a muffled voice, “Why is Dad coming home so late today?” Mom chuckled, “He insists on preparing a special gift for you. He’s being all mysterious about it.” Just as Mom finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. “Dad’s home!” I cheered and ran to open the door, but I froze when I saw who it was. A elegantly dressed woman pulled me into her arms and started crying. “Darling, I’ve finally found you. Come home with us.” My adoptive mother had found me! My adoptive father standing next to her wiped a tear from his eye and handed me a box of cake. “This past year, your mother and I couldn’t eat or sleep well, always thinking of you. We’ve opened another bakery for you. Come back with us, the shop is yours.” My heart sank. Although a year had passed, seeing them again still filled me with fear. I handed the cake back to my adoptive father and glanced back at my mom who was making my favorite cola chicken wings in the kitchen. “My name is Lily now, so don’t use the wrong name.” My adoptive parents were stunned for a moment. I took a step back to keep my distance from them. I remembered how much I loved sweets as a child. When I got first place in a school exam, my adoptive parents opened a bakery as a reward. But later, when I failed in a competition, they angrily destroyed the bakery. This family with such unstable emotions. I smiled slightly. “I don’t like eating these anymore. Besides, my mom made my favorite dishes, and I want to save room to eat more.” My adoptive father’s eyes reddened. He suddenly gripped my shoulders. “After you left, I realized you were the most obedient and sensible child in the family. Chloe is petty and not very bright. She struggles to learn anything. You’re more like our child than Chloe is.” “You’re our only precious daughter. No one can change your position in our hearts.” Still so self-serving! I replied, “Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, you’ve got it wrong. Chloe is your biological daughter.” My adoptive father froze, his lips trembling. “What did you call me?” My adoptive mother’s face was covered in tears. She stepped forward to hug me, but I dodged her. “Mrs. Johnson, if you have something to say, please say it quickly. My mom is waiting for me to have dinner.” My adoptive mother grabbed me, refusing to let go. “We’ve really reflected on ourselves this past year. Come home with Mom and Dad, okay?” “Also, let’s go take a family photo now, just the four of us.” I shook my head and forcefully pulled away from my adoptive mother’s grasp. Originally, our family used to take a family photo every year, but on the day Chloe returned, she smashed all the family photos. My adoptive parents didn’t blame her. Instead, they took her to take new family photos – without me. I stepped aside, revealing a huge family photo of me with my birth parents hanging on the wall. “Mrs. Johnson, there’s no need. I already have one.” My adoptive mother could no longer hold back her tears and buried her face in my adoptive father’s chest. My adoptive father still refused to give up on me and continued to persuade, “You weren’t with them since you were little. How well do they know you? They didn’t watch you grow up, so they can’t possibly love you as much as we do.” I was about to retort when my mom, having finished cooking, called out to me: “Lily, who are you talking to? Don’t stand at the door, come in and sit down.” I was about to send them away when my mom walked over. To my surprise, she warmly invited them in: “The food is ready. Come in and have a bite.” And so, the three of us awkwardly sat at the dining table. My mom hospitably served them: “These are all my daughter’s favorite dishes. See if they suit your taste.” My adoptive mother didn’t answer. She just kept staring at the photo of me as a child on the wall. After moving to our new home, my mom had hung up that photo again. At the time, I told her that having one family photo was enough, but my mom absolutely refused to take it down. My mom followed her gaze and gave a warm smile. “That’s my daughter when she was little. Isn’t she adorable?” “My daughter is so considerate now. Whenever she’s home, she always insists on helping me with housework. She’s doing well in her studies too. Her teachers all praise her.” When did I ever insist on helping with housework? Every time I tried to help, she always found a reason to send me away. My grades were just average. Last year at the parent-teacher conference, the teacher only praised me once for making progress, but my mom took it to heart and couldn’t stop bragging about it to others. I understood. Mom loved me, so in her eyes, I was perfect no matter what. I remembered more than a year ago, when I was still in that prestigious school. As my birthday approached, my adoptive parents asked what gift I wanted. “A Cartier bracelet,” I had answered excitedly. But on my birthday, I messed up a project. My adoptive father angrily took out the bracelet and smashed it on the ground, shattering it instantly. My adoptive father grabbed my collar and shouted, “You can’t even handle such a simple task, and you still want to celebrate your birthday? No dinner tonight. Go and reflect on your mistakes.” I was so scared that I burst into tears. My adoptive mother stood by, watching coldly, and disappointedly muttered, “So weak. You’re not worthy of being my daughter.”

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It was rare for Lucas to have a weekend off. After much pleading, I finally convinced him to make sweet and sour pork ribs for me. As he was cooking, his phone on the coffee table buzzed. I tapped the screen but couldn’t see clearly. Upon closer inspection, I realized he had installed a privacy screen protector. Instantly, an ominous thought crept into my mind. I suddenly recalled what a colleague had said earlier. “When your partner starts using a privacy screen behind your back, it means they have secrets.” Those words stung like a thorn in my heart. I tried to convince myself it was just a coincidence, but the doubt in my mind grew like wildfire. Fortunately, he hadn’t changed his password yet. I unlocked the phone and saw a new Snapchat message from an unfamiliar name. The message was simple and direct. “Miss you.” My heart clenched tightly, my eyes fixed on those two words. Scrolling up, I found no other chat history. But those two simple words were enough to make my heart ache. As I tried to calm myself, I accidentally knocked over the water glass on the table. Lucas poked his head out of the kitchen, holding a spatula. “What’s wrong?” I forced a smile and quickly slipped the phone into my pocket. “Nothing, just wondering how far along you are.” “Not that fast,” he frowned and complained, “The caramel is so hard to get right. Let’s just eat out next time.” I paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement, “Okay.” Lucas seemed to have forgotten that I’m from the Midwest and don’t like sweet food. The one who loves sweet and sour pork ribs is him. When we first bought this house, he had pointed at the kitchen, his eyes gleaming with confidence and anticipation. “This is my domain. No one enters without my permission!” Every weekend, he would hole up in the kitchen, tinkering with my personal recipe book. Back then, he was so in love with this home, so in love with the beautiful memories we were creating together. The phone in my pocket felt like it weighed a ton, digging into my leg. After calming down, I decided to reply on his behalf. “Come over to my place, she’s not here.” I was curious about who this person was and how Lucas would react. Not long after, the doorbell rang shrilly. I quickly changed clothes and walked to the door. My hand rested on the cold doorknob, hesitating for a moment before deciding to open it. The person outside was clearly stunned, the excitement on their face instantly freezing when they saw me. I studied her carefully, unconsciously comparing every detail from age to appearance to figure with myself. However, the conclusion I drew was cruel – she surpassed me in every aspect. “You must be Olivia.” “You know me?” “Lucas mentioned you.” The thought that my name might have become a topic of amusement between them only deepened my disappointment in Lucas. She seemed to remember something and took out a familiar food container from her bag. “I came to return this.” “Last time Lucas brought some sweet and sour pork ribs to the office, I suddenly had low blood sugar, so he gave them to me to eat.” Looking at the lunch box she was tightly holding – the one Lucas and I had bought together at the supermarket – I couldn’t help but recall how reluctant he had been when I begged him to make sweet and sour pork ribs this morning. My anger was instantly ignited. I deliberately called out loudly towards the kitchen, “Honey, someone’s here to see you.” Lucas heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen, looking bewildered when he saw her. I carefully observed their reactions, but there was no sign of the guilt and unease I had expected. “Why did you come?” Lucas asked, confused. “I was in the neighborhood and remembered I hadn’t returned your lunchbox from last time, so I texted you.” “What text?” Lucas suddenly seemed to realize something, glanced back at me, then his face darkened. “Just leave the lunchbox and go.” However, she didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she stood at the door, her eyes fixed on me. “Miss Su, aren’t you going to invite me in?” I couldn’t help but smirk, deliberately making way and glancing at Lucas. “Why don’t you invite her in? We just made sweet and sour pork ribs again today.” I deliberately emphasized “sweet and sour pork ribs,” and sure enough, Lucas’s expression changed. “Stop it,” he said. Sensing Lucas’s displeasure, she slowly replied. “I just remembered I have plans nearby. I got too excited and forgot. I’ll come play another time.” I didn’t say anything more, just coldly watched Lucas see her off. When he returned, his face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. “What, still reluctant to see her go?” I leaned against the door, mocking him. Lucas glared at me angrily, “Don’t talk nonsense, she’s just my colleague.” How could I let him off so easily? “Colleague? Then what’s with her sending you ‘miss you’ messages?” Lucas looked exhausted, “We’re just working on a project together recently. The pressure is high, so we joke around to relax a bit.” I didn’t believe his bullshit at all and had a huge fight with him. After that, Lucas’s relationship with me became extremely tense. I also slowly started to reflect on whether I had been too impulsive, but I felt Lucas’s explanation was too unconvincing. This life had become utterly frustrating. I told my best friend Mia about my suspicions of Lucas cheating. She laughed for a long time. After my parents passed away unexpectedly, she and Lucas became the most important people in my life. “What nonsense are you talking about?” “Back in college, Lucas bought our dorm bubble tea for over a semester just to pursue you. I still remember there was no KFC on campus then, so he would take the bus for over an hour each time to bring you food, not even eating a single fry himself, saving it all for you.” I laughed helplessly, “Really? I’ve forgotten all about that.” Mia animatedly discussed how Lucas had pursued me in college, but it all felt so distant to me. Indeed, 10 years had passed. In just two months, I’ll be 28. Before leaving, Mia earnestly advised me. “Olivia, have a good talk with Lucas and set a date soon.” “Don’t let it drag on too long.” Mia and I both tacitly avoided discussing it further. The sunk cost of a 10-year relationship was something I couldn’t afford to bear. That night, I took the initiative to text Lucas and sent him a sexy photo of me in black stockings. In the past, he would have playfully replied, “Hubby’s coming home right away, please be patient a little longer, my dear wife.” But today, he replied three hours later with just, “Working overtime.” I exited Snapchat and opened Facebook, searching for Lucas’s account. The glaring “5G Online” status. He wasn’t at the office. By the time I realized it, my carefully grown nails had already been bitten down to the quick. After my parents passed away, I developed a habit of biting my nails when anxious. Lucas used to worry about me, saying he’d help me quit this bad habit, even voluntarily applying bitter nail polish with me. But now… Thinking of this, I felt a surge of irritation for no reason. I had initially decided not to reply, but remembering Mia’s words, I typed again. “It’s okay, I’ll wait for you to get off work.” This time, he didn’t reply. I sat in the most conspicuous spot in the living room. The tight black stockings had long been replaced by loose loungewear, but they couldn’t conceal the anxiety and unease in my heart. The wall clock showed it was already 1 AM. I held the photo album Lucas had made for me during our college days, lost in thought. When exactly did our relationship change from inseparable lovers to roommates who rarely see each other? “Door open, welcome home.” The mechanical voice of the smart lock broke the silence of the night, also awakening that faint hope in the bottom of my heart. I suddenly raised my head, my gaze piercing through the darkness, trying to capture that familiar silhouette. Lucas stood at the door for a long time before finally stepping over the threshold. But his eyes quickly averted when they met mine. That momentary evasion hurt more than any words could, making me feel an unprecedented despair and coldness. He stood in the entryway and suddenly lost his temper. “Can’t you stop leaving your shoes all over the place?” I was stunned for a moment, about to go tidy up, when I saw him carelessly kick my shoes aside. There was a time when he would carefully arrange my high heels, always charge my electric toothbrush, and even sort out my seasonal clothes well in advance. But now, all of this had become a distant memory. Lost in thought for a moment, I saw Lucas walk out of the kitchen with a new glass in his hand. Unlike the one in front of me, it was a brand new glass. He sat down directly at the dining table and poured himself a glass of water. I stared at the glass in his hand, remembering the little habit we once shared – using the same glass. Suddenly, I felt a bit hurt. “Why aren’t we using the same glass anymore?” “No reason.” He seemed a bit impatient, slightly turning his body away and focusing on his phone. I didn’t want us to keep up this cold war, so I mustered up the courage to hug him from behind. “What are you doing!” He shook me off as if I were the plague. I stared at the red marks on my wrist, my heart shattering. “Today is our 10th anniversary,” my voice tinged with desperation and pleading. Lucas’s body tensed slightly, a flash of guilt passing through his eyes. But it only lasted for a few seconds before being replaced by his cold gaze. “What gift do you want? Send it to me on Snapchat, I’ll buy it for you tomorrow.” His tone was as flat as if he were talking about something unrelated to him. “It’ll be too late tomorrow.” I tilted my head slightly, trying to win him over with the cuteness he used to love. He once said he loved it most when I puffed up my cheeks in anger, saying I looked as cute as a pufferfish. But now, his gaze grew even colder, as if I were a complete stranger to him. “Olivia.” He called my name coldly, making my heart skip a beat. Using my full name meant the invisible wall between us had grown thicker. “Stop it.” Those three short words cut like an icy wind. “We’re both 28 now, not kids anymore. Life isn’t built on anniversaries.” My heart suddenly contracted, as if struck by a heavy hammer, the pain unbearable. The man before me, in his suit and tie, mature and steady, was a far cry from the bright-eyed boy in white who used to smile so brilliantly in the sunlight. I stared at him, trying to find a trace of the past in his face, but only saw unfamiliarity and resolution. Finally, I gave up arguing with him and just mumbled, “Yeah, I’m 28 already.” He seemed to guess what I was about to say next and quickly interrupted me. “You know, my career is at a critical point right now, I don’t want to get married yet…” Lucas was about to say more when his phone rang inopportunely. He glanced at me and quickly rejected the call. My heart sank, but I still pretended to be calm, even with a hint of pleading. “So, when do you want to get married?” He didn’t answer me directly, nor did he let me continue waiting. Instead— “If you feel wronged being with me, then…” “Then break up with you? How did I become the bad guy?” The words that slipped out made us both calm down. In the end, it was Lucas who broke the silence. “I’m not good enough for you.” I suddenly got angry, the emotions I had been suppressing all night reaching their peak. “You only realize you’re not good enough now? Why didn’t you think that way when you were chasing me so openly back then?” Lucas’s face instantly turned ashen. His lips moved slightly, as if wanting to say something, but after a moment of struggle, he gave up. Just like our current relationship, he didn’t even have the will to salvage it. I watched him walk towards the guest room with a dark face, not saying a word. Until he struggled to open the door for a while and angrily turned back to shout at me. “Olivia! Can you stop messing around! Open the door!” I kept a cold face, trying hard to suppress the displeasure and disappointment surging inside me. “I told you to change that lock ages ago. The balcony window wasn’t closed today, and the wind was too strong, so it slammed shut. I can’t open it either.” He instinctively looked towards the balcony, as if to verify what I said. The atmosphere around us became even heavier, a suffocating oppression filling the air. Until he spoke first, breaking this silence. “Then I’ll go stay at a hotel.” The rational defense line completely collapsed at this moment. I suddenly stood up, my voice sharp and piercing. I shouted hysterically, “What, is this big house not enough for you anymore? Or are you just too lazy to even pretend?” Lucas’s face became extremely unpleasant, a flash of shock in his eyes. He seemed to have never seen me so out of control before and was momentarily speechless. “If anyone should go to a hotel, it should be me. After all, you bought this house, how could I let you leave.” I continued my high-frequency output, as if making him uncomfortable could make me feel better. Or perhaps, deep down, I hoped that making a fuss like this would make him care about my feelings again. “Olivia, you’re always like this, never considering others’ feelings when you speak or act.” “What do you mean?” I glared at him like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “What do I mean? Last week you deliberately invited my colleague to our home, didn’t you think about how I’d face people at work afterwards?” “Face them? How to face them? She sends you those ambiguous messages, and I can’t say anything?” “I don’t want to explain anymore. Think whatever you want.” He completely cooled his face, ignoring my anger and insecurity. Then he walked towards the door without looking back. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped but didn’t turn around. “Olivia, if you really can’t go on, let’s just end it.” I held my neck stiffly, not answering. My heart was about to explode with frustration. At this moment, I was certain that Lucas no longer loved me. After that day, Lucas didn’t come home again. On Friday night, Mia sent a message in our group chat with three people. “Friends, I’m getting married!” Following that was a beautifully designed invitation card. She tagged me and Lucas. “You two, the golden couple from our campus days, must come and support me. The time and place are written above, be there on time!” I waited for a long time but didn’t see Lucas reply. Not wanting Mia to worry, I responded. “Mm, we’ll be there.” Just after I sent it, a private message from Lucas popped up. “Just find some excuse, say I’m on a business trip or sick or whatever. I won’t go.” I hesitated for a few seconds, “But they’ve invited us, it wouldn’t be right not to go.” “Besides, Mia is my best friend.” I watched the “typing” indicator on the Snapchat chat bubble. After waiting for a long time, until— “Olivia, let’s break up.” I stared hard at the screen, tears falling uncontrollably. Clumsily moving my already stiff fingers, I repeatedly typed on the keyboard, only to hesitate and delete each time. After a long while, I defiantly pressed send. “Fine.” When I first met Lucas, he was being scolded by our academic advisor. “Little Li, I chose you as class monitor considering your poor family background. Being a student leader can add points, which would be very helpful for your future scholarship applications.” Lucas was hunched over, “Yes, I’m very grateful to you. It’s just that I had a high fever last week and couldn’t help you move. Next time you need anything, I’ll be there immediately.” I overheard a bit more and learned that this tall boy had often been ordered around by the short, chubby advisor in front of him to do hard labor. “You say that, but I ask you for help because you’re a country boy. I’m just looking out for you a bit more.” “Yes, I…” “I’d say rather than looking out for him, why don’t you introduce him to a proper part-time job? Besides, those few points from being a student leader aren’t enough compared to winning an award or something.” “Who are you?” Great, he doesn’t recognize me. “Who I am doesn’t matter. I just can’t stand you bullying people.” I walked over and pulled the dumbfounded Lucas away. “Hey…” “Are you stupid?” Lucas smiled bitterly and shook his head, “I know he doesn’t have good intentions, but I figured it’s better to avoid trouble. Besides, being a student leader looks good on the resume after graduation.” “You’re worried about your resume with all those first prizes you’ve won?” Lucas was stunned and finally took a good look at me. “You’re the one from the English Cup competition…” “Second place!!” I said angrily. If it weren’t for him butting in, I would have gotten first place, and the DSLR camera my dad promised me would have been in my hands already. “Hi.” He scratched his head shyly and smiled. “Hi my ass.” I turned and walked away. Later on, Lucas became my shadow, following me wherever I went. It wasn’t long before he confessed to me. I didn’t play coy either. I had my eye on him since the English Cup competition, how could I let him slip away? The reminiscence came to an abrupt end. After I agreed to break up, Lucas didn’t contact me again until that night. I was revising my new resume at the company when I suddenly received a call from Lucas’s friend. “Sis-in-law, Lucas and I are at Mirage KTV. He’s drunk too much and we’re worried something might happen. Could you come pick him up?” I guessed Lucas probably hadn’t told them about our breakup yet. “Alright, I’ll come over now.” I got Lucas out, originally planning to take a taxi home. But seeing his car parked outside the KTV, I hesitated for a moment. The internet says that car dash cams are the best tool for catching cheating men. Lucas’s car was bought for me by my parents, but I’m not very good at driving, and since my workplace is close by, I let him use it. On weekends we would go out shopping together, but usually it was just him driving to and from work. After careful inspection, I didn’t find anything unusual. I breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps he wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. Back home, I helped Lucas to the small room. There was a “thud” sound. I picked up the phone that fell out of his pocket and placed it on the bedside table. After a while, I picked it up again. “Password incorrect, please try again.” After five consecutive wrong attempts, the screen prompted: “Please try again in 1 minute.” Lucas had changed his password. I unconsciously started biting my nails. My fingertips felt a burning pain, but it couldn’t alleviate the anxiety in my heart. Just then, a scene from our college days suddenly flashed in my mind. Back then, Lucas always won first place in the school’s network security competitions. He confidently told me that his secret was setting the simplest passwords. He firmly believed that the simpler things are, the harder they are to guess. Because people tend to overcomplicate their thinking. Thinking of this, I felt like I had grasped a lifeline. My fingers lightly danced on the screen, silently inputting that string of numbers so simple it couldn’t be simpler: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6” The cursor on the screen blinked a few times, as if making a final judgment. Then, miraculously. It unlocked! I opened Snapchat and found the female colleague who had sent him ambiguous messages in the blocked list. The chat date stopped on the night he told me we should break up. “Thanks for your help last time.” Lucas had transferred her $200. “Thank you. If you need this kind of job again, remember to find me.” “Won’t be necessary. She’s agreed to break up.” My heart sank. So that woman’s ambiguous message was a trap he had deliberately set. Thinking of this, details I had previously overlooked suddenly became clear. For example, Lucas always kept his phone on him, even when going to the bathroom. But that day while cooking, he “happened” to leave it on the table. “Then you’re free now, you can be with her properly.” Lucas didn’t reply to her again, but instead blocked her directly. “Her?” I was confused. Did Lucas have another woman? Lucas is a cautious person. That Snapchat message was deliberately left for me to see, so he certainly wouldn’t use Snapchat as a chat tool with the person he was really cheating with. I thought for a moment and clicked on Lucas’s Instagram. That was the app Lucas had actively downloaded for me back then. He said he was just a straight guy and needed to learn how to take photos for his girlfriend and how to choose gifts for her. The most recent chat boxes were all advertising messages. I couldn’t find any useful information after scrolling through them. Until a cute avatar marked “Intern” caught my attention. With trembling hands, I clicked in and scrolled up to see their chat history. Those moments I had never been part of played out before my eyes like a movie. Until one chat record caught my attention. He had mailed her a package, which was written as concert tickets. I suddenly thought of something and quickly opened my own phone. A moment later, I almost collapsed on the ground. Those were the Coldplay concert tickets I had struggled to get from a scalper. Lucas and I had been fans of Coldplay since college. When we first graduated, we didn’t have money to attend concerts, so we could only huddle in our rented room listening to CDs. Later, when our salaries increased, we didn’t have time to go to concerts. We missed out for several years like this. This year was Coldplay’s 25th anniversary concert, which also happened to be our 10th anniversary. I thought it was significant and begged Lucas to take time off work early. But in the end, he still broke his promise, saying the project had entered a critical period and he really couldn’t get away. Although I was angry, I had no choice. After all, he was working so hard for our better future. Later, Lucas said his colleague also wanted to go and asked if I could give them the tickets. I was reluctant, after all, those tickets were so hard to buy. I thought about going with Mia instead. But I couldn’t resist Lucas’s persuasion, and he even promised to take me next year. I never expected the tickets would end up in her hands. And Lucas had sent them to her himself. Thinking of this, I trembled with anger, wishing I could rush into the room and drag him up for a beating. ———-Cut-off point———- My heart couldn’t calm down for a long time. Before this, I could convince myself to accept that ten years of feelings had gradually faded in the daily grind of life. If he wanted to break up, I could oblige. But I couldn’t accept his deliberate scheming and deception. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. Closing my eyes, memories of Lucas and I flashed through my mind. Those beautiful memories had now turned into sharp fragments. Each piece reminded me that our love was gone forever. Thinking of this, I suddenly felt much lighter. Perhaps it was because the uncertainty had suddenly become certain, freeing me from long-standing entanglement and insecurity, as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted. I had asked myself countless times in the dead of night, why had Lucas and I come to this point? Was it because I hadn’t done well enough somewhere? Now it seems, on the path of promised companionship, some people choose to leave early. The fault wasn’t mine, but theirs. That night, I slept unusually soundly, the most peaceful sleep I’d had in a long time. On a very ordinary day, I gave up a very important person. Although I felt a bit reluctant, my heart full of joy should also come to an end.

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