After six months in the mental hospital, Olivia Chen was finally released. Shivering in the cold wind in her thin clothes, her pale face covered in horrific scars, she limped as Ethan Shaw’s bodyguards roughly pushed her out of the car. Her fiancé Ethan Shaw was standing in front of a grave. Seeing Olivia’s pitiful state, Ethan’s face darkened instantly. He viciously kicked Olivia’s knee, snarling in disgust: “You drove Sophie to her death, you should go to hell! How dare you act pitiful in front of me?” As if she had any right to act pitiful anymore. Olivia explained bitterly, “Ethan, I didn’t do it.” Ethan slapped her hard across the face, shouting angrily: “Don’t call me Ethan, it’s disgusting!” Her left cheek stung fiercely and her ear went momentarily deaf. Olivia couldn’t hear what he was saying, she could only stare at him blankly, somehow understanding his meaning. She wasn’t worthy of calling him Ethan anymore. But the young Ethan had once begged her for a long time to call him by this intimate nickname. Olivia couldn’t help but tear up. This innocent look instantly enraged Ethan. He grabbed Olivia’s hair and dragged her in front of Sophie’s gravestone, forcing her to look at the photo. “Olivia Chen, open your eyes and look clearly at what this is!” “If you hadn’t been so narrow-minded and resentful of Sophie, how could she have died? You’re a sinner who deserves to be executed!” “You still have the nerve to act pitiful in front of me? Olivia Chen, are you worthy?” No, she wasn’t. Olivia stared hard at that photo. The gray smiling face seemed to be mocking her and Ethan’s relationship of over 20 years, piercing her heart painfully. An immense sorrow also welled up. Everyone in the city knew how much Ethan Shaw loved Olivia Chen. Since childhood, he had fought for her, gotten injured for her, been jealous for her, acted like a fool for her, even climbed through her window at midnight to declare he only wanted to marry Olivia in this life… For over 20 years he had done all kinds of outrageous things, shocking the entire city. Later Sophie Lin appeared with her mission to win Ethan’s heart. Ethan had publicly humiliated Sophie, calling her lowly. Whenever Sophie caused Olivia even the slightest grievance, Ethan would repay it tenfold, even nearly killing Sophie at one point. Everyone was moved by Ethan and Olivia’s love. But when news of Sophie’s death came, Ethan who had always despised Sophie went mad. Learning that Olivia had met with Sophie before her fatal car accident, Ethan directly blamed Sophie’s death on Olivia. He personally sent her to a mental hospital, letting her suffer endless torment there. Olivia had once sent Ethan a plea for help. But Ethan was busy searching for Sophie’s body, crying bitterly for her, drinking in remorse for her. Later, when Olivia was dragged into the bathroom and assaulted by the mental patients, she finally managed to call Ethan after two of her fingers were broken. What she got was Ethan’s cold response: “If you want to die then hurry up and die.” Those lunatics became even more excited after hearing that. They used the most vicious methods to destroy Olivia’s uterus, causing massive internal bleeding that left her permanently incontinent. Her body was covered in horrific wounds and her right leg was crippled. Tears blurred her eyes, washing away her last shred of feeling for Ethan. It was that night of suffering worse than death that awakened Olivia. As long as Ethan hurt her six more times for Sophie’s sake, her memories and existence would be formatted by this world, severing all ties with Ethan. Snapping back to reality, Ethan coldly ordered his bodyguards: “Make her kowtow 100 times to repent for her sins!” The bodyguards forcefully pressed Olivia’s hands down, making her forehead slam loudly against Sophie’s gravestone. After just a few times, her forehead was split open and bleeding. As her vision blurred, Olivia smiled tragically and murmured, “Five more times left.” Soon she would fulfill Ethan’s wish.

After kowtowing 100 times, the bodyguards finally let her go. Olivia shakily tried to stand up. “You deserve all of this,” Ethan said coldly as he watched. He then grabbed Olivia and pulled her into the car. Olivia instinctively tried to pull her hand away. For the past six months, she had only experienced endless torment. She now feared any physical contact with others. But she had just been forced to kowtow 100 times and lost a lot of blood. Her body was completely drained of strength and she couldn’t pull away. This resistant gesture only angered Ethan more. He roughly threw Olivia into the car, sneering: “You dare throw a tantrum at me? Looks like these past six months of lessons were all wasted!” “Someone like you only deserves to rot in the mud!” Olivia’s vision went black from the pain and her heart seemed to stop. She had already known Ethan sent her to the mental hospital to deliberately torture her, and had given up hope in him. But hearing it directly still broke her heart. Ethan was truly too cruel. Over a decade of feelings meant nothing compared to his belated realization about Sophie. But she hadn’t done anything wrong, yet became a sinner in Ethan’s eyes. Ethan looked at Olivia with disgust, as if she was some filthy, unlucky trash. “Remember your place when we get back.” “I’m keeping you around to atone for your sins against Sophie!” Olivia couldn’t hear him anymore. The wounds on her forehead and knees hurt so much she passed out. In her blurry final moments of consciousness, she vaguely saw Ethan’s expression turn panicked, just like how he used to look whenever she got hurt before Sophie appeared. But the next instant, all she saw was Ethan’s back. “What? You say you saw Sophie? Where is she? I’ll go there right away!” So it had all been her illusion. Of course, after going mad over Sophie for over six months, how could Ethan care about whether she lived or died. Only Sophie could make him panic like that. Olivia was woken up by cold water being splashed on her. Seeing her awake, the servant threw a maid’s uniform at her. “Hurry up and change into this. From now on you’re a servant of the Shaw family. When the young master brings the young mistress back, you’ll have to atone for your sins!” Olivia stared blankly at the servant’s uniform, finding it darkly amusing. But she had no choice. Her clothes were soaked in blood and unwearable. She limped after the servant, standing to the side of the main entrance. Not long after, Ethan carefully carried a pregnant Sophie back. His face, gloomy for over six months, now wore a satisfied smile of having recovered something lost. Sophie kept fussing in his arms. “Ethan Shaw, let me go! Didn’t you say that even if I died, you wouldn’t like me? So why are you bringing me back now? I died once as you wished, go love your Olivia Chen!” “I’m not trying to win you over anymore, I won’t suffer your humiliation again!” Ethan let her fuss, unable to hide his smile. “Heaven blessed me by letting you survive. I won’t let you disappear again.” “Don’t reject me, and don’t go after other men!” “My child absolutely cannot call anyone else father.” Olivia listened to their conversation and stared at Sophie’s 7-month pregnant belly, feeling her mind explode. So Sophie had survived that car accident and spent the past six months pursuing other men. While the man who had once sworn he only loved her and wanted Sophie dead had been secretly involved with Sophie behind her back. No wonder Ethan went mad after hearing news of Sophie’s death. So what was all the torture she endured for the past six months? What about all of Ethan’s past vows of love to her? Olivia suddenly felt herself pathetic and laughable. Her chest felt tight and painful, she couldn’t breathe. She also…lost control of her bladder in front of everyone. The smell quickly spread. The servants next to her immediately moved away in disgust. Sophie also noticed her at this moment. Hiding a flash of smugness in her eyes, she pretended to be ashamed and pounded Ethan’s chest, retching repeatedly from the smell. “…Your wife had an accident, hurry up and put me down! Are you still trying to humiliate me at a time like this? I’ve already said I won’t interfere between you and Olivia Chen anymore. You two are meant to be together, please stop torturing me, okay?” Ethan hurriedly carried Sophie away, comforting her lovingly. “No, Sophie, you’re the one I love.” “I was wrong before. From now on, no one will ever bully you again. I’ll help you get revenge for all the grievances you’ve suffered.” After gently consoling Sophie, he stood on the stairs and berated Olivia in front of everyone: “Olivia Chen, how old are you to still wet yourself in public? Aren’t you disgusted with yourself?” “This isn’t a toilet. If you can’t control it, go buy some adult diapers. Don’t use the tricks you learned in the mental hospital to disgust me and Sophie.”

Olivia lowered her head, her face deathly pale. Every word Ethan said stabbed her heart. The strange looks from everyone around also made her feel awful all over. “So disgusting, how can there be such a disgusting person?” “She’s over 20 years old and still wets herself. It’s really making me want to vomit.” “Who did this? They didn’t care if the person died, but making her incontinent is trying to suffocate us, right?” “Forget it, you might as well not wear pants anymore. It’s a waste to wear them anyway.” “…” The servants’ whispers and the nurses’ mockery from the mental hospital echoed chaotically in Olivia’s ears. She fled to the bathroom in panic and shame, throwing away her dirty pants. She huddled in a corner, her body twitching uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face. Why did they have to humiliate her like this? She hadn’t done anything, yet just because she hindered Sophie from winning Ethan over, just because she prevented them from being together, she ended up in this state. But Ethan had originally loved her. Olivia cried until her whole body went numb, slumping to the ground. Four more times left. Then she would no longer interfere with them. Olivia took off her outer jacket and tied it around her waist, intending to find another servant uniform. Just as she opened the door, Ethan threw some dog diapers in her face. “Hurry up and put these on.” Knowing Olivia was allergic to dogs, Ethan had never kept any. He had once slapped Sophie hard for bringing a dog near Olivia. Now the Shaw house had dog diapers, clearly Ethan had brought Sophie’s dog back. And now he was making her wear dog diapers. How was this any different from calling her a dog? But Olivia had no choice. Not wanting to wet herself in public again, she could only choose the dog diapers. After putting them on, she followed behind Ethan. Seeing her walk too slowly, Ethan kicked her in disgust. “Six months in the mental hospital made you delicate? If you don’t want these legs anymore then get rid of them.” Olivia cried out in pain, her face turning even paler. She didn’t need him to do anything. Her right leg had already been crippled by those lunatics. Taking even slightly bigger steps was agonizing. She murmured an explanation, “My leg is crippled.” “You say it’s crippled so it’s crippled? Who are you trying to fool?” Ethan couldn’t care less if her leg was really crippled or not. Olivia had to bite her lip bloody to endure the pain of walking to Sophie’s room. This room used to be specially prepared by Ethan for Olivia. All the decorations and furniture had been arranged by him personally. Now it had become Sophie’s room. Ethan walked to Sophie’s side, his gloomy face instantly turning gentle. “From now on, she’ll serve you. She nearly killed you, so she should atone for her sins.” Sophie pouted and said: “I don’t dare. What if I accidentally hurt Olivia? You might beat our child to death.” Ethan hugged her tightly, full of heartache. “She’s a sinner. Even if she dies to make you happy, it’s worth it.” “No one can hurt our child. Don’t worry, we’ll hold our wedding in two weeks.” Olivia suddenly felt his love was ironic. When he loved you, you were the pearl in his palm. When he stopped loving you, you became trash whose dignity could be trampled at will. Sophie didn’t believe him, so Ethan anxiously tried to prove his love by preparing for the wedding. As soon as Ethan left, Sophie’s face instantly changed. She looked at Olivia with a sneer. “Ethan really went too far. How could he torture a perfectly good person into this state – incontinent, crippled leg, ruined uterus, probably not quite right in the head either…” “I heard it was because you saw me before my accident.” So she knew everything. Olivia suddenly thought of something. “You faked your death on purpose, didn’t you?”

Sophie stroked her pregnant belly and smiled provocatively. “My fake car accident death was just to help Ethan realize his true feelings. His love for you was only due to the influence of the plot and character settings. He and I are true love!” After saying that, she had the servants bring her dog over and deliberately ordered Olivia: “Olivia, you should have put on Doudou’s diapers, right? Doudou isn’t wearing any yet. Why don’t you put some diapers on Doudou too?” Olivia stumbled back a step in fear. “Get it away!” She wasn’t just allergic to dogs, she also had psychological trauma from them. The lunatics in the mental hospital often liked to torment and scare her. Once they even locked her in with a wild dog in heat. Sophie pretended not to notice her fear and smiled as she pushed the dog into Olivia’s arms. “Don’t worry Olivia, Doudou is very well-behaved. He won’t bite you. You shouldn’t forget your current status.” Olivia felt chills all over. The parts of her touched by the dog’s fur started stinging and burning. Before she could back away, Sophie suddenly let go of the dog. Doudou yelped in pain. Hearing the sound, Ethan rushed back in. Without distinguishing right from wrong, he grabbed Olivia’s hair and threw her aside, anxiously checking Sophie all over. “Where are you hurt?” Sophie hugged Doudou who had fallen to the ground, tears in her eyes. “Ethan, you should just let Olivia leave. Doudou and I don’t deserve to stay here.” Ethan instantly understood what had happened. His face darkened as he grabbed Olivia’s neck. “Olivia Chen, are you looking to die?” “The person I spent half a year trying to bring back isn’t for you to bully!” Olivia struggled to breathe as her face and neck turned red and purple. The fear of death made her instinctively struggle. “I…I didn’t do anything…” But meeting Ethan’s frosty, gloomy eyes, all the blood in Olivia’s body went cold. A feeling of helpless suffocation took over, and she swallowed back any words of explanation. No matter what she said, Ethan wouldn’t believe her. Sophie didn’t want Olivia to die just like that. She fearfully hugged Ethan. “It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have come back. Ethan, let go quickly, don’t take a life because of me.” Ethan was afraid of hurting Sophie and had to release Olivia. But Olivia had committed a mistake and needed to learn her lesson. He called for his bodyguards. “Teach her a good lesson. Let her know what it means to be a servant. If she can’t even be a servant, then the Chen family can disappear too.” Sending her to the mental hospital for six months of torture wasn’t enough. Now he was even using the Chen family to threaten her. Ethan was truly cruel! Olivia was forcibly dragged away by the bodyguards to the basement. She was tortured all night long with various terrifying instruments. The next day when she came out, Olivia had been tormented into becoming a servant that satisfied Sophie. “Olivia, my feet are sore. Come massage them for me.” “The water’s gone cold. Go get me another glass.” “Oh no, I accidentally made a mess in the bathroom. Go clean it up quickly.” “How clumsy of me to spill it. Ethan made that porridge specially for me, what a waste. Olivia, why don’t you lick up all the spilled porridge?” “I don’t like using a mop to clean the room. How can you be so lazy with your work? Get on your knees and wipe this whole place clean with a rag.” Olivia knelt on the ground, struggling to scrub the tiles. Compared to the torture in the mental hospital and basement, this humiliation was nothing. Just three more times left. Ethan cut an apple into small pieces and fed them to Sophie, his face full of doting affection. To Olivia, his words were ice cold: “There’s a banquet tonight. Sophie can’t drink alcohol, so you go in her place.” Olivia had no right to refuse. “Yes.” Afraid she would embarrass them in a servant’s uniform, Ethan threw her one of Sophie’s unwanted dresses. Olivia limped after Sophie, drinking glass after glass of alcohol in her place until her stomach hurt terribly. Someone recognized Olivia and joked with Ethan: “Isn’t that your fiancée? Don’t you feel bad for her? If you keep torturing her like this, aren’t you afraid she’ll run away?” Ethan sneered: “Is she worthy of my pity? My fiancée is Sophie.” “Go call some more people over for her.” As for being afraid she’d run away? What a joke. Olivia had loved him for over 20 years. She was vicious enough to cause Sophie’s car accident to get rid of her. How could she bear to leave him?

Just as she was about to finish fending off the drinks, another group of men appeared in front of Olivia. With Ethan’s instructions, they deliberately insulted her: “Mr. Shaw loves Sophie. If she hadn’t tampered with Sophie’s brakes, Mr. Shaw and Sophie would have been together long ago.” “She looks pretty enough, but to use such vicious methods and harm an innocent person. She really needs to be taught a lesson. Why don’t you come with us instead?” “You’ve already been dirtied by those lunatics in the mental hospital anyway. It’s your luck that we young masters are interested in you.” “We heard you’re willing to be a servant just to stay in the Shaw family. You’re not still hoping to marry Mr. Shaw, are you?” Olivia endured the burning pain in her stomach and drank another full glass of strong alcohol. As if she hadn’t heard the implications in their words, she replied coldly: “My engagement to Ethan Shaw was cancelled long ago.” She would soon be formatted by this world. She wouldn’t marry Ethan Shaw. And she wouldn’t have to suffer this torment anymore. Seeing Olivia was drunk, some men immediately put down their glasses and started groping her. Others brazenly tried to drag her towards the bathroom. The man who had been joking with Ethan noticed and reminded him, “Aren’t you going to stop them? She’s a servant of the Shaw family now. If they have their way with her and she comes back, won’t that be disgusting?” Ethan saw what was happening but turned away to drink with his friends. “That’s her just deserts for daring to try to kill Sophie. She has to pay some price.” Someone immediately started flattering Sophie: “Sister-in-law, Mr. Shaw is getting revenge for you. You don’t know, after you had your accident, Mr. Shaw even sent Olivia Chen to a mental hospital!” “It’s lucky you survived. Otherwise, Olivia Chen dying ten thousand times wouldn’t be enough for Mr. Shaw’s grief.” Sophie shyly looked at Ethan. Ethan was just preparing for the wedding, but he still owed her a proper proposal. Taking this opportunity, he got down on one knee and gazed at Sophie with deep affection. “Sophie, I love you.” “Will you marry me?” … Olivia’s body was already ruined. Even if she wasn’t drunk, she couldn’t have resisted. Those men excitedly started undressing Olivia, but when they saw the horrific scars all over her body, they instantly felt disgusted. “Fuck, this is too gross.” Olivia was carelessly thrown into a corner of the bathroom, completely unconscious. When she woke up, Olivia stumbled out of the hotel with an agonizing headache. She found a random place to sit down. She wanted to call her parents, but she didn’t have the courage, and was also afraid of implicating them. Her phone kept receiving messages from Sophie. [What does it matter if you’re the female lead?] [Ethan is mine. I’ll be the female lead of this world.] In the video, Ethan knelt down and proposed to her with deep affection, putting a diamond ring on her finger and kissing her… Olivia’s heart had long gone numb. But seeing this scene still made her heart ache. She turned off her phone and sat blankly for a long time. As if about to be liberated, she smiled and murmured, “Just two more times.” Only two more times left. Before she could react, Olivia was suddenly dragged into a car by a group of people. She was so startled she hurriedly banged on the car window trying to get help from passersby, but no one noticed. Her arm was violently dislocated from struggling. Olivia asked with a pale face: “Who are you people?” No one answered her. The back of her neck was chopped with a hand. Olivia passed out. When she woke up again and saw the familiar nurse uniforms, Olivia thought she was back in the mental hospital, about to be tortured by fake nurses under the guise of treatment. Her face turned white as paper. “Let me leave…” “I’m not sick, I don’t want to stay here.” Ethan knew Olivia’s current state was very abnormal. But he didn’t care at all. Instead he angrily berated her: “Olivia Chen, you saw me propose to Sophie, didn’t you? So you found someone to humiliate her while she went to the bathroom, causing her to hemorrhage, then ran away yourself.” “Did you learn how to trade your body in the mental hospital? Why didn’t those men play you to death!” “No, I didn’t.” Olivia’s voice trembled as she fell off the chair. “Let me leave this place…” She had severe trauma associated with nurse uniforms. Ethan had no time to waste with her. He hurriedly urged the nurse: “She has RH negative blood. Quick, take her to draw blood.” Draw blood? Olivia became slightly more lucid. They wanted to draw her blood for Sophie? But she hadn’t done anything to Sophie. She didn’t even know what had happened. Why should she give blood to Sophie? Not to mention her body couldn’t handle donating blood in its current state. Just thinking about her blood flowing into Sophie’s body made her feel sick. She gathered her strength to run towards the door. “Ethan Shaw, why should I give blood to save her? I won’t do it!” But she only ran a few steps before Ethan easily caught up and threw her back into the wheelchair. His cold voice came from above her head. “The sins you committed should be atoned for by you.” “Olivia Chen, you have no choice!” Olivia was injected with a sedative by the nurse and forcibly taken away. She slumped in the wheelchair, looking at Ethan from afar and smiling bitterly. “Ethan Shaw, only one time left.” Just one last time, and they would have no more connection.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296119”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn #校园School

Everyone in their social circle knew that Alastair Croft was Ophelia Blackwood’s devoted admirer. He had voluntarily married Ophelia in place of Caspian Thorne, the runaway groom, and stood by her side through the most difficult years of her life. However, just when things were finally looking up, Caspian – the man who had abandoned Ophelia at the altar years ago – suddenly returned. For Caspian’s sake, Ophelia forced Alastair to kneel, locked him in a dog cage, and even compelled him to give blood to Caspian… But what Ophelia didn’t know was that Alastair wasn’t actually from this world. When his seven-year agreement with the mysterious “system” was complete, Alastair chose to leave this reality without hesitation. Upon seeing his “corpse,” Ophelia went mad with grief. … Alastair took a cab to the Mirage Club. Under the mocking gazes of the crowd, he handed a pack of condoms to Ophelia. Ophelia didn’t take them. “You’re four minutes late,” she said, clearly displeased. “There was traffic…” Alastair started to explain, but was interrupted by a teasing male voice. “Ophelia made a bet with her friends that you’d definitely show up within 30 minutes with condoms in hand.” “Little Alastair, you’re four minutes late and cost Ophelia a villa. Better drink four glasses as punishment!” Caspian leaned against Ophelia, looking at Alastair with feigned reproach. Alastair’s gaze fell to his glass. Did the one who fell in love first always have to be treated this way? He wasn’t actually from this world. Seven years ago, his brother had been hit by a car and left in a vegetative state. Devastated, Alastair had somehow awakened a mysterious “system” – an otherworldly power that offered him a deal. If he agreed to accompany Ophelia for seven years, the system would revive his brother as a reward. For these seven years, Alastair had taken meticulous care of Ophelia, helping her rise from rock bottom back to the top. Gradually, he had even developed genuine feelings for her. Just when Alastair was planning to ask the system if he could stay with Ophelia permanently, Caspian – the man who had abandoned her years ago – returned from abroad. With Caspian’s return, Alastair’s seven years of devotion seemed to become a joke overnight. But it didn’t matter. There were only ten days left until his contract with the system expired. Then he could return to his brother’s side. Alastair looked up at Ophelia and said, “I have stomach problems. I can’t drink alcohol.” Ophelia casually picked up a glass and said, “Alastair, your stomach issues were cured ages ago. Don’t be a killjoy.” That had just been an excuse he’d made up so she wouldn’t worry about him. Now it had become Ophelia’s reason to hurt him. A bitter smile tugged at Alastair’s lips. “Fine. If you want me to drink, I’ll drink.” Because of the system’s restrictions, he could never refuse Ophelia’s demands. Alastair lifted the glass and downed it in one gulp. With a sense of reckless abandon, he decided that as long as Ophelia didn’t tell him to stop, he would keep drinking. After all, once he left, this body would die anyway. It didn’t matter if it was healthy or not. Someone joked, “That’s all hard liquor. Can he really handle drinking like that? Ophelia, aren’t you worried about him?” “This is nothing. Alastair is famous for being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. Back in the day, he secured so many business deals for Ophelia at the drinking table!” “That’s right, everyone knows Alastair is Ophelia’s loyal lapdog. If she tells him to go east, he wouldn’t dare go west.” “Ophelia, you’ve got to share your secrets for keeping a man so obedient!” Ophelia’s eyes narrowed slightly as she shot an annoyed glance at the person who had just spoken. They immediately fell silent. She looked at Alastair, remembering the first time he had drunk alcohol. Back then, half a glass of wine was enough to make him tipsy. He had hugged her shoulders, telling her how beautiful she was and that he wanted to stay and be her husband.

Later, to keep her company at business functions, Alastair had started building up his alcohol tolerance. He told her he would handle the drinking while she focused on negotiating deals. He promised they would only get better and better together. With his support, she had rebuilt the Blackwood family business. She used to think Alastair was an angel sent to her by heaven. But now she realized that beneath that angelic exterior, his heart was poisonous. Thinking of what Alastair had done to Caspian, Ophelia’s heart, which had softened slightly, hardened once again. In no time at all, Alastair had downed over a dozen glasses of hard liquor. The flood of alcohol into his empty stomach caused needle-like pain to spread throughout his abdomen. Unable to control himself, he leaned against the sofa and started vomiting. The people around him immediately scattered, looking at him with utter disgust. “How revolting. If you can’t hold your liquor, don’t try to show off!” “This outfit is this year’s latest style. It cost me $18,000, and now he’s ruined it completely.” Caspian covered his nose and retreated to Ophelia’s side, taking her arm. “Ophelia, Alastair didn’t mean to ruin everyone’s party. Don’t be too hard on him…” Alastair was so unsteady he could barely stand. He tasted iron in his throat, and when he saw the bright red blood, his vision went black and he collapsed. Just before he lost consciousness completely, he thought he saw Ophelia push Caspian away and rush towards him anxiously. But that had to be a hallucination, right? Ever since Caspian’s return, Alastair didn’t even have a place in Ophelia’s heart anymore. How could she possibly still care about him? When Alastair regained consciousness, his eyes were still closed, but he heard Caspian’s regretful voice: “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have made Alastair drink. I just wanted him to have a couple glasses to liven things up. Who knew he would…” Cordelia Thorne raised her hand to pull Caspian into her embrace, comforting him: “Caspian, this isn’t your fault. He insisted on showing off by drinking so much. Now that he’s got a bleeding ulcer, he has no one to blame but himself.” Sure enough, when Alastair opened his eyes, he saw a scene of motherly love. Seeing that he was awake, Cordelia immediately started scolding him: “Alastair, look what you’ve done! Caspian was worried sick about you all night.” Alaric Thorne said viciously: “You knew you couldn’t handle alcohol. Why did you have to show off? You deserve this bleeding ulcer!” Their hurtful words were like knives, stabbing him over and over. In Alastair’s original world, his parents had died early. His brother had raised him single-handedly, so he had never experienced parental love. He thought coming to this world would make up for that regret. Before, his relationship with the Thornes had even seemed warm. But as soon as Caspian returned, he stole everything from Alastair – both love and family. Alastair’s voice was weak as he asked, “Who is really your biological son?” “When Caspian abandoned the Thorne family’s reputation and ran away from the wedding, you hated him so much you cursed him for being heartless. But he’s only been back a short while and you’ve already forgotten all that hatred.” When facing Ophelia, Alastair couldn’t disobey her because of the system’s restrictions. But when facing others, he didn’t want to be so stifled anymore. However, Cordelia and Alaric became even angrier hearing this. Cordelia said, “How dare you bring up Caspian running from the wedding! If it weren’t for…” Caspian grabbed Cordelia’s arm and said in an aggrieved tone, “Mom, let’s not talk about the past anymore. From now on, I’ll work with my brother to be filial to you and Dad.” Cordelia looked at Caspian with heartache. “My poor boy, you’ve suffered so much.” Alaric also said, “Caspian, when we get back I’ll transfer all the shares under my name to you as compensation.” To Alastair, Cordelia and Alaric’s words were laughable. It was clearly Caspian who had forced him to drink and caused his bleeding ulcer. Now they were blaming him instead. A smug look flashed across Caspian’s face, but he still maintained his act of humility. “As long as I can stay by Mom and Dad’s side, no hardship is too much.” Afterwards, Caspian used the excuse of calling a doctor to send Cordelia and Alaric away. Once they were gone, Caspian immediately dropped his facade and walked to Alastair’s bedside.

“Alastair, you’ve seen it for yourself. Your wife and your parents all have their hearts set on me. You’ve really failed miserably at being a person!” “I advise you to know your place. Leave voluntarily now, or you’ll be the one who looks bad when you get kicked out later.” Alastair sat up in the hospital bed and looked at Caspian. “If that’s really the case, why are you in such a hurry? Why not just wait for me to get kicked out?” Having his thoughts seen through, Caspian became somewhat flustered and angry. “Alastair, since you refuse to drink from the cup of kindness, don’t blame me for what happens next.” He raised his hand and punched himself, then picked up the water glass by the bed and poured it over himself. The glass shattered with a crisp sound. The next second, the door to the room was pushed open. Ophelia and Cordelia appeared in the doorway with several doctors. Seeing the situation in the room, Ophelia rushed to Caspian’s side in a few quick steps. She looked at the handprint on Caspian’s face, her heart aching. “Caspian, are you okay?” Caspian’s eyes were red as he said, “Alastair, I really only came back this time to see Mom, Dad and Ophelia. If you don’t like it, I can leave right away…” Hearing this, Ophelia was instantly enraged. She raised her hand and slapped Alastair hard across the face. “Alastair, is it only in front of Caspian that you show your vicious, brutal true colors?!” “Let me tell you, from now on, Caspian will stay by my side. Don’t even think about driving him away.” The slap was extremely heavy. Alastair’s body tilted to the side, his head hitting the bed frame and raising a large bump. Cordelia didn’t even spare Alastair a glance. She just took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Caspian’s tears. “Caspian, in the years you were gone, I worried about you every single moment. Promise Mommy you won’t leave again, okay?” Caspian glanced at Alastair with a somewhat troubled expression. “But if I stay, Alastair will be unhappy.” Alaric immediately yanked Alastair up from the bed. “Apologize to your brother right now!” Alastair was unsteady on his feet, but he still forced out in a hard voice: “He’s not my brother.” In his heart, he would only ever have one brother. Ophelia used anger to mask her loss of composure: “Alastair, you really are incorrigible! I order you to apologize to Caspian!” Alastair stubbornly stared at Ophelia, refusing to speak. His whole body started to feel the stinging pain of an electric current. The system’s restrictions meant he couldn’t refuse Ophelia’s demands, or he would be punished with electric shocks. As the current gradually increased, Alastair’s entire body was in excruciating pain. He fell to his knees. Seeing this, Ophelia instinctively reached out to help him up, but before she could touch him, she pulled her hand back. “Alastair, I know your stomach problems aren’t that serious. Don’t try to play for sympathy.” Someone who doesn’t love you won’t care even if you die right in front of them. Alastair couldn’t help but wonder – nine days from now, when he really died in front of Ophelia, would she shed even a single tear for him? This tug-of-war ended with Ophelia’s inevitable victory. Alastair’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, his face so pale it was almost transparent. Word by word, he said: “Caspian… I’m sorry…” “Alright, Alastair. I accept your apology. You can get up now.” Caspian reached out to help him up, but when he got close to Alastair’s ear, he whispered mockingly: “Alastair, and here I thought you had such a strong backbone!” After the apology was over, Ophelia took Caspian to the clinic for treatment. Cordelia and Alaric followed closely behind. The group that had arrived so grandly now left just as grandly. Alastair seemed to have been forgotten, left standing alone. After a long while, he finally raised his hand to touch his swollen, painful cheek. If his brother were here, he would definitely protect him and care for him. Brother, I miss you. I really want to see you soon.

For the next few days, neither Ophelia nor Cordelia came back to the hospital. Because of the system’s companionship requirements, Alastair couldn’t be away from Ophelia for more than three days. On the evening of the third day, Alastair called Ophelia. He had to call over a dozen times before she finally picked up. Ophelia’s impatient voice came through the phone. “Alastair, are you sick in the head? Why do you keep calling me?!” Alastair’s voice was flat as he said, “Ophelia, it’s been three days since I last saw you.” “It’s only been three days. I wish I never had to see a vicious man like you ever again.” If he could, he would want to never see her again either. “Ophelia, I’ve told you before, if I don’t see you for more than three days, I’ll…” Ophelia mocked him, “You’ll feel like you’re dying? Alastair, stop with these boring tricks. It used to be cute, but now it just disgusts me!” With that, she hung up the phone. Alastair looked at the darkened phone screen, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. Back when Ophelia had gone on a business trip, she had said she’d be back in two days. But she hadn’t returned until the evening of the third day. Alastair’s entire body had felt like it was being bitten by insects. There were no visible injuries, but the pain and itching were unbearable. He had wanted to take a knife and scrape off his own skin. The longer he went without seeing Ophelia, the worse this feeling became. That night, Alastair had bought a plane ticket and flown to Ophelia’s side. When Ophelia saw him, she was both surprised and pleased. She asked why he had come. At the time, his eyes had been red-rimmed, his tone carrying a hint of barely detectable grievance as he said: “Ophelia, don’t ever go more than three days without letting me see you again. Being away from you feels worse than death.” Ophelia had hugged his waist, laughing softly as she nuzzled his chest. “You really can’t bear to be apart from me, can you?” Alastair had nodded emphatically. Then Ophelia had solemnly promised that from then on, she would definitely take him with her wherever she went. She had always kept that promise. But now she thought he was just playing tricks. She said he disgusted her. Just as Alastair was about to call Ophelia’s assistant to ask about her whereabouts, Caspian sent him a video clip. [Alastair, so what if you’ve been by her side for seven years? So what if I ran away from the wedding back then? The one she loves has always been me.] In the video, Ophelia was wearing an elegant evening gown, her arms around Caspian as they danced the opening waltz. The suit Caspian was wearing was the one Alastair had custom ordered from a certain brand a month ago. The two gazed at each other and smiled, their eyes conveying unspoken emotions. Alastair pulled out the IV needle, got out of bed and changed his clothes, then took a taxi to the jewelry exhibition. By the time Alastair arrived, the exhibition had reached its climax. Ophelia was in a bidding war with someone else over a diamond watch called “Eternal Time.” In the end, Ophelia won the auction for $180 million. As she went on stage to sign for it, the host asked her: “Ms. Blackwood, you seemed very determined to win this ‘Heart of True Love’ during the bidding. May I ask, what made you so set on acquiring it?” Ophelia took the microphone and said: “Because I once promised someone that I would give him all my love. By twist of fate, we weren’t able to be together in the end. I hope this watch, which symbolizes eternal time, can accompany him in my place.” The host said: “There are so many regrets in love. Though regrettable, it’s unforgettable. Ms. Blackwood and her beloved may not have ended up together, but I believe this love will be passed down eternally along with time.” Applause thundered through the hall. Caspian gazed at Ophelia on stage with tears in his eyes, accepting everyone’s congratulations. But when Ophelia saw Alastair standing in the doorway, her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

She quickly regained her composure and walked off the stage. After handing the necklace to Caspian, she strode over to Alastair, grabbed his arm and pulled him aside, scolding: “Alastair, are you following me?” Alastair’s arm hurt from Ophelia’s grip. His brows furrowed. “Ophelia, I just wanted to come see you.” Ophelia’s heart seemed to be suddenly struck. Her entire demeanor softened. He said he just wanted to come see her. Alastair truly loved her so much. Even though she had given this watch symbolizing eternal love to Caspian, he didn’t utter a single word of complaint. In front of her, he lowered himself to the dust. Thinking of this, Ophelia’s voice gentled a bit. “Although I gave this watch to Caspian, don’t worry. The position of Mr. Blackwood will always be yours.” Perhaps in the past, hearing these words would have made him somewhat happy. It meant he still had a place in Ophelia’s heart. But now, Alastair really wanted to tell her that he didn’t need it anymore. He didn’t need Ophelia’s affection or love. He didn’t need the position of Mr. Blackwood. Caspian walked over, the dazzling diamond watch on his wrist. He put his arm around Ophelia’s shoulders. “Ophelia, Alastair was discharged from the hospital today. Why don’t we go have dinner together to celebrate?” Ophelia looked at Alastair in his thin clothes but didn’t say anything. She turned and left with Caspian. Alastair silently followed behind them. As long as he could stay by Ophelia’s side for an hour, he could make it through another three days. At the dinner table, Caspian poured half a glass of red wine for each of them. Alastair looked at the wine, as red as fresh blood, but didn’t refuse. After all, his refusal would be meaningless. As long as Ophelia told him to drink, he had to drink. But unexpectedly, Ophelia spoke up first, calling the waiter over: “Bring him a glass of milk instead.” A flash of venom passed through Caspian’s eyes, but he quickly smiled and said: “How forgetful of me. I almost forgot Alastair can’t drink alcohol.” Alastair just smiled indifferently at this. Whether it was red wine or milk made no difference to him now. After dinner, Alastair didn’t want to keep being the villain getting in the way of true love. He volunteered to leave. Seeing how considerate he was being, Ophelia couldn’t help but say: “Wait for me at home. I’ll be back tonight.” Alastair didn’t respond to this. He had already spent an hour by Ophelia’s side. Whether she came back now or not didn’t matter to him anymore. But unexpectedly, just as he arrived home, Ophelia returned with Caspian. She walked over and grabbed Alastair’s collar, her pale hands roaming all over his body. The mocking look in Caspian’s eyes made Alastair feel extremely uncomfortable. He lost his temper for once: “Ophelia, what are you doing?!” Ophelia felt something in Alastair’s pocket. She pulled it out, and instantly flew into a rage. She shoved Alastair to the ground. “Alastair, and here I thought you had reformed.” Caspian also spoke up, looking disappointed: “Alastair, if you liked this watch, you could have just told me. Why did you have to steal it?” Looking at the watch in Ophelia’s hand, Alastair realized he had been set up by Caspian. Even though he knew Ophelia wouldn’t believe him, he still had to speak up in his own defense. “I didn’t steal it. Caspian framed me.” Caspian immediately looked aggrieved. “Alastair, I know you’ve never liked me as your brother, but you can’t just dump this dirty water on me.” Hearing Caspian repeatedly refer to himself as Alastair’s brother, Alastair lost control and shouted: “You’re not my brother at all. You don’t deserve to be!” Ophelia said sternly: “Enough! Alastair, you’re really beyond hope. You did something wrong, but you don’t show a shred of remorse!” “Someone come lock him in the dog cage in the backyard. Don’t let him out until he admits his mistake.” Two bodyguards wordlessly dragged Alastair to the backyard and shoved him into an iron cage. Several fierce dogs immediately surrounded the cage, snarling and barking at Alastair. Alastair had been bitten by a dog when he was young and had been deeply afraid of them ever since. He gripped the iron bars and shouted: “Ophelia, let me out…” “I know I was wrong, please let me out…” But no matter how much he yelled, no one paid him any attention. Only the vicious dogs kept circling around him, baring their teeth and tearing at his clothes from time to time. Alastair curled up into a ball, his whole body shaking uncontrollably. He was terrified that at any moment, these dogs would lunge at him and tear him to pieces. He mumbled: “Brother, come save me…” “Brother, I’m so scared. Come take me home…” After a long while, Alastair finally remembered that his brother was lying in a vegetative state in the hospital after saving him. He had come here to save his brother. From childhood, no matter what danger he faced, his brother had always stood in front of him, shielding him from wind and rain.

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My secret boyfriend Lucas said he would marry me once we saved enough money to buy a house . To achieve this, I took on a part-time job delivering food after work every day to save money. One night, just as I was about to rest, I received an order: “I’ll give you an extra $20 if you can deliver a box of condoms to the Hilton Hotel within 10 minutes. Strawberry flavored.” I thought to myself, what kind of rich fool would make such a request? But I happily accepted. However, when I delivered the order, the person who came out of the room was my supposedly out-of-town boyfriend, Lucas. “Food delivery? Just leave it at the door.” Hearing that voice, I froze outside the door. My body reacted quickly, pushing open the stairwell door next to me and hiding inside. It can’t be. It just sounds similar. He’s supposed to be abroad right now. We were just video chatting before I went to sleep. I bit my lip, trying to reassure myself, but my eyes were glued to that door through the crack. Soon, the door opened and a shirtless man walked out. The man was handsome with a tall, slender build. I knew that figure all too well – it was my boyfriend, Lucas. He grabbed the delivery and went back inside, turning to reveal scratch marks all over his back. His movements were hurried, not even bothering to close the door properly. “Got the stuff. Now you can’t escape. You’re so delicate, needing strawberry flavored condoms.” Though his words were teasing, his tone was affectionate. “What, isn’t this how you like it?” the woman inside replied playfully. “Or do you prefer that prude you have at home?” “Her?” Lucas scoffed. “I’ve been looking at her for ten years. I’m bored of her.” Soon indescribable sounds could be heard from inside. I stood outside, feeling my blood run cold. My nails dug into my palms. You like to be loud, huh? Then let everyone hear. I suddenly yanked open the door that wasn’t fully closed. Ignoring the shocked cries from inside, I ran down the stairs. The delivery scooter parked downstairs had been knocked over into the bushes by security. In a daze, I didn’t know what to do. My phone rang – it was my mom. Hearing the commotion on my end, my mom anxiously asked what was wrong. I choked up, unable to speak for a long time. Finally I managed to say: “I’m fine, Mom. I don’t want to stay in the big city anymore. Can I come home early for the holidays to be with you?” I looked at the luxurious high-rise in front of me. Without another glance at the mud-covered delivery scooter, I turned and left.

At 3 AM, I received a message from Lucas. He said he was flying back today and asked me to pick him up early. I shook my heavy head, ignoring it. I couldn’t sleep all night. In my hazy state, I heard Lucas opening the door. He pushed open the bedroom door and immediately wrapped his arms around me, blanket and all, burying his face in my neck. “Why didn’t you come pick me up this morning? I’ve been working so hard on this business trip, you should show me some love.” I stared at his face, confirming it was indeed the same person I saw last night. Hard at work? More like working hard in bed with someone else. I pushed him away and got up. Seeing I wasn’t responding, Lucas grabbed my wrist. “What’s wrong? Can’t even give me a smile first thing in the morning?” I forced a smile. “It’s nothing. You must be tired from work. Go get some rest.” He frowned. “Are you kicking me out?” “Are you not feeling well?” I dodged his outstretched hand, staring at him numbly. “What’s gotten into you?” “Nothing. I just don’t feel like talking right now. You should go.” Lucas kicked the door hard in frustration. “You think I want to be here? You’re not so desirable anymore.” Seeing no reaction from me, Lucas stormed out angrily. I leaned heavily against the wall for support. I should have seen the signs, starting with his frequent business trips lately. Lucas was right – in the beginning, I was the one desperately chasing after him. Back then we were in the same school. I was being bullied by our homeroom teacher who falsely accused me of stealing because of my poor grades. He stood up and talked back to the teacher for me, resulting in both of us being punished to stand in the hallway. Seeing that I had gotten him in trouble too, I cried and apologized to him. “This isn’t your fault. Why are you apologizing?” The boy stood tall, with endless green foliage behind him. From that moment on, I followed him for ten whole years. I worked my fingers to the bone, enduring sky-high rent to live in the apartment across from his. I waited so long to finally hear him say “Aria, let’s give us a try.” Even though he refused to make our relationship public. Even though he said he’d only marry me after we saved enough to buy a place. The jacket Lucas had taken off when he first arrived was still on the sofa. An opened box of condoms fell out of his coat pocket. It was the strawberry flavored ones I had delivered to the hotel last night.

The next day at work, my colleagues were all gathered around gossiping about something. “Did you see earlier? Manager Zhou came in with a woman, I heard she’s the daughter of Sterling Group’s CEO.” “They look so perfect together standing next to our Manager Zhou!” The office door was knocked, and Lucas glanced at me without much expression. “Let me introduce everyone – this is Chloe. She’ll be your new department head from now on.” All eyes turned to me. The department head position was originally supposed to be mine. “Hello everyone, I’m Chloe,” she said with a bright smile. But I felt chilled to the bone. It was her – that voice belonged to the woman who was with Lucas last night. A colleague noticed my pale face and asked if I was okay, assuming I was upset about losing the promotion. I shook my head weakly. But Chloe walked up to me. “You must be Aria?” “The Harmony Corporation project bid is in a week. I need all the materials by tomorrow.” She looked at me, seemingly with kindness. But her words meant several times the usual workload. I instinctively glanced at Lucas, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was smiling at Chloe.

Late at night in the office, I sent the final confirmed documents to Chloe for review. Even though I had decided to leave, I still wanted to do a good job on my last assignment. I rubbed my sore neck and opened my phone to book a flight home in two weeks. Just then Lucas called, his voice cold. “Why aren’t you home yet?” “Still working overtime at the office.” “Why are you always working late? Do you need me to pick you up?” His tone seemed to soften a bit. I thought of Lucas leaving work with Chloe earlier, and leaned back in my chair tiredly. “No need, I’ll still be a while. I’ll head back on my own later.” “Ungrateful!” he snarled, and immediately hung up. It was past midnight when I finally left. As soon as I entered the complex, I saw two intimate figures entwined under a dim street lamp. “Aren’t you afraid Aria will see us like this?” “I just asked her, she’s still working overtime at the office.” In the moonlight, I saw Chloe look directly at me, smirking triumphantly. “I gave big sister all that extra work to keep her busy. You’re not upset on her behalf, are you?” The man with his back to me laughed huskily. “As long as you’re happy.”

Time flew by quickly as I threw myself into work, deliberately trying not to think about matters of the heart. After several late nights, I finally finished the project. In the meeting with Harmony Corporation, I had a great discussion with their representative about collaboration details. Lucas sat silently to the side, just watching me intently. The Harmony rep smiled and extended his hand to me, saying “You’re very talented. I hope we have the chance to work together again in the future.” Before I could respond, Lucas quickly grasped that hand. “Our company also hopes to have more opportunities to collaborate with Harmony in the future.” Chloe hurriedly chimed in sweetly, but when she looked at me her eyes were full of hatred. Back at the office, Lucas cornered me in the stairwell. “Alright, enough of this. Did I do something to upset you recently? I apologize.” “I haven’t been sleeping well without you by my side lately.” He placed his hands on either side of me, his eyes as gentle as they used to be. I looked at this two-faced man in front of me. I had known him for ten years, yet it felt like I never truly knew him at all. I was about to answer when faint footsteps echoed in the stairwell. Lucas immediately backed away from me. I watched him put distance between us, feeling the air grow thin. Snippets of conversation drifted over: “Did you see the photo Chloe posted in the group chat?” “I didn’t know Aria delivers food after work. Is she really struggling that much?” Lucas pulled out his phone to look at the photo of me in a dirty uniform, sweat and grime covering half my face. My phone remained silent. I wasn’t in that group chat. From outside came what sounded like Chloe’s loud mocking laughter. Lucas gave me a look of disgust. “Have I not provided enough for you? Why do you need to embarrass yourself like this?” “It’s not like we have any relationship in everyone else’s eyes. I’m not embarrassing you.” Someone called my name from outside, breaking the tense atmosphere.

I stared blankly at the overseas assignment application form my boss had given me. “You did an excellent job on the Harmony project. Their representative spoke very highly of you.” “The department head position was originally meant for you, but your Manager Zhou said you still needed more experience.” “The company has an exchange opportunity in Germany now. I’m thinking of sending you.” I had been planning to resign, but didn’t expect such an opportunity to come up. Lucas knocked on my desk, snapping me out of my daze. “It’s time to go. I’ll take you to dinner.” I glanced around – all my colleagues had left. Of course, our relationship only existed when no one else was around. I wanted to refuse, but Lucas forcefully dragged me to a restaurant and ordered a table full of my favorite dishes. We tacitly avoided mentioning what happened in the stairwell earlier. I no longer had the energy to argue with him either. Perhaps after going abroad, this relationship would truly be over. It began silently, and would end with no one knowing. I lowered my head to hide my emotions. Lucas suddenly spoke up: “About that exchange opportunity to Germany the boss mentioned to you – can you let Chloe have it instead?” I jerked my head up, staring at him in shock. “She’s the department head and main person in charge of this project. She’s more suitable than you.” “Why?” “I know your abilities better than anyone. You’re not at that level yet. You only did well on this case because Chloe helped you, right?” Hearing those words, I froze, staring at this man who looked at me with a hint of disdain. “Why is it that in your eyes, my career can be so casually tossed aside?!” “Your career?” Lucas sneered. “What career do you have? A career in food delivery?”

The dinner ended unpleasantly. Lucas’s car drove away from me as I stood in the cold wind waiting for a taxi. Just then I received a message from Chloe: It was a photo of an application form. “I can’t believe Lucas gave me this opportunity after I just mentioned it to him.” “Then again, given your financial situation, you probably couldn’t afford the expenses of going abroad anyway.” Time seemed to freeze for a moment. I started frantically calling Lucas, but he kept hanging up. Finally after who knows how many attempts, Lucas’s cold voice came through: “Aria, don’t overestimate your position just because you had a little success. I don’t need your permission to give this opportunity to Chloe.” “I won’t be staying at your place for a while. You should reflect on your behavior.” My nails dug into my palms, my whole body shaking with pain. In the end I could only laugh bitterly. Of course, he’s the manager. What could I do? Back home, I started packing to leave. I didn’t have many belongings. I had always lived frugally, trying to save money quickly so I could start a family with Lucas. But now… I opened my computer, ready to submit the resignation letter I had prepared earlier. Suddenly my phone rang. My boss’s stern voice came through: “Aria, confidential information from the bid proposal has been leaked. Harmony’s CEO has reported it to the police.” “Come to the office right away.”

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Part One After I thought I had breast cancer, I conspired with Sophie Williams, my fiancé Ethan Parker’s admirer, to stage a drunken one-night stand. Ethan was heartbroken but still tried to care for me through various means, hoping to salvage our relationship. My condition was brought under control, requiring lifelong medication, with only some difficulty in getting pregnant. Ethan and I reconciled. After Ethan proposed again, I honestly told him about my condition. Then Ethan disappeared… Today was the day Ethan and I were supposed to pick up our wedding photos from the studio. We had taken traditional-style photos – I was dressed in an elegant red gown with an ornate headdress, looking more graceful and charming than usual. Ethan looked dashing in his formal suit, like a prince from a fairytale. “My dear, we truly are a match made in heaven,” Ethan whispered intimately in my ear. I felt my ears grow hot. “Oh stop it, who compliments themselves like that? Besides, we’re not officially married yet, so don’t get ahead of yourself,” I laughed, playfully swatting his arm. “But you know, Ethan, even though you didn’t become valedictorian in school, at least you got to feel like one during this photoshoot.” Ethan took my hand and kissed it gently. “Lily, I may not have excelled academically, but I have the best eye for choosing a life partner. Look at you – the most perfect woman to be my wife. I knew it from the moment I met you in preschool.” His words made me blush, and I turned away shyly to look at the photos instead. Ethan moved closer to me. “Lily, once we get the medical check results, let’s pick a good day to quietly get our marriage license. I can’t wait to be your lawfully wedded husband. You’re so old-fashioned, insisting on waiting until after we’re legally married to move in together. I don’t know where you get that from – even our parents are more relaxed. The earliest auspicious wedding date the fortune teller gave us is still five months away. It feels so far off. Lily, I don’t want to wait another moment.” Ethan wrapped his arms around me and gently pinched my cheek. His tall frame bent down slightly to meet my eyes, gazing at me with those beautiful, loving eyes of his. His tone was pleading. My face flushed again at his words. I lowered my head and mumbled a soft “Okay,” before hurriedly pulling the photographer away to look at some more dress options for the ceremony. “Haha, Lily, be careful walking in those heels! I’ll come find you in a bit,” Ethan called after me with a hearty laugh. I felt a bit embarrassed. The photographer beside me smiled and cautioned, “Miss Anderson, please watch your step. The floor can be slippery here.” I didn’t look back at Ethan, but I could feel his tender gaze following me. After choosing the dresses for the wedding ceremony, Ethan and I planned to grab lunch before heading to the hospital together in the afternoon to pick up our pre-marital health check results. At the restaurant, we had just started looking at the menu when Ethan’s phone rang. He glanced at it, frowned slightly, and declined the call. I looked at him but didn’t say anything, just pointed out the soup of the day on the menu – it was the duck soup he liked. “Lily, just order whatever you like. You’ve gotten thinner lately with how busy work has been…” Ethan reached out to stroke my hair gently and was about to continue when his phone rang again. He declined it once more. I lost my appetite and said, “If you’re busy, go take care of work first. I can pick up the results myself later.” I knew the calls were from Sophie Williams. She was Ethan’s junior in college, one year below him. Ever since seeing Ethan at the freshman welcome party, she had been chasing after him relentlessly. Now she even worked at the same company as him. Maybe her feelings for Ethan were no less than mine. But love is selfish, possessive and exclusive. There’s only so much of it to go around – once given to one person, there’s none left for another. Fortunately, Ethan had always chosen me. “It’s nothing, just an unknown number,” Ethan said casually. “I don’t have anything scheduled today. We planned this day to pick up the photos, choose dresses, get the health check results, and then start decorating our new place.” He didn’t realize that when he lied, his eyes would shift away slightly, his lips would purse unconsciously, and the tips of his ears would turn red. I knew him too well – we’d known each other for over a decade, maybe even better than he knew himself. I just smiled without saying anything. The meal ended up being rather tasteless for both of us. After lunch, it was time to go to the hospital for our test results. Ethan’s phone rang again. He glanced at it and answered, “I’m out right now. Yes, now? Okay, I’ll be right there.” He hung up and turned to me with an apologetic and frustrated expression. “Lily, something urgent came up at work that I need to handle personally. I can’t go with you to get the results…” Before he could finish, I stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. “Ethan, it’s okay. I can go by myself. I drove here today anyway, so don’t worry. Just give me your ID and go take care of work. I’ll call you after I pick up the results.” Without waiting for his response, I got in my car and slowly merged into traffic. In the rearview mirror, Ethan’s figure grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared. I believed in Ethan and in the unshakeable love between us. Our relationship had always been smooth sailing, with both our families’ full support and blessings. Thinking of how happy we looked in the wedding photos earlier, my disappointment at Ethan not being able to accompany me gradually faded. He held an important position and the company relied on him. Part Two At the hospital, I scanned both our IDs at the self-service kiosk and printed out a stack of reports. We had opted for the full comprehensive health check. After collecting the papers, I didn’t rush home but went to sit in the small garden near the hospital. This was Ethan and my secret spot – I always tried to stop by whenever I had errands in the area. The garden was lush and green, with a canopy of trees providing cool shade. Delicate pink roses bloomed shyly. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dancing on the flower petals and painting them in vibrant hues. Birds chirped melodiously. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, caressing my hair and kissing my lips before rustling through my white sundress. I sat on a bench and slowly looked through the test results. I checked Ethan’s papers first. Page after page showed everything was normal. I smiled to myself, then started on my own results. But then one page caught my eye – it recommended a biopsy. I rubbed my eyes and looked closer. It was the breast exam report, describing an irregular mass in the left breast, measuring 4×3.5×2.5 cm. The report mentioned enlarged lymph nodes and other concerning details I didn’t fully understand. But I had a sinking feeling it wasn’t good news. I wondered if I had grabbed the wrong papers by mistake. I double-checked the name – Lily Anderson. It was definitely mine. But how could I be sick? I had no symptoms at all. There must be some mistake. I rarely even caught colds growing up. I grabbed the papers and ran back into the hospital, finding the nurse who had assisted us earlier. Seeing my pale, anxious face, she quickly came over and took my hand. “Miss Anderson, what’s wrong?” “I think there’s a problem with the report. I may have taken the wrong one.” She took the papers I was clutching tightly and looked them over. “Miss Anderson, please try to stay calm. Let me take you to see the head doctor, okay?” I let her lead me to the doctor’s office… The doctor asked if I had any family with me. I shook my head and said to just tell me the results directly. The doctor sighed and slowly explained that they recommended a biopsy, as the report findings were concerning and cancer was a strong possibility. We would need to wait for the biopsy results to determine next steps for treatment… I stared blankly as the doctor’s mouth moved, but all I registered was the word “cancer”. I walked out of the office in a daze. “Miss Anderson, would you like me to contact your family?” The nurse carefully helped me sit on a couch in the VIP waiting room and brought me a cup of warm milk. “Can you keep the contents of the report confidential?” She nodded. “Miss Anderson, I still recommend discussing this with your family and scheduling further tests as soon as possible. The earlier we intervene, the better the treatment outcomes.” I waved her off and gazed out the window. It was early fall, but the afternoon sun was still bright and intense. The warmth on my skin contrasted sharply with the coldness spreading through my heart. I felt frozen to my core, as if my blood was turning to ice. Just this morning I had been discussing wedding plans with Ethan, dreaming of our happy future together. Now in the afternoon I was facing a potentially life-ending diagnosis. Life had a way of delivering its cruelest plot twists when you least expected them. My phone rang in my purse. I took it out and saw Ethan’s name. I didn’t answer, just sat there staring blankly until the sunlight faded from my body and the city lights began twinkling outside. A text message alert dinged. I sighed and opened it. It was from Ethan: “Lily, are you busy? I’m done with work. My parents want me to stop by to discuss some wedding details. Call me when you’re free.” I could imagine Ethan patiently and lovingly typing out that message. We were about to start a whole new chapter of our lives together. Why did this have to happen to me, of all people? I had no doubt about Ethan’s love for me. But if I’m being honest with myself – if my condition was truly life-threatening, what would happen to Ethan? Could he bear losing me? Would he be able to move on and live a good life? Was I willing to leave him alone to face a world without me? If my illness could be cured but I lost a breast in the process, was I willing to spend the rest of my life with Ethan as an imperfect version of myself? The answer to all of these was no. I loved Ethan too much. He deserved the very best this world had to offer. I texted Ethan back: “Ethan, something urgent came up at work this afternoon. I dropped the wedding photos off at our new place. I need to go on a business trip for about 10 days. I’ll be in touch when I’m back.” Ethan replied quickly: “Lily, stay safe. Talk to you when you’re back.” My job often required last-minute travel, so Ethan didn’t suspect anything unusual. I put my phone away and left the hospital. The streets were bustling with the evening rush hour crowd. The whole city felt like it was putting on an elaborate stage production. What was my role in all of this? On the drive home, I kept the windows down. The sweet scent of osmanthus flowers drifted through the air – it reminded me of Ethan’s cologne. In that moment, I missed him terribly. I wanted to tell him everything that had happened. But as I reached for my phone, I hesitated. [This marks the end of the preview section] Part Three Ethan and I had been childhood sweethearts. Our parents used to work together, and even after Ethan’s dad retired early to start his own business, Ethan and I still went to school together. As he liked to say, being my classmate helped him improve his grades and kept his parents happy, saving him from their scolding. We were in the same class from preschool all the way through high school. As a child, Ethan had an outgoing personality – he loved excitement, standing up for others, and making friends. He had many great qualities, but studying wasn’t one of them. In an era when academic performance was everything, his poor grades often earned him beatings from his father, who believed in strict discipline. Ethan learned early on to either run away or stoically endure a few hits when escape wasn’t possible. My childhood personality was the complete opposite of Ethan’s. I was quiet and preferred being alone, with reading as my only real hobby. I had very few friends. Adults saw me as obedient and well-behaved. Both sets of parents thought the other’s child had a better personality and hoped we would balance each other out. So they kept putting us in the same class. We went to and from school together and did homework together. Ethan always protected me. He said I was his little sweetheart that he’d chosen since preschool, and it was his duty to look after me. In elementary school when classmates bullied me by damaging my things or messing with my homework, I was too afraid to tell the teachers or my parents. But Ethan stood up for me. He confronted the bully privately – they both came out of the storage room with bruises and got disciplined by the school, but I was never bullied again after that. In middle school, Ethan would walk me home after evening study sessions, keeping me safe…I thought we’d always be in school together, until college admissions separated us. We ended up at universities hundreds of miles apart. The day before I left for college, Ethan came to see me. He waited for me under the osmanthus tree in front of my building. He demanded that I not date any boys in college. Then he hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear that from now on, he would be my boyfriend, and later my husband, the father of my children, the grandfather of my grandchildren… I can still vividly recall that scene – Ethan embracing me, flower petals falling on our heads, the sweet osmanthus scent enveloping us. It felt like we were the only two people in the world. Now every autumn when the osmanthus blooms, I love taking walks with Ethan to enjoy the fragrance. Though in the two years since graduating college, we’ve both been so busy with work that we haven’t gone on many walks together…Even though so much time has passed, I can still clearly remember every detail of my story with Ethan. I wonder if there will be more chapters to write. I arrived home to find my parents had already eaten dinner. “Lily, you didn’t have dinner with Ethan tonight?” my mom asked, seeing me back so early. “He went to his parents’ place,” I replied. I went straight to my room instead of chatting with them in the living room like usual. My expression must have seemed off, because soon after, Mom knocked and came in to sit on my bed. “Did you have a fight with Ethan? You look upset.” Mom took my hand and spoke gently. Tears started streaming down my face. I hadn’t cried when I first saw the test results, but faced with Mom’s tender concern, my armor cracked. I suddenly felt incredibly wronged. I was only 23 years old. I threw myself into Mom’s arms, hugging her tightly. Mom was startled by my reaction. She frantically tried to wipe my tears while saying, “Lily, what happened? Don’t cry, sweetie. Don’t be afraid. Mom’s here. Dad’s here too. We’ll protect you no matter what. Please don’t cry – you’re making me want to cry too.” Mom’s voice grew choked up as she saw how distraught I was. Dad heard us from the living room and came in. Seeing both Mom and me in tears, he looked helpless. “Lily, why are you crying? Did Ethan upset you? I’ll go teach that boy a lesson right now.” I took the tissue Dad handed me and wiped my eyes. Seeing how worried and anxious my parents were on my behalf, the pressure I’d felt since getting the test results melted away in the face of their comfort. My heart suddenly felt at ease. I got up and took the medical reports out of my bag, placing them in front of my parents. “This…Lily, is this real?” Mom’s hand trembled as she held mine. “Lily, don’t be scared. We’ll take you to a different hospital tomorrow for another check-up. Try not to worry, okay?” Dad patted my shoulder, feigning calmness. “Your mom will sleep with you tonight. I’ll go make arrangements for the hospital visit tomorrow.” Dad turned to grab his phone, but I quickly grabbed his sleeve. “Dad, please don’t contact Ethan’s parents yet. I haven’t told Ethan about this. Can we keep it from him for now?” “Lily, are you two having problems? Why do you want to hide this from him?” Mom asked, confused. “Let’s just keep it from Ethan for now. I don’t want him to worry. He can’t really help with the medical stuff anyway,” I said softly, looking down. “Alright, we’ll do as you say,” Dad agreed, seeing I was insistent. Then he left my room. Mom hummed a lullaby and patted me gently like when I was little. I quickly fell asleep to the familiar tune. Part Four For the next few days, my parents took me to various hospitals. All the doctors who saw my test results and medical records urged me to be admitted for treatment as soon as possible. I didn’t want to be hospitalized. I was terrified of surgery and the idea of parts of my body being cut away. Even if I recovered, I’d be a woman with physical defects – incomplete. Just thinking about it made me feel like dying would be better. At my parents’ urging, I had taken extended leave from work and handed my projects over to colleagues. I was starting to feel some pain and fatigue. I looked at my phone, at the message I had sent Ethan about extending my work trip. He had replied with updates about his work, little details about his daily life, and some scenic photos…The cool, dignified image he presented to others contrasted with the warm, affectionate side he showed only to me. I turned off my phone and curled up on the couch, listening to the mundane chatter of a TV drama – the kind of ordinary life I used to scoff at, but now desperately longed for yet felt out of reach. “Lily, Dad knows you don’t want to go to the hospital because you’re scared of surgery. Dr. Huang said they can start with a conservative treatment plan. Trust Mom and Dad – we won’t let them do any procedures you don’t want,” Dad said gently in a calm voice. Mom came over and hugged me. Since seeing the test results, my parents had put their work on hold to be with me. In just a few days, I could see more grey in their hair. They looked less composed and steady than usual. My illness was causing them just as much pain and distress. Only parents can truly empathize with their child’s suffering. I agreed to be admitted to the hospital. The conservative treatment plan involved controlling the disease with medication. Both my hands were bruised from IVs. I couldn’t keep food down and the drug side effects were severe. I lost a lot of weight quickly. “The disease is progressing rapidly. You really should try to convince her to have the surgery. She’s so young – if we operate now and follow up with chemotherapy, there’s still hope for a cure. If we wait much longer, it’s hard to say…” I overheard Dr. Huang talking to my parents outside my room. The leaves on the plane tree outside had finally started to fall. “Mom, Dad, I heard what Dr. Huang said. I’ll agree to the surgery,” I told my parents calmly. “But before the operation, I want to break up with Ethan.” I continued in a steady voice, “If the surgery is successful, my body will be disfigured. I can’t let him see me like that. He’s such a wonderful person – he deserves a perfect wife. If the surgery fails and I lose my life, his life will go on. I don’t want to burden him with mourning me.” Tears streamed down my face as my voice grew hoarse. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry for causing you so much worry. Please let me be selfish just this once.” “Okay, as long as you’re willing to get treatment, we’ll support whatever you decide,” Dad said, coming to the bedside and embracing Mom and me. “You’re a good girl. You have nothing to apologize for.” After we had all calmed down a bit, I asked my parents to go home first and pack some things for me. Once the room was quiet again, I took out my phone and called Sophie Williams. “Lily, are you sick? Is it serious? I’m so sorry I lied to Ethan that day. He’s always been cold towards me. I won’t bother you two anymore. Ethan told me about your relationship – I was really touched. Don’t worry, Lily. I’ll wish you both the best…” Sophie babbled nervously as soon as she entered my hospital room. She was just as I had imagined – tall and pretty, with a bubbly personality. Her sunny presence brightened up my gloomy hospital room. She seemed frightened by the floor I was on – the 8th floor of Sky Hospital was for critically ill patients. From her explanation, I learned that the day Ethan and I were picking up our wedding photos, she had faked being in a serious car accident. When Ethan didn’t answer her calls, she had others keep calling him. Since it involved a company car, Ethan had to go deal with it. That explained the scene I had witnessed. Such a lovely girl – surely she could help Ethan get through the brief pain of our breakup. “Can I call you Sophie? I have a favor to ask. Would that be okay?” … Part Five In a private room at an upscale bar, I wore a form-fitting dress and heavy makeup. My lips looked especially alluring with bright red lipstick. But a close look would reveal my unnaturally pale skin. The table was covered in open wine bottles. I had splashed some wine on my hair and dress, then lounged on the sofa. In the dim lighting, the scene looked intimate and suggestive. Sitting next to me was my cousin Jack, a sophomore in college. In his white dress shirt, he bore a striking resemblance to a younger Ethan. “Lily, do we really have to do this? Why don’t you just tell him the truth? Why deceive him like this? No man can accept this kind of thing. He’ll hate you for it,” Jack pleaded, still trying to talk me out of my plan. He had been against this “drunken one-night stand” scheme from the start. But I couldn’t think of any other way to make Ethan willingly leave me. “Better he hates me than spends a lifetime heartbroken,” I said flatly. “Lily, if you’re so sure he loves you, why are you afraid to tell him the truth?” I didn’t know how to answer. Maybe I was afraid of losing. So I could only resort to this clumsy plan to deceive Ethan and push him out of my life.

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“Professor Qin, I’ve made my decision. I’ll join your pharmaceutical research institute and continue studying medicine.” Professor Qin chuckled, “Your wife loves you so much. Will she agree to let you go abroad for academic research?” “This is my own decision. It has nothing to do with her.” “Alright then. When can you arrive?” “In a week.” “Good, I’ll be waiting for you to report in.” “By the way, Professor Qin, that amnesia drug you developed before – does it still need a test subject?” Professor Qin’s voice turned serious, “What do you mean?” “Please mail a dose to me. I’ll test it.” When this call was made, it was 9:30 in the morning. Lucas leaned against the headboard. The space beside him was already empty. From the guest room next door came faint sounds of intimacy. “…Miss me?” “I only get to see you once a month. The time always passes so slowly.” “Heh,” the woman giggled coyly, “Shall we do something wild today then?” “Keep your voice down. Don’t wake Lucas.” “It’s fine, he slept late last night. He won’t wake up now.” “Mmm, you’re so naughty…” Lucas was very familiar with this man’s voice. His name was Henry, the college student Lucas had been financially supporting for four years. On the first of every month, he would come to the house. Lucas would give him that month’s living expenses and check on his studies and living situation. Each time, he would stay in the guest room next to the master bedroom. Lucas had even helped arrange a graduate advisor and internship for him. He just never expected this male student’s ambition was not to become independent, but to directly steal his wife. Since that’s how it is, he might as well give her to him. Lucas changed his name to Ethan. And had already reapplied for new identification documents. Ethan – to hide away. Once unfaithful, never to be used again. He would disappear from her world forever, then drink the amnesia drug and forget her completely. The intimate sounds from the guest room finally ceased. Lucas lay on his side, pretending to still be asleep. After a few minutes, the mattress beside him dipped slightly. Then a slender, pale arm draped over his waist. Lucas fought back the pain in his heart and pushed that arm away. Sophia acted like she had just woken up, mumbling, “Honey, you’re awake?” Lucas felt nauseated hearing her call him “honey”. “Mm, get up soon. You’ll be late for work.” Sophia rolled over and hugged him tightly from behind, planting a kiss on his chin. “I’m so tired. Stay in bed with me a little longer.” Lucas just wanted to laugh coldly. After being “wild” with Henry all night, of course she’d be tired. He said sarcastically, “What, didn’t sleep well last night?” Sophia nodded vigorously, “I dreamt an evil dragon stole my husband away. I fought through thorns and brambles to find you, searching all night. Even after waking up I still feel exhausted.” “No dragon would steal me away.” But I will leave on my own. And I definitely won’t let you have a chance to find me. Sophia glanced at the clock. “It really is getting late. We should get up.” She quickly showered and got dressed, then knelt by the bed and kissed him. “Lazy bones, don’t sleep anymore. Get up and wash up. I’ll go make breakfast.” After Sophia left, Lucas brushed his teeth vigorously. Her kissing Henry’s mouth then coming to kiss him only made him feel disgusted. When he went downstairs, two people were already seated in the dining room. Sophia sat in the main seat, with Henry to her left. He wore a white tracksuit, looking pure and refreshing. Seeing Lucas come down, he sweetly said, “Morning, Lucas!” Lucas grunted in response. Henry chuckled, “Breakfast is ready. Come eat!” Lucas sat down at the table. Sophia blew on some porridge to cool it, then placed it in front of him. “Careful, it’s hot.” Henry watched enviously from the side. “I’m so jealous. You take such good care of Lucas.” Lucas forced a smile. “She takes good care of you too.” Didn’t she just take very good care of him last night? All the way until this morning. Sophia laughed lightly, “It’s different. I take care of you because you’re my husband, the man I love most in this life.” “Then what about Henry? Why do you care for him?” “Because he’s the one you’re supporting. You said he’s like a little brother to you, so he’s my little brother too.” “Is that so.” Lucas took the bowl of porridge from Sophia’s hands. “No need to blow on it. I’ll let it cool on its own if it’s too hot.” Sophia sensed something was off in his attitude. She took his hand in hers, bringing it to her lips for a kiss. “What’s wrong? You seem unhappy this early in the morning. Is the breakfast not to your liking? Tell me what you want to eat and I’ll make it again for you.” Lucas pulled his hand away. “Sophia, do you love me?” “Of course,” Sophia said. “Everyone knows I love you.” “Then do you think a woman can love two men at the same time?” Sophia’s brow furrowed slightly. “True love is only for one person. It doesn’t allow for any impurities.” Lucas told her very seriously, “If one day you have a change of heart, please tell me directly. I will step aside and wish you well. But please don’t deceive me. My feelings are precious and also don’t allow for any impurities.” Sophia smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll only ever love you in this life. No man can replace you.” “What if someone did replace me?” “That’s impossible.” Lucas said, “If I find out you’ve deceived me, I will leave you and forget you forever.”

Sophia smiled and said, “That day will never come. I won’t give you a chance to leave me either.” With that, Sophia moved to embrace him again. But Lucas was now extremely averse to her closeness. Because her body still carried faint traces of a sickly sweet scent. The kind of scent left behind after a man and woman spend the night together. Lucas stood up. “I’m going to get a spoon.” Sophia immediately got up too. “I’ll get it for you.” “No need, I can do it myself.” Lucas went to the kitchen and turned on the faucet. He used the sound of running water to mask his sigh. It wasn’t that he was inadequate. It was that her past self had been too wonderful. So wonderful that just thinking of those days when she loved him passionately made his heart ache. Growing up in an orphanage from a young age, enduring bullying and cold stares, he had been forced to harden his heart. He originally had no plans to date or marry, preferring to let clients drink him under the table rather than ask others for help. But then Sophia appeared. She rescued him from those people, declaring “This man is mine now.” At first Lucas thought she would just humiliate him like those capitalists. But Sophia did nothing of the sort, only gently telling him: “Go home and get some good sleep. Forget all the unpleasant things from today. Tomorrow is a new day.” After that, she began frequently appearing in his life. Sometimes coming to his company on business, or “coincidentally” running into him at a coffee shop. Sweet and adorable, but anyone could see she had feelings for him. However, their marriage was still opposed by Sophia’s parents. Lucas didn’t want to affect her relationship with her family, so he told her they should break up. But Sophia just firmly held his hand and said, “No breaking up. I’ll take you with me.” Later she started her own business from scratch, even enduring her parents’ suppression and coercion. She bore it all, drinking herself half to death in the process. Until later, when they were in a car accident together. At the critical moment, Sophia pushed him out of harm’s way. She and the car were hit by a large truck and sent flying off the road. The car rolled violently before catching fire. Sophia was burned half to death, falling into a coma. Only when Lucas spoke to her by the bedside would she show any reaction. It was at this time that Sophia’s parents finally understood how much their daughter loved Lucas. They finally relented and agreed to their marriage. Lucas cherished this hard-won marriage dearly. He cherished this woman who loved him to the bone even more. He just never imagined that after only three years of marriage, her heart would stray and her eyes would turn to another man. “Honey, is everything okay? Why were you gone so long?” “It’s nothing.” Lucas wiped the tears from his face, turned off the faucet, and prepared to go out with the spoon. But his hand trembled and the spoon fell to the floor. As he crouched down to pick it up, he accidentally saw the secret hidden under the dining table – Henry was wearing the new sneakers Lucas had bought him. His toe was gently caressing Sophia’s calf, then gradually moving upwards – knee, thigh, and further in… A delicate white hand smacked him lightly. “Behaving naughty again?” “What are you afraid of? Lucas hasn’t come back yet.” “Be good, don’t make trouble in front of Lucas. Later we’ll go out…” Lucas deliberately made a loud noise, and the two quickly settled down. He returned to his seat. The two of them acted as if nothing had happened. Sophia picked up some food for him. “Honey, eat more vegetables. It’s good for your health.” Henry still looked like an innocent little brother, gazing at him enviously. “I hope I can find a wife as virtuous and gentle as sister someday.” Lucas said coldly, “You will.” Henry didn’t catch his hidden meaning, still complimenting them. “That’s impossible. Sister is the best woman in the world. I don’t have that kind of luck.” Lucas said, “You do.” Just then, Lucas’ phone rang. “Hello, Mr. Xu, you have a package.” This time, Sophia was even quicker than him. She rushed to open the door before him and received a document envelope. She looked at the sender. “Southern Airlines International Business Department…Honey, did you buy plane tickets? Where are you going? How come I don’t know about this?”

Lucas said, “I just redeemed a gift with my points.” Sophia patted her chest in relief. “You scared me. I thought you were going to leave me.” Lucas took the envelope from her hands. “You haven’t betrayed me, so why would I leave you?” Sophia smiled. “That’s right, I only have you in my heart.” In the past, hearing these words would have moved Lucas deeply. But now, he felt nothing. “Honey, what gift did you redeem? Let me see.” Lucas refused. “It’s nothing, just a small commemorative coin.” “Southern Airlines has commemorative coins?” “Mm.” Lucas went back to his bedroom and opened the envelope. Inside lay a plane ticket to London departing in a week. He had bought it under the name “Ethan”. His phone also showed the shipping information for an international package – The amnesia drug Professor Qin sent him would arrive in about a week as well. Seven days later would be the time for him to leave her completely. From downstairs came Sophia’s voice: “Honey, are you not feeling well?” “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m a bit tired and want to rest some more.” “Okay, you get some good rest then. Henry has class this afternoon. I’m going to the company and will drop him off at school on the way.” Lucas responded with a simple “Okay.” Lucas didn’t sleep. He went to the second floor window and looked outside. Sophia was holding Henry’s arm like a happy little rabbit. Henry opened the passenger door for her. As Sophia got in the car, Henry stole a quick kiss on her cheek. She directly hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him back. From cheek, gradually sliding to lips. Then lower… Lucas didn’t see the scene after that. The two got in the car. He could only see the car constantly shaking and rocking. When the car finally drove away, Lucas let out a sigh of relief. He began packing his clothes. Professor Qin told him that after drinking the amnesia drug, he would forget everything from before. After packing his clothes, he wrote notes categorizing them, as well as his various daily necessities and habits. Finally, he went to a jewelry processing store. He took off his wedding ring and handed it to the clerk. The clerk accepted it nervously. “Sir, do you want to exchange this ring for another style? But this looks like a wedding ring, it’s part of a pair. Does your wife need to exchange hers too?” “No,” Lucas said. “Melt it down.” “What?” “I said, melt it down.” “Alright…” Half an hour later, Lucas left holding a small red velvet box. When he returned home, he ran into a frantic Sophia rushing out. There was a crowd of people inside the house. Police, bodyguards, and the household staff. Sophia’s eyes were red. The moment she saw him, she tightly embraced him. “Honey, where did you go? You scared me to death…” She hugged him so tightly Lucas could barely breathe. Finally the police smiled and said, “Ms. Zhu can finally relax now. Mr. Xu is back.” The maid also said, “Mr. Xu, when the madam came back and didn’t see you, and saw that you had packed all your clothes, she thought you had left. She was so frightened she lost her soul.” “Yes, Mr. Xu. Just now Ms. Zhu was telling us to contact the best private detectives. She said if we couldn’t find you we’d all be fired.” Sophia held Lucas like a precious treasure. “Honey, where did you go? Are you hurt? Were you hungry or cold?” Lucas calmly put some distance between them. “I just went out for a walk.” “But your phone was turned off.” Lucas took out his black-screened phone to show her. “It just ran out of battery.” “Then what about the packed clothes in the room?” Lucas said, “Those clothes are all old styles. I was planning to donate them.” Sophia finally let out a deep breath. “As long as you’re not leaving. Honey, promise me you’ll never leave me, okay? I would really go crazy.”

The commotion finally ended. As the police were leaving, they smiled and said to him, “In all my years handling missing persons cases, I’ve never seen such a devoted woman as Ms. Zhu. Cherish her well, and don’t make her worry in the future.” Sophia stood protectively in front of him, a bit unhappy at others criticizing him. “Lucas just went out for a walk. My worrying is my own business, it’s not his fault.” The police could only smile wryly. “Alright, alright. As long as Mr. Xu is fine, that’s what matters. You two focus on living your lives well together.” Lucas apologized to the police and saw them out. Sophia stayed glued to his back the whole time, not leaving his side for a moment. She noticed the jewelry box in his hand and her eyes lit up. “Honey, did you go buy new jewelry?” Lucas said, “This is a gift for you.” “A gift for me?” “Yes, your birthday is in a week. It’s your birthday present.” “Thank you honey! Can I open it and take a look?” Lucas said, “Wait until your birthday to open it.” A week later would be Sophia’s 26th birthday. And his flight was departing at 5am that morning. By the time she woke up and opened this jewelry box to see the platinum melted into a small lump and the lonely diamond inside, he should have already taken the amnesia drug and flown out of the country. They started with this ring, so they would end with this ring too. Over the next few days, Sophia seemed afraid he would disappear again. She canceled all her work and stayed home with him every day. She cooked for him, watched TV shows with him, or they would go for walks in the park together. Lucas had the illusion that they had really returned to when they first got together. So in love, so loyal, with eyes and hearts only for each other. But the constant stream of messages on his phone shattered all the beautiful illusions. [Henry: Lucas, I saw you that day.] [Henry: I know you saw me and sister having sex in the car. But what you don’t know is that we’ve been together since four years ago when you first started supporting me.] [Henry: I’ve been her man since I was 18. I don’t want to always just call her sister.] [Henry: Lucas, you gave me money for school, let me see a broader world, experience greater things, and also meet the best woman in the world.] [Henry: She can’t bear to leave me. You’ll see.] After that was a video. The video was long, one hour and forty minutes. Seeing the length, Lucas already guessed what this video was. While Sophia went to buy him water, Lucas played the video. In the cramped car, Sophia’s face was contorted with desire. She was pinned against the car seat backrest by Henry, in pain yet ecstasy. Henry traced circles on her chest with his fingers, asking suggestively, “Doing this, aren’t we wronging Lucas?” Sophia just giggled. “A woman’s sex and love can be separate. I truly love him, but I also truly can’t live without your body.” “So I’ll just be nameless and without status forever?” “I can give you anything except status.” “What if I want you to have my child?” Sophia thought for a moment, then said, “Then don’t wear a condom today. It’ll feel better.” Lucas couldn’t watch anymore. He closed the video. When Sophia returned, she was holding a bottle of water. “Honey, here you go. I had the owner heat it up specially. Your stomach isn’t good, you can’t drink cold water.” Lucas took the water. It was indeed quite warm, almost hot to the touch. Sophia cupped his face with her warm little hands, frowning slightly. “Why is your face so cold? And you look a bit pale. Honey, are you not feeling well?” Lucas turned his face away, avoiding her hands. “It’s nothing. I just saw a video that made me feel a bit sick.” “In the future if you come across videos that make you uncomfortable, just swipe past them. Don’t watch.” “Mm, I won’t watch anymore. I’ll never watch again.”

That evening, Sophia took him to the seaside. The crowd around them was bustling. Sophia circled her arms around him as they walked forward, afraid others would bump into him. Suddenly, a dazzling firework exploded in the sky. Then a second, and a third. Countless fireworks lit up the entire night sky. “Wow, is some rich person proposing? It’s so beautiful!” “So many fireworks, did they buy up all the fireworks in H City?” “How romantic! If someone was willing to set off so many fireworks for me, I would love them for a lifetime!” Hearing this, Lucas smiled wryly. Young girls were indeed easy to deceive. A firework display was enough to make their hearts flutter and casually promise a lifetime. But he wasn’t so easily fooled. Sophia said a woman’s sex and love could be separate. But for him, they couldn’t. Although Sophia said she loved him, betrayal was betrayal. He could never forgive it. “Honey, look—” Sophia pointed at a firework that had just exploded in the night sky. It was an English letter. S. Then O, P, H, I, A. SOPHIA. Then a big pink heart. After that was L, U, C, A, S. LUCAS. Sophia whispered in his ear, “Honey, I love you forever. Let’s be together forever, grow old together, okay?” Before Lucas could speak, Sophia had already knelt down on one knee in front of him. She shouted loudly for everyone to hear: “Sophia loves Lucas, for life, for all lifetimes, never changing—” Applause immediately erupted around them. Mixed with exclamations and praise from girls. One girl even boldly asked, “Handsome, did your girlfriend just propose to you?” Sophia smiled and denied it. “We’ve been married for four years.” “Then is it your husband’s birthday today? Or your anniversary?” “Neither.” “Then why such a big production? What’s the occasion?” Sophia looked at Lucas, her gaze burning. “I just want my husband to know how much I love him. He hasn’t been very happy lately, so I wanted to cheer him up.” Another round of praise erupted from the crowd. Lucas received envious looks from everyone. But only he knew – His wife had been unfaithful for four years. She had held another man’s hand, kissed another man’s lips. Over these four years, they had tumbled in bed together countless times. A little girl gave him her glow stick. “Big brother, this gift is for you. I hope you and big sister will be together forever.” Lucas asked Sophia, “Did you arrange for the little girl too?” Sophia said, “No, the little girl must have been moved by our love and thought our relationship was beautiful.” Lucas returned the glow stick to the little girl. “Thank you, but big brother can’t accept your gift.” The little girl didn’t understand. She tilted her head and asked, “Why?” Because big brother and big sister’s love isn’t beautiful at all. It’s full of lies, betrayal and concealment. This kind of relationship shouldn’t be admired by innocent children. It’s not worthy. Sophia comforted the little girl. “Thank you. Go find your mom and dad now.” The little girl said, “Big sister, you must have a little sister with big brother, okay? Big sister is so pretty, the little sister would definitely be pretty too.” Sophia chuckled. “Okay, big sister will try her best.” Back by his side, Sophia said half-jokingly, “Honey, let’s have a daughter?” Lucas asked her, “Do you want children that badly?” “I actually prefer just the two of us, but don’t all you men hope to pass on the family line?” “Is that Hen—” Lucas almost said Henry’s name. He really wanted to confront Sophia face to face about what exactly her relationship with Henry was, if she would continue having a physical relationship with him in the future, if the three of them would always coexist. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw the kiss mark on Sophia’s neck. It was left by Henry several days ago. So many days had passed, yet it still hadn’t faded. He averted his gaze, not wanting to look or ask anymore. At this point, he didn’t want to argue like a madman with his unfaithful wife on the street. He had his pride. Since she couldn’t change, he would be the one to change. Drink the amnesia drug, go to a city where no one knew him, and start a completely new life. Sophia asked him, “Honey, what were you just saying? You said ‘Is that…’” Lucas shook his head. “I was saying, many men think that way, but I don’t.” “You don’t want to have a child with me?” “Mm.” “Are you afraid that after the child is born, it will take away my love for you? Don’t worry, even if we have a child, you’ll still be the person I love most.” “Let’s go back.” “Are you angry? I’m sorry honey, I said the wrong thing. If you don’t want children then we won’t have any. We can be DINKs and keep living just the two of us. That’s good too.” Lucas’ footsteps faltered. That day she and Henry had been going at it for an hour and forty minutes in the car. Maybe she was already pregnant by now. But unfortunately, it wasn’t his. “Honey, what’s really wrong…” Ring ring— The phone rang. Sophia glanced at it and answered with some irritation. “Didn’t I say not to call me these few days, I’m with my husband…” The other person said something, and Sophia’s eyes flickered. “Fine, I’ll come over now.” She hung up and said to Lucas, “Honey, there’s an urgent matter at the company I need to deal with. Can I call you a car to take you home?” Lucas said, “I’ll call a car myself. The company matter is important, you go quickly.” “My husband is so good. Then I’m going. Send me a message when you get home so I know you’re safe.” Sophia hurriedly drove off. Lucas did indeed call a car. But he didn’t go home. He told the driver, “Follow that car up ahead.” Sophia’s car stopped in front of the hospital. Henry immediately embraced her. He took off his own jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296115”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn #校园School

I’ve been married to Jack for twelve years. My millionaire husband has fallen in love with the new receptionist at his company. She’s nearly forty, not as pretty as me, and doesn’t have as good a figure as I do. Yet in just six short months, she’s provided Jack with tremendous emotional value. Jack wearily said to me: “If we divorce, you can have the house and the car. Olivia, can you please just let me go?” I lowered my eyes and said softly, “Alright.” Then I bought a calendar and circled a date. Divorce countdown: 30 days. When I pushed the divorce agreement in front of Jack, it had only been 40 minutes since he told me about his affair and asked for a divorce. As requested, the house, car, and custody of our child would all go to me. He would give me a one-time payment of $2 million for compensation and child support. After that, our child and I would no longer bother him. At that moment, Jack was in the middle of a conference call. He glanced down, saw the words “Divorce Agreement,” and his expression flickered almost imperceptibly. Then he nodded, indicating he understood. I left the room. To save time for both of us, I packed up all of Jack’s clothes and belongings. Three full suitcases. Afraid I might have missed something, I even included his childhood photos from the attic. Finally, I saw our wedding photo in the corner. In the photo, Jack looked handsome and dashing, while I smiled sweetly. We were embracing without a care in the world under the sunlight. That was when he would always hold me close and whisper, “Honey, I love you so much. I’m so lucky to have married you.” Jack and I met in college. When we first met, he was still a poor boy wearing worn-out canvas shoes. I had plenty of suitors back then, but I fell for Jack at first sight. He was calm, kind, and good-looking. He had countless qualities I admired. We got married right after graduation, and he started a company with his friends. After I got pregnant, I became a full-time housewife. I devoted myself entirely to taking care of Jack and our family. As the business grew, Jack’s social obligations and drinking events increased. In between my busy daily routines, I made time to work out and learn about makeup and fashion. Jack didn’t disappoint either. No matter how busy he was, he would come home to look after our child and cook. He also helped me handle the relationship with his mother. In others’ eyes, we were the model couple, the model family. I’m not sure when it started, but Jack began scheduling meetings in the evenings. Sometimes when work got busy, he would stay out all night. Friends joked that I should keep a closer eye on him in case anything happened. I laughed it off, saying it wouldn’t, but I still felt uneasy. I brought them late-night snacks a few times. Nothing seemed amiss. A group of people in meetings, with that woman just waiting at the reception desk. Her name was Rachel. In her early forties, not very tall, on the thin side, with short hair. She looked rather plain, but her voice was unexpectedly gentle, unlike her appearance. She smiled and greeted me. All these years, I had imagined this day might come. I thought it might be a pretty secretary at the company, or a fresh-faced college student, or maybe a powerful female CEO they worked with. I never expected it would be Rachel, the receptionist. I heard she had been married before, but her husband cheated and they divorced. This was her first job after the divorce, and she cherished it greatly. She would come to the office early, learn everyone’s little habits, and occasionally make some pastries. Some colleagues even ordered lunch from her for convenience. When I found out, I told Jack to look after her a bit, since she was having a tough time. Jack always responded coolly. “The company isn’t a place for sentiment. I’ve already advised her not to engage in transactions outside of work.” At the time, I teased Jack for being an unsympathetic boss. Now that I think about it, he was probably upset that Rachel had to make extra food for colleagues after work every day. As for why Jack chose today to ask for a divorce. I had just made him a hangover soup as usual this morning after he came home drunk. He looked at the soup in front of him, sighed, and pushed it away slightly. After a long silence, he suddenly looked up at me, his eyes weary, and asked if we could get divorced. He confessed that he had been having an affair for six months, sneaking off to hotels every time he worked late. My heart trembled like a sieve, as I struggled to control myself. I asked who it was. When he said Rachel’s name, I even doubted I had heard correctly. A sense of helplessness washed over me. Cold and chilling.

By the time Jack finished his meeting and came out, I had already eaten, cleaned up the kitchen, and was sitting in the living room watching TV. As if nothing had happened. He turned to take a shower, but halfway through realized there were no towels. Out of habit, he called from the bathroom. “Honey, where’s my bath towel?” Without turning around, I replied: “I’ve already packed it in the suitcase. If you don’t mind, use mine for now. I’ll throw it away later.” I was met with a long silence in response. When Jack came out, he finally noticed the three suitcases by the door. He sat down across from me and pushed the divorce agreement towards me with his fingertips. “I can give you $1.5 million for child support upfront, and the rest can be paid monthly…” I interrupted: “No need. Let’s do a lump sum buyout. I don’t think she would want you to keep in contact with me either.” Jack looked at me, puzzled: “The child isn’t just yours. I have the right to be involved in his upbringing. I know this is my fault, and I’m willing to compensate, but you don’t need to use our child as leverage.” I paused the TV show and looked at Jack seriously. “The affair is your fault, so it’s reasonable for you to pay compensation and child support. Compared to your assets, me getting the house and car isn’t asking too much. Our son has been raised by me since he was little. He’s a sensitive child with needs. Tell me, how much energy will you have to take care of him while you’re in the honeymoon phase of your new relationship? Being involved in his growth isn’t just about money, it’s about time and companionship.” Jack was left speechless. After a while, he spoke: “In any case, I won’t use $2 million to buy out my relationship with my son.” I reached out and opened the divorce agreement: “The $2 million is for compensation and child support. If you have other emotional needs, you can transfer money to our son. I’ll open a separate card for him.” Jack suddenly laughed: “Olivia, I never knew you were so obsessed with money. You keep talking about money.” “What else is there? Is loving you useful?” Jack was stunned into silence. He frowned and swiftly took out a pen to sign the divorce agreement. He also arranged for us to go to the civil affairs bureau tomorrow to apply for divorce. Then he called his driver. I finished watching my show and went to bed. When I woke up in the morning, Jack was already gone. Our son ran out of his room and hugged me, excitedly telling me about a really happy dream he had last night. As I listened to him share, I tentatively told him that Dad’s company was busy lately, so he might be away on business trips for a long time. Contrary to his usual reaction, our son didn’t insist on calling Jack to ask, “Dad, when are you coming back?” He just said “Oh” and pursed his little lips: “It’s okay, I have Mom with me.” I instantly couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears spilled from my eyes as I excused myself to the bathroom to compose myself. Agreeing to divorce Jack made me sad, but mostly I felt I was letting our son down by not allowing him to grow up in a complete family. But I knew this wasn’t my fault. After dropping our son off at school, Jack and I went to the civil affairs bureau to apply for divorce. There’s a 30-day cooling-off period, after which we can get the divorce certificate. Back in the car, I circled a date on the calendar, marking today. Divorce countdown: 30 days.

I debated whether to tell my parents about the divorce now. I grew up in this city, with all my relatives and friends here. My parents are retired teachers, and I’m their only daughter. They’re very open-minded, but my father’s health hasn’t been great these past couple of years. I was thinking of waiting a bit longer. Jack called after a couple of days. He rarely called me. Usually, he would text on SnapChat, since I would always reply promptly, which he found convenient. Last night, I had already deleted him from my contacts. I answered the call. Jack’s voice sounded normal. “Olivia, your mom just called me. She said she’s cooked a lot of dishes tonight and wants us to come over for dinner. I think since your dad’s health isn’t good, maybe we should wait to tell them about the divorce until he’s better. What time do you want to go over? Also, next Sunday is your dad’s birthday. Should I still go with you?” I had been hesitating, but hearing Jack’s words made me decide to tell my parents the news. I replied that it wasn’t necessary. Jack: “You don’t need to be stubborn. The elderly’s health is important.” I said calmly: “If you really cared, you wouldn’t have an affair and ask for divorce at a time like this. My dad’s health may not be great, but his mind is clear. I don’t think he would want me to continue in an unfaithful marriage.” “Jack.” “Hmm?” “Don’t call again. If you want to see our son, follow the agreement. Once a week.” Hearing this, Jack dropped his conciliatory tone. “Olivia, I’ll say it again. Jason is my son too, my family…” “But you gave up the family he belonged to, didn’t you?” Finally, I heard Jack slam down the phone. I promptly hung up and collected my somewhat shattered emotions. I decided to drive to the mall. The bedding, sofa, and all the furniture Jack liked at home – I planned to replace it all. And I wanted everything in stock. After replacing everything, I cleaned the house thoroughly, then went to my mom’s place. When she saw me without Jack, she assumed he was busy. I fell silent, feeling a bit nervous as I called out, “Mom.” She immediately sensed something was wrong. Putting down what she was doing, she just stared at me, then gently pulled me into her arms. I didn’t say anything, but as a mother, she could feel my emotions and hurt. I tried to calmly explain everything to her. My mom handed me a tissue to wipe my tears. Her voice was very soft. “It’s okay, divorce is quite common these days. If he’s not faithful, it’s better to end it sooner rather than later. Olivia, Mom only has one request for you.” She finished speaking, her eyes growing moist as she held my hand. “Since you’ve decided to divorce, no matter what happens, don’t ever get back together with him.” I nodded tearfully: “Okay.” After dinner, my mom and dad talked in their room for a long time. When they came out, my dad handed me a big red envelope. He said today was a new beginning, worth celebrating. “I hope my precious daughter will always be happy and blessed.” Leaving my parents’ house, I cried for a long time in the car. Before coming, I was so afraid of disappointing them. They’ve barely argued in their lives, always getting along harmoniously. When I married Jack, everyone disapproved, but they said they respected my decision. Now that Jack is successful, everyone admires them for having good judgment. Yet they calmly support my divorce. I wiped my tears and looked at the calendar. Divorce countdown: 28 days.

When I picked up our son from school, he said Grandpa had called saying he missed him and asked if he could stay at their place for a week. He wanted me to take him over. I was taken aback but helped our son pack a small suitcase. He was so excited, saying Grandpa had promised to take him to fly a drone. After dropping our son off, my mom walked me out: “Olivia, cheer up. Go out and have some fun.” As I got in the car, my mom stood there watching me for a long time before going back inside. I opened the mirror in the car and saw my pale face and dejected expression. I took out my makeup and applied a bright lipstick. I went home and packed some things. Then I traveled for a week, hurriedly seeing many people and places, hearing many stories along the way. I came back feeling much more spirited. I looked at the calendar. Divorce countdown: 21 days.

I returned just in time for my dad’s birthday. They decided to hold it at a hotel this time, inviting relatives and friends for a gathering. The hotel wasn’t far from home. There were five tables in total, all filled with familiar relatives and friends. Many people were asking about Jack. Fortunately, our son had an extracurricular class today and didn’t come. My parents didn’t directly answer the questions. Just as dinner was about to start and my dad went up to give a speech, Jack arrived. He was dressed in a suit and tie, carrying several gift bags and a big red envelope. The relatives and friends all greeted him. He waited for my dad to come down and handed him the red envelope: “Dad, happy birthday.” My dad glanced at it coolly: “Mr. Wilson, you’re too kind. No need for the red envelope, since you and Olivia are already divorced. I wouldn’t dare let you spend the money.” Jack’s face instantly froze. The relatives and friends were in an uproar, but quickly fell silent. His voice was very low: “We’re still just in the agreement stage…” My dad shook his head: “It’s all the same, same meaning.” He then turned to invite everyone to eat and drink. Jack just stood there. He gripped the gift bags tightly. My mom politely returned the other things to him. He left without lingering. Seeing him leave, the relatives and friends tacitly agreed not to mention Jack again. In the future, no one would ask me about him either. That’s good. My mood was gradually recovering, accepting, permeating. I shed the title of Mrs. Wilson. I became Olivia Chen again. The property management and housekeeper of the company somehow got the news. They no longer called me Mrs. Wilson, but Miss Chen instead. I also quickly wanted to keep myself busy. I planned to open a coffee shop. There was a shop for sale that I liked the location and decor of, so I signed the deal right away. The staff were all still there and could continue operations, but I wanted to take some time to adjust the menu and flavors. I also wanted to change the storefront and furniture. It was temporarily set to soft open. After a busy day at the shop finalizing plans, I was about to head home. I glanced at the calendar in the car. Divorce countdown: 15 days. Just as I arrived downstairs, Emma, a girl from Jack’s company, called me. She’s outgoing with a straightforward personality that people find likable. She asked if I was busy. When she learned I wasn’t, she immediately started complaining, asking if Jack and I were really getting divorced.

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I received a call about a terrible car accident on the highway. My husband Finn, his childhood friend Charlotte, and her son Leo were involved while on their way to a picnic. Finn died at the scene. Charlotte fell into a coma, but she had managed to protect Leo, who only suffered minor injuries. Upon hearing the news, I quickly arranged for Finn’s body to be taken to the funeral home. My in-laws, George and Evelyn, rushed back from out of town and immediately took Leo into their care. A week later, Charlotte woke up. Upon learning of Finn’s death, her first words were: “Leo is Finn’s son. He has inheritance rights.” George and Evelyn immediately backed her up, claiming the child was indeed their grandson. I stated that as long as they could prove Leo was Finn’s biological son, I wouldn’t object. Since Finn had already been cremated, George offered to do a DNA test with Leo as supporting evidence. I wasn’t worried at all. In fact, I almost wanted to laugh, because I knew the results would show no blood relation between them.

When George and Evelyn both insisted that Leo was Finn’s biological son, I wasn’t surprised at all. Because I also knew that Leo was indeed Finn’s child. That’s why I had arranged for Finn’s cremation so quickly, and even had the house thoroughly cleaned, leaving not a single hair behind. But even if he was Finn’s son, I could still prevent him from inheriting anything. “You can’t just say it’s true without proof. What if there’s been a mistake?” I said, forcing my swollen eyes open. “We can’t just take her word for it. We need evidence.” Charlotte, her head still bandaged and looking pitiful, said, “We can do a paternity test.” Evelyn, hearing this, stood up angrily. “It’s because of you, you barren hen! We hadn’t even arrived, and you had him cremated. How are we supposed to do a test now?” I shook my head, crying, “We can’t just make baseless claims. I won’t accept it without proof.” Evelyn was about to berate me further when George stopped her. “Calm down. She’s grieving too. But we can’t let my grandson be left out in the cold. I can do a DNA test with him. After all, Finn was my only son, so a test with me should serve as evidence. Aria, will you accept the results if they come back positive?” I nodded, “I don’t understand the science, but if the testing center says it’s valid, I’ll accept it. Whatever he’s entitled to, he’ll get, even if he is… illegitimate.” Evelyn flew into a rage again. “Who are you calling illegitimate? He’s our family’s only heir! You can’t even have children, and now you’re trying to ruin the child’s reputation.” I scoffed internally. The kid was clearly born out of wedlock, and they were upset about calling him illegitimate? I looked at the three people in the room. The arrogant George, the bitter Evelyn, and Charlotte, who had caused all this trouble and was now playing the victim. I wondered what kind of drama would unfold in the future. I do love a good show. I watched George call the DNA testing center, barely able to hold back my laughter. When the results came back, it would be time for me to enjoy the spectacle. Because I knew the test would show no blood relation. That’s when my real hunt would begin. None of these three would get off easy.

I watched Evelyn fuss over Charlotte, my eyes full of contempt, though hidden behind my swollen eyelids. “Go home and make some chicken soup for her. Nothing too greasy,” Evelyn instructed me. I nodded and got up to leave. As I was about to exit the hospital room, I heard Charlotte say, “Mom, thank you. I’ll take good care of you from now on, and Leo will be a filial grandson to you and Dad.” Hah, laughable. If they knew that their son had been killed because of Charlotte, I wonder if they’d still be so kind to her. I had already retrieved the dashcam footage from the car. The contents were quite interesting indeed!

Back home, I ordered takeout and had it delivered to the hospital. I chose a place with the worst reviews. The chicken soup I made myself was for me to eat, of course. I had lost a child too, so I needed some nourishment. So, I ate what I cooked, and she could have the takeout. After I finished eating, I’d take it to her. How amusing, I’ve ended up in the position of serving my husband’s mistress. I discovered I was pregnant a year ago, just three days after learning that Finn and Charlotte had a child together. After losing the baby, I had someone investigate the situation thoroughly. It turned out that Finn and Charlotte had been involved even before our marriage, and things only intensified after we wed. Finn and I had been married for four years, and their child was four years old. Ironically, Leo was conceived during what should have been our honeymoon period. Unfortunately, it was during my honeymoon that they conceived their child. I couldn’t understand why, if they were already involved, they didn’t just get married. Why did Finn have to marry me and ruin my life? Was it just for the thrill? As for my in-laws, they knew about the child too, and even helped Charlotte with childcare regularly. I didn’t want to know the reasons anymore, since Finn was now just a pile of ashes. The day George took Leo for the DNA test, I didn’t go with them. I said, “Dad, I trust you. I’ll just look at the results when they’re ready. If the child really is Finn’s, I’ll divide the inheritance as required. Don’t worry.” George nodded, “That’s how a good wife should behave. Be generous. Leo is also your child now, and you should treat him as your own in the future.” I thought to myself, “Really?” Once the estate was divided, I planned to take my share and disappear. What? Did they expect me to stay and serve Charlotte and her illegitimate son just because I married into their family? Watching George’s confident stride as he left, I felt disgusted. His son had just died, and he didn’t seem particularly grieved. All he cared about was getting his grandson recognized. But when the test results came back, he would be devastated, wouldn’t he? His precious heir was about to go down the drain.

On the day the DNA test results came out, I had just finished dinner and was returning home. Since my husband’s death, I hadn’t cooked at home. Evelyn did all the cooking because she had to take care of Charlotte and Leo. I said I had to work and was getting busier, so she had no choice but to do it herself. She had tried not cooking at all, waiting for me to come home and do it. But I didn’t play along. I either ate out before coming home or went shopping after eating and came back late. That day, when I got home, George said the test results were ready and asked me to go with them to see them the next day. I agreed and took a day off from work. I wouldn’t miss the chance to witness this drama unfold firsthand.

Early the next morning, we took a cab to the testing center. When George received the report, his face was glowing with anticipation. But when he saw the results, his face turned green, like he was looking at a stock market crash. I peered over and saw that the results showed no blood relation. I covered my mouth in shock, “Oh my God, was she really trying to scam us?” Charlotte heard me and snatched the report, not believing what she was seeing. “How is this possible? How can it say we’re not related? He is Finn’s child, he really is!” I tried to comfort her, “Miss Charlotte, maybe you should think carefully. Was there anyone else you were with during that time? Maybe there’s been a misunderstanding? The child might be someone else’s!” She raised her hand to slap me, but I dodged it. “Are you lashing out because you’re embarrassed? Don’t get physical here. You tried to scam our family for Finn’s inheritance, and now that you’ve been exposed, are you going to pretend to be crazy? Dad, we can’t fall for her tricks.” Charlotte’s eyes were red with anger. She pointed at me, trembling. “You faked the results, didn’t you? Leo is Finn’s son.” I was speechless. How could I possibly have the power to change the results of a test I never even touched? George stepped in at this point: “She never touched anything, so she couldn’t have faked it. But you, you’ve been lying to me all these years, saying Leo was my grandson. How much money have we spent on you? How much did Finn spend on you? You’re quite something, taking our money and making a fool out of my son at the same time.” “Dad, I didn’t, I really didn’t. The child is Finn’s, I don’t understand why the test results say there’s no blood relation.” George snorted coldly and turned to me, “Finn even bought her a car and a house. Sue her and get everything back.” I cried, tears streaming down my face, desperately covering my mouth. Of course I had to cover it, or I might have laughed out loud. What an unexpected windfall. Charlotte was utterly dejected, desperately trying to explain that the child was indeed Finn’s. But George didn’t believe a word: “If you try to scam our family again, I’ll call the police. And return all the money Finn gave you. We gave you money because we thought Leo was our family’s only heir, but now he’s just a bastard. Return all the money we spent on you, or I’ll report you for fraud.” Charlotte wailed loudly. I sat in the chair, watching her pitiful state, feeling a bit sorry for her. Because among everyone present, only I knew that she was truly wronged. The child was indeed Finn’s. Charlotte’s persistent pleas were silenced by a slap from George. She knelt on the ground, crying hysterically, while I helped George leave. Back home, George told me exactly how much money Finn had spent on Charlotte.

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What to Do When Your Wife Suddenly Becomes Rich? Divorce Her Immediately! Don’t Hesitate for Even a Second or You’ll Lose! The day Melissa became the richest woman in River City, I walked away with most of her assets in the divorce settlement. She glared at me with bloodshot eyes, grabbing my collar: “Adrian, how could you be so heartless!” After ten years, the pig I had been fattening up was finally ready for slaughter. Oh, the joy! Who could understand? I’m probably the first man to want a divorce because his wife got rich. The reason is simple – I discovered Melissa was on the verge of having an affair. She was just one step away from actually cheating. After the initial shock and heartbreak, I came to terms with it. Actually, I had a feeling this day would come ever since her company got its first round of venture capital funding five years ago and started growing rapidly. They say money changes men, but the same is true for women. … Melissa had no idea that the day she was discussing her potential affair with Natalie, I was standing right outside the study door with a cup of coffee. “So Melissa, what do you think about that handsome TV host Ryan? He seems pretty great,” Natalie probed. Melissa replied nonchalantly, “He’s a bit clingy.” “But you still bought him a Maserati? That’s quite generous even for someone as rich as you.” My fingers froze and my heart sank. A Maserati? Talk about going all out. Then I heard Melissa’s slightly weary voice: “It’s just a car.” “Well, I’ll keep him on the hook for you then. Who knows, you might change your mind someday.” “Whatever.” The topic of Ryan ended there, and they went back to discussing business projects. It seemed like just some casual girl talk over afternoon tea. Nothing too serious. That cup of coffee ended up in my stomach, but I lay awake all night. The ironic thing is, when we got married, we were too poor to even have a wedding reception. Now Melissa was planning an extravagant wedding ceremony for us. She felt guilty towards me, but that didn’t stop her from trying to please other men. Hah, the human heart is unfathomable, the sea of money bottomless. Divorce. We had to divorce. And quickly! Before it was too late.

I met with my lawyer friend Howard at a coffee shop. As luck would have it, the TV in the lobby was playing Ryan’s financial talk show. I guess that’s where Melissa first met him. The young, handsome host spoke eloquently and intelligently, completely at ease even when interviewing intimidating billionaires. Howard was an old classmate of mine who had become a famous divorce lawyer. Noticing me staring at the screen, he joked, “Adrian, that Ryan guy kind of looks like you.” I immediately bristled, snapping, “No way!” Ryan was the pretty boy type that women fawned over. I was all man. Howard blinked in confusion. “Anyone who knows you both says you look alike. It even came up at our last class reunion.” I frowned, scoffing, “How unfortunate.” Not in the mood to discuss Ryan, I got straight to the point and told Howard I wanted to divorce Melissa. “Adrian, you can’t be serious! You’re finally successful and now you want a divorce?” “Do I look like I’m joking about marriage?” I rolled my eyes. Our group of classmates had witnessed how I married Melissa when her company was on the brink of bankruptcy. No wonder Howard was so shocked. “You married her when she was dirt poor, and now you’re leaving her when she’s filthy rich. Adrian, you sure know how to make a statement.” I replied calmly, “Howard, I could handle that poor girl back then. But do you really think I can handle the richest woman in River City now?” “You’ve handled so many divorce cases. I thought you’d understand best of all.” Weren’t lawyers, especially divorce lawyers, the ones who understood the dark side of human nature best? Howard was speechless for a long time before tentatively asking, “Did Melissa… have an affair?” “She’s one step away from it.” “Can’t you try to salvage things? Isn’t it too harsh to sentence her to death right away?” I laughed bitterly. “If I’m not harsh now, she’ll be the harsh one soon enough. Howard, tell me, from all the cases you’ve handled…” “Do people get more in a divorce settlement out of love or out of guilt?” Once the new lover officially takes over, how much I’d get would depend entirely on her whim. I refuse to be the passive one in this situation! Howard was taken aback by my words. “Adrian, your calmness scares me.” Calm? My calmness was the result of five years of simmering emotions. Besides Ryan, there was also Melissa’s male secretary Henry who had his eyes on her. I couldn’t remember exactly when, but one day when I went to have lunch with Melissa, I saw through the partially open door Henry zipping up her dress. Afterwards, he carefully took out a thermos of hangover soup from his own lunchbox. Henry was always trying to impress her, and she always refused. But that day, the hangover soup I had made and sent with the driver was still untouched in its container when it came back home. Even the knot I had tied myself hadn’t been touched. … Long ash fell from my cigarette as Howard looked at me pensively. “Adrian, I should really have my clients come learn from you.” I leaned forward to stub out my cigarette, smiling wryly. “It wouldn’t help. They can’t let go, and they don’t have the heart to be ruthless.” Those who can’t let go think they can handle such an exceptional wife, that they’re different. Until the very end when all love is gone, they don’t have the heart to be cruel. That’s why people shouldn’t be too greedy, wanting both money and the person. They’ll end up losing everything. I’m different. Because no one else could do what I did – always planning an exit strategy in my marriage. Of course, I want a divorce. But before that happens, I need to have a proper meeting with Ryan as Melissa’s husband!

That evening at the dinner table, I deliberately put on Ryan’s show as background noise – the episode featuring Melissa. She touched her face self-consciously. “What, you think I looked beautiful that day too?” She acted completely normal, without a hint of guilt. I almost believed the Maserati was just a toy car. “Melissa, I’ve got my eye on a car,” I said casually. She replied offhandedly, “Oh, it’s rare for you to be interested in cars. Which model? We can go pick it up together someday.” I watched her carefully as I said, “The Maserati Levante.” Her smile slowly faded as she gave me a scrutinizing look. “I thought you liked Range Rovers?” I tapped the table. “Fine, let’s go with a Range Rover then.” As long as it was more expensive than a Maserati. … It wasn’t long before Ryan and I had a fateful encounter. His Maserati crashed into my Range Rover. I had engineered it. Unfortunately for him, his car didn’t fare well in the collision. Ryan stood helplessly by his car, glaring resentfully at my vehicle’s front end. The collision between two luxury cars caused a traffic jam, and the police arrived promptly. “Mr. Shen, the video shows you made an illegal U-turn. You’re fully at fault,” the officer stated. Ryan looked painfully at his crumpled front door, shattered headlights, and bent bumper. “Couldn’t you have just let me go? I was prepared to get points on my license. Now both our cars need repairs,” he whined, his eyes reddening as he played the victim. His entitled attitude even surprised the police officer. A hot-headed driver nearby couldn’t help but shout, “What, are you used to people always giving way to you? This is a Range Rover, buddy. It’s not afraid of your little toy car.” “Serves him right! Fight fire with fire!” Having enjoyed the spectacle enough, I leisurely opened my car door and stepped out. Ryan’s accusations hit me immediately: “Why were you driving so slowly up front? Is the road your personal runway? I wanted to overtake you but you wouldn’t let me. Were you deliberately blocking me?!” “I was in a hurry and had no choice but to step on the gas a bit. You—” His words cut off abruptly when he saw me, his face turning pale. I smiled slightly. “With such a nice car, you still have to rush to work to make money? Looks like a Maserati can’t change your fate after all.” Ryan bit his lip, his face ashen. Without another word, he got back in his car. He told the officer, “Just handle it. I’ll pay for the damages.” The officer nodded and quickly moved to direct traffic. I watched Ryan’s retreating figure thoughtfully, letting out a cold laugh. … I was in a hurry to get divorced. But I didn’t expect Ryan to be in an even bigger hurry. Maybe he was still upset about me crashing his car. A few days later, I received a video file from Natalie’s phone. Around a mahjong table, Melissa was leaning close to Ryan, waving her hand as she explained the game. Ryan glanced at her coyly, saying in a whiny voice, “Big sis, which tile should I play? My palms are all sweaty.” Melissa looked at him indulgently. “Whatever you want. If you lose, it’s on me.” The others at the table laughed loudly. As Ryan lowered his head to look at his tiles, his bangs kept falling into his eyes. Melissa gently and naturally brushed away the hair blocking his view. “Play your best, okay?” she said softly. My fingers trembled as I angrily turned off the phone and threw it on the bed. A sour, painful feeling welled up inside me. I felt unsteady, my blood rushing to my head. I had to grip the edge of the table tightly to calm myself down. If Melissa’s affair partner had been anyone but Ryan, I might have graciously let her go. … Not long after receiving the video, Natalie called me. She anxiously tried to explain: “Bro, I’m so sorry, I can’t take back the video. I really didn’t mean to send it, I swear it wasn’t me.” “Please, whatever you do, don’t tell Melissa.” I replied flatly, “I know it wasn’t you.” She let out a huge sigh of relief. “Don’t overthink it. You know how Melissa feels about you. That was just her being polite for business.” “I guarantee she’d cheat on me a hundred times before she’d ever cheat on you!” “So you’re trying to drag her down with you, huh?” I retorted. She sheepishly admitted, “Yes, yes, you hit the nail on the head. It was wrong of me.” I hung up the phone, feeling utterly disgusted. I didn’t believe a word from this notorious player. But there was one thing she wasn’t lying about. As wild as she was, even she wouldn’t dare send that kind of video to my phone. That kind of thing could only be done by someone like Ryan – someone raised with a sense of entitlement who learned from example! Natalie’s earlier words, “I’ll keep him on the hook for you,” proved she had feelings for Ryan too. She just didn’t dare steal him from Melissa. It probably wasn’t hard for Ryan to get access to her phone. I called Howard: “How’s that divorce agreement coming? Can you get it done in a week?” “Come on, we’re old friends. I was just giving you time to cool off.” “If I don’t have it by tomorrow, I’m finding someone else.” “Alright, alright, fine.” It was time to confront Melissa.

I walked into the CEO’s office and got straight to the point: “Melissa, I have a favor to ask.” Melissa rested her elbows on the desk, fingers interlaced, and gave me an appraising look. “You’re my husband. Whatever you need, just ask.” I leaned down, flashing a cold smile. “Alright then, I want something.” “What is it?” I enunciated each word clearly: “The keys to the Maserati Levante.” She froze, her expression rapidly changing. We stared at each other for several seconds, neither backing down. Finally, she sighed and tried to placate me. “Adrian, that’s not important. It wasn’t even that expensive.” Her face showed she thought I was being unreasonable. “You’ve never been so petty before.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Ms. Mu, can you get them back or not?” Melissa’s gaze was fixed on me, seemingly trying to gauge how serious I was. I stared back unflinchingly. She bit her lip and rubbed her forehead, but eventually replied, “Fine. I’ll give them to you tomorrow.” This was the first time I had ever been so disrespectful to Melissa. But it didn’t matter. I had achieved my goal. “Thank you,” I said with a faint smile, turning swiftly to leave. As I grasped the doorknob, Melissa’s voice came from behind me: “Adrian, are you jealous?” I replied noncommittally, “You can think that if you want.” As I closed the door, I heard the sound of something being swept off the desk inside. Then came the loud thud of a fist slamming onto the desk. Outside, Henry the secretary looked at me in shock. I gave a slight smile and entered the elevator. This was good. Once the decision was made, what was the point in keeping up appearances? … After getting the Maserati Levante keys, I wasted no time in setting up a meeting with Ryan at the TV station. At a café downstairs, Ryan arrived late, looking haggard. It must not feel good to have a gift taken back. “Please, have a seat Mr. Shen,” I gestured. His eyes landed on the car keys next to my coffee cup and his pupils constricted sharply! He plopped down unceremoniously and sneered at me. “Did Mr. Ou come to show off?” He flicked his bangs, looking at me defiantly. “Ms. Mu did ask for the keys back, but a woman of her status would surely compensate with something even more valuable when taking back a gift,” he said. I gazed at him calmly. Of course I understood such a simple principle. But it didn’t matter. “Besides, Mr. Ou, doing this makes big sis lose a lot of face.” I waited silently for him to finish, then slowly pushed the car keys towards him. “Her face doesn’t matter to me. Mr. Shen, a Maserati isn’t worth showing off to me. I got it back only because I wanted to—” I paused, and he looked at me warily. I chuckled softly. “I just wanted to give it to you personally.” He stared at me intently. “What do you mean?!” I explained slowly and deliberately: “If you want it, I can give it to you. But you can’t steal it. Understand, my dear little brother?” The color drained from his face. The coffee he was holding splashed out and he quickly set it down. I leaned back with a cold smile, looking at him. At that moment, I felt like a porcupine with all its quills raised. That’s right, Ryan was my half-brother from the same father. As of today, we hadn’t seen each other in 20 years. So we both pretended not to recognize each other. Actually, the first time I heard the name Ryan Shen, I knew it was him. At the accident scene, Ryan recognized me immediately too. His target was Melissa – how could he not investigate my identity? He just chose not to acknowledge our relation since he hadn’t officially gotten his position yet. Knowing my stepmother’s style and upbringing, once Ryan achieved his goal, he’d probably put on a pitiful act and say, “Big brother, I’m so sorry, I really didn’t know Melissa was your wife.” How could I let him have his way! I can accept a divorce, but the idea of Ryan even getting a whiff of Melissa is a sign of my incompetence. He wants to recreate what Linda did to my mom back then? Not a chance. Thanks to that mother-son duo, I learned an important lesson from a young age: Never let anyone catch you off guard!

“I’ll get divorced. But you will never be Melissa’s husband, because that’s one of my conditions for the divorce.” I smiled coldly as I watched the color drain from Ryan’s face. I continued to mock him: “Of course, you can choose to be her secret lover and get some pocket money from Melissa. But Linda would be disappointed, wouldn’t she?” “Linda has always had high hopes for you, surely she wants you to surpass me. A mere lover is beneath you, isn’t it?” Ryan’s excitement hadn’t even had a chance to rise before I crushed it mercilessly. He bit his lip and asked shakily: “Big brother, do you hate me that much? I was innocent back then too.” I coldly watched him put on an act. Then he tried to appeal to my emotions. “Dad has felt very guilty about you all these years, he just couldn’t get in touch with you.” “I don’t know what to say about what happened between my mom and Aunt Ou, but we’re different. We’re brothers by blood.” I remained unmoved and laughed coldly: “Ryan, don’t try that act with me! I’ve already lost once in life. That’s enough.” Ryan’s expression changed. He clearly hadn’t expected me to be so unswayable, so he stopped pretending. “I heard from Melissa that your marriage hasn’t been happy these past few years. She said you’re the unsatisfied one, and she actually feels very tired being with you.” “That’s right, but you’ve lost your chance!” I ended the meeting confidently and turned to leave. Ryan shouted behind me: “Big brother, even if I just make you get divorced, I still win!” “Don’t flatter yourself. At most, you’re just one of the catalysts for my divorce.” I tossed back the words dismissively and left without looking back. … After returning home, I started giving Melissa the cold shoulder. First, of course, because I was angry that of all people, she chose my stepmother’s son. Second, since we were getting divorced, I couldn’t keep acting all lovey-dovey. I had to show some signs. When the event planning company contacted me about the wedding arrangements, I put the project on hold, saying I’d get back to them when I had new ideas. Who wants a wedding that’s past its expiration date! That night I had a nightmare. Back then, my name was still Adrian Shen. I was three years old. Ryan’s mother Linda was my dad’s secretary, determined to climb the social ladder. That day, she barged into our home with an ultrasound, her belly swollen. She said she was carrying a boy, the young master of the Shen family who couldn’t be left out in the cold. Using the child as leverage, her attitude was arrogant. Although my mom had me as a son, a stay-at-home housewife was no match for an experienced office vixen. My dad held that ultrasound like a treasure. Shamelessly, he told Linda not to upset the baby and ordered my mom to get out! My mom fainted from anger. In the end, it was my grandmother who stepped in to mediate. Unlike my dad, she couldn’t be easily fooled. She placated Linda while reassuring my mom. “Janie, what man with money doesn’t fool around outside? Those are all shameless hussies. You gave birth to Adrian, no one can shake your position.” To give credit where it’s due, my grandmother was pretty good to me, her eldest grandson, back then. My mom was somewhat swayed by her words. Mainly because she hadn’t worked in years, having devoted everything to my dad and our family. If they divorced, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to get custody of me. … But Linda only behaved for a short while before causing trouble again. Later when my grandmother passed away from illness, she became even more unrestrained. She went around telling everyone she was pregnant with my dad’s child, firmly grasping his weakness. As she became more and more involved in the company, she started to treat it as her own. She began urging my dad to transfer assets, saying it was for their son’s sake. If he gave anything to my mom, it would all go to another man’s family when she remarried. My dad was so brainwashed by Linda that he ended up forcing a divorce. In the end, my mom was left with nothing and couldn’t even take me with her. Since she had no income, I was naturally awarded to the Shen family. From age 3 to 8, for five whole years, Linda became my lifelong nightmare. In that house, I was treated worse than a servant. Later when Linda gave birth to Ryan, her figure changed. My dad started spending his days gallivanting with other women again. This made my life even more miserable. Linda took out her dissatisfaction with my dad on me. She would beat and scold me at the drop of a hat, or lock me up as punishment. Because of this childhood family trauma, I thought I would never get married in my life. Until I met Melissa. Now, Ryan wants to recreate the story of the previous generation? Did he ask for my permission? I won’t end up like my mom, left with nothing in the end.

When Melissa heard the wedding was canceled, she came to ask me what was going on. I casually took out the divorce agreement: “Let’s get divorced.” Melissa shot to her feet: “Adrian, have you lost your mind?!” I looked at her calmly: “You know I haven’t. You’ve known for years that I’ve had this idea, haven’t you?” Her chest heaved as she paced back and forth, hands on her hips: “Is it because of Ryan? Stop being unreasonable, I know he’s my brother-in-law!” I angrily threw the divorce agreement in her face: “You don’t know shit! If you knew, you wouldn’t have done this!” I shouted, my voice distorted and shaking: “Melissa, how did I not realize you’ve become so full of yourself since getting rich! What exactly are you trying to do?!” The paper’s edge left bloody scratches on Melissa’s face. She stared at me in shock for a long while. She seemed unable to believe I would react so strongly. After a long time, she came over and hugged me tightly: “Adrian, I just wanted you to reconcile with your birth family. I was still hesitating whether I should do it when you found out.” My armor of indifference crumbled in that moment. Strong emotions of grief and anger made tears fall from my eyes. They silently dropped onto the shoulder pad of her suit. “Melissa, you don’t understand anything,” I said. “I do know. You’ve been seeing a therapist for five years. I know everything, Adrian,” Melissa gripped my shoulders tightly, her voice restrained and pained. I muttered: “Melissa, what gives you the right—” What gives you the right to be my savior when you haven’t experienced my pain? That family – I wish they were all dead! It’s not just me who’s a victim of that family, you are too! What gives you the right to make me reconcile with them! They don’t deserve it! Melissa wiped away my tears: “Adrian, believe me, I’ve never betrayed you. I gave Ryan the car because Natalie wanted to pursue him. You know how fickle she is.” “He is your brother after all—” I shoved her away forcefully. Whether she only saw Ryan as a brother-in-law, I didn’t want to delve into it. But Ryan’s desire to take my place was clear as day. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Melissa. Sign the papers. When we got married, we promised that if one day this relationship made either of us uncomfortable, we would let the other person go.” “Adrian!” she called out helplessly. I said wearily: “I know the company is at a critical stage right now. We won’t divide assets. I just want shares. Also, Melissa’s husband can’t be Ryan. Those are my only conditions.” “Adrian, do you think this is fair?” Melissa angrily threw aside the divorce agreement and came towards me. With bloodshot eyes, she grabbed my neck and pushed me against the wall. “What did I do wrong for you to treat me so cruelly!” “Melissa, I don’t want to test human nature. You’ll thank me for this in the future.” She stared at me for a long while, then buried her head in my chest, asking in a small voice: “Adrian, does it really have to be this way?” “Please grant me this, Ms. Mu.” I said. She glared at me fiercely. I met her gaze calmly. Melissa then pushed me away, turned around, and quickly signed her name without looking at me again. “You’ve really outdone yourself, Adrian!” … The day after finalizing the divorce, I went to have dinner at my mom’s place. Ever since I was 8 years old, when she finally had the means to support herself and fought to get me back, we had relied on each other. For my sake, she never remarried. Seeing me arrive alone, she chided me for not bringing Melissa along. I had a feeling that if I told her about the divorce right away, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the meal properly. So I just said Melissa had a business engagement. My mom nodded, urging us to hurry up and have a child. She gripped my hand tightly, earnestly advising: “Adrian, is Melissa the one who wants to avoid pregnancy?” “She used to say it wasn’t the right time for kids, but she can’t make excuses anymore now, can she?” Seeing my mom so anxious and insecure, I had a sudden realization. If I had continued my marriage with Melissa, I probably would have ended up like my mom. Insecure. Desperate, clinging to a child as a lifeline. I replied flatly: “Neither of us said we don’t want kids, and neither of us said we do. We’re just letting nature take its course.” Thinking about it seriously, Melissa and I had only discussed having children once in all our years of marriage. That one time, in our shabby rented apartment, she held me with restrained emotion.

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It was rare for James to have a weekend off. After much pleading, I finally convinced him to make sweet and sour pork ribs for me. While he was cooking, his phone on the coffee table chimed. 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 once said: “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 doubt grew like weeds in my mind. Fortunately, he hadn’t changed his passcode yet. I unlocked the phone. SnapChat showed a new message from an unfamiliar name. The content was simple and direct. “Miss you.” My heart clenched, my eyes fixed on those two words. Scrolling up, I found no other chat history. But those two simple words were enough to cut me deep. As I tried to calm myself, I accidentally knocked over the water glass on the table. James poked his head out of the kitchen, holding a spatula. “What’s wrong?” I forced a smile, quickly slipping the phone into my pocket. “Nothing, just wondering how far along you are.” “Not that fast,” he frowned, complaining, “This caramel is so hard to get right. Let’s eat out next time.” I paused briefly, then nodded in agreement, “Okay.” James seemed to have forgotten that I’m from New York 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, experimenting with recipes just for me. Back then, he loved our home so much, loved creating beautiful memories with me. The phone in my pocket felt like it weighed a ton, digging into my thigh. After calming down, I decided to reply on his behalf. “Come over, she’s not here.” I was curious about who this person was and how James 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. After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to open it. The person outside was clearly startled, the excitement on their face instantly freezing when they saw me. I studied her carefully, involuntarily comparing every detail from age to appearance to figure with myself. However, the conclusion was cruel—she surpassed me in every aspect. “You must be Emily.” “You know me?” “James mentioned you.” The thought that my name might have become a topic of amusement between them only deepened my disappointment in James. She seemed to remember something and pulled out a familiar food container from her bag. “I came to return this.” “Last time James brought 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 clutching—the one James 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 instantly ignited. I deliberately called out loudly towards the kitchen, “Honey, someone’s here to see you.” James heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen. Seeing her, he looked bewildered. I carefully observed their reactions, but didn’t see the guilt and unease I had expected. “Why are you here?” James asked, confused. “I was in the neighborhood and remembered I hadn’t returned your container, so I texted you.” “What text?” James suddenly seemed to realize something, glanced back at me, then his face darkened. “Just leave the container and go.” However, she didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she stood at the door, her eyes fixed on me. “Emily, aren’t you going to invite me in?” I couldn’t help but sneer, deliberately making way while glancing at James. “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 James’s face indeed changed. “Stop it,” he said. Sensing James’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 James see her off. When he returned, his face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. “What, missing her already?” I leaned against the door, mocking him. James 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?” James 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 nonsense at all, and we had a huge argument. After that, James’s relationship with me became very tense. I also slowly began to reflect on whether I had been too impulsive, but I also felt James’s explanation was too unconvincing. This life had become utterly frustrating. I told my best friend Rose about my suspicions of James cheating. She laughed for a long time. After my parents passed away unexpectedly, she and James became the most important people in my life. “What nonsense are you talking about?” “Back in college, James 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 daring to eat a single fry himself, saving it all for you.” I laughed wryly, “Really? I’ve forgotten.” Rose animatedly discussed how James had pursued me in college, but it all felt so distant to me. Indeed, 10 years had passed. In two months, I would turn 28. Before leaving, Rose earnestly advised me. “Emily, talk things through with James and set a date soon.” “Don’t let it drag on too long.” Rose 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 James, even sending 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 James’s account. The glaring “Active now” 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. James would worry about me, saying he’d help me quit this bad habit, even volunteering to apply bitter nail polish with me. But now… Thinking of this, I felt an inexplicable irritation. I had planned not to reply, but remembering Rose’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 with loose loungewear, but they couldn’t hide my inner anxiety and insecurity. The wall clock showed it was already 1 AM. I held the photo album James had made for me during our college days, lost in thought. When exactly did our relationship change from inseparable lovers to roommates who barely see each other? “Door open, welcome home.” The mechanical voice of the smart lock broke the night’s silence, also awakening that faint hope in the bottom of my heart. I suddenly lifted my head, my gaze piercing through the darkness, trying to capture that familiar silhouette. James stood at the door for a long time before finally stepping over the threshold. But his eyes quickly darted away the moment they met mine. That instant of avoidance hurt more than any words could, leaving me feeling utterly hopeless and cold. He stood in the entryway and suddenly lost his temper. “Can’t you fix your habit of leaving shoes everywhere?” I was stunned for a moment, about to go tidy up, when I saw him carelessly kick my shoes aside. Once upon a time, he would carefully arrange my high heels, always make sure my electric toothbrush was fully charged, and pack away my seasonal clothes well in advance. But now, all of that had become a distant memory. Lost in thought for a moment, I saw James walk out of the kitchen with a glass similar to the one in front of me. The difference was, 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 our old habit of sharing a glass, suddenly feeling 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 cold warring like this, so I mustered up the courage to hug him from behind. “What are you doing!” He shook me off like I was 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. James’s body stiffened slightly, a flash of guilt in his eyes. But it only lasted a few seconds before being replaced by his cold gaze. “What gift do you want? Text me, 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 out my cheeks in anger, saying I looked as cute as a pufferfish. But now, his gaze only grew colder, as if I were a complete stranger. “Emily.” He coldly called out my name, 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 contracted violently, 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 sunny boy in white who used to smile so brightly in my memories. 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, just mumbling, “Yeah, I’m already 28.” He seemed to guess what I was going 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…” James 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 maintained a calm facade, even with a hint of fawning. “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 James 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. “Now you feel you’re not good enough? Why didn’t you think that when you were chasing me so publicly back then?” James’s face instantly turned ashen. His lips moved slightly, as if wanting to say something, but after a moment’s struggle, he gave up. Just like our relationship now, he didn’t even have the will to salvage it. I watched him walk towards the guest room with a black face, not saying a word. Until he struggled to open the door for a while and angrily turned back to shout at me. “Emily! Can you stop messing around! Open the door!” I kept a cold face, trying hard to suppress the displeasure and disappointment surging inside. “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 hysterically shouted, “What, is this big house not enough for you now? Or are you just too lazy to even pretend anymore?” James’s face became extremely ugly, a flash of shock in his eyes. He seemed to have never seen me so out of control before, momentarily at a loss for words. “If anyone should go to a hotel, it should be me. After all, you bought this house, how could I make you leave.” I continued my high-frequency output, as if giving him a hard time 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. “Emily, 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 when you deliberately called my colleague over, did you ever 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 cold-shouldered me, 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. “Emily, if you really can’t go on, let’s just end it.” I held my neck stiffly, not answering. The frustration in my heart was about to explode. At this moment, I was certain James didn’t love me anymore. After that day, James didn’t come home again. On Friday night, Rose sent a message in our group chat with three people. “Friends, I’m getting married!” Following that was an elaborately designed invitation. She tagged me and James. “You two college sweethearts must come support me, the time and place are written above, be there on time!” I waited for a long time but didn’t see James reply. Not wanting Rose to worry, I responded. “Mm, we’ll be there.” Just after I sent it, James’s private message popped up. “Just find some excuse, say I’m on a business trip or sick, I won’t go.” I hesitated for a few seconds, “But they’ve invited us, it’s not right not to go.” “Besides, Rose is my best friend.” I watched the “typing” indicator above the SnapChat dialogue box. After waiting for a long time, until— “Emily, let’s break up.” I stared at the screen, tears falling uncontrollably. Clumsily moving my already stiff fingers, I repeatedly typed on the keyboard, but hesitated and deleted each time. After a long while, I angrily pressed send. “Fine.” When I first met James, he was being scolded by our counselor. “James, I chose you as class monitor considering your poor family background. Being a student leader can add points, which will be very helpful for your future scholarship applications.” James bowed his back, “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.” After overhearing a bit more, I learned that this tall boy had often been ordered around by the short, chubby counselor in front of him to do hard labor. “You say that, but I ask you for help because I know 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 not introduce him to a proper part-time job? Besides, those few points from being a student leader are nothing compared to what he could get from winning a competition 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 James away. “Hey…” “Are you stupid?” James smiled bitterly and shook his head, “I know he doesn’t have good intentions, but I thought 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?” James was stunned, only now really looking at me. “You’re the… 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 to buy me would have been in my hands long ago. “Hi.” He scratched his head shyly and smiled. “Hi my ass.” I turned and left. After that, James 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 go? The reminiscence came to an abrupt end. After I agreed to break up, James didn’t contact me again until that night. I was revising my new resume at the company when I suddenly received a call from James’s friend. “Sis, I’m with James at Mirage KTV. He’s drunk too much and we’re worried something might happen. Can you come pick him up?” I guessed James probably hadn’t told them about our breakup yet. “Alright, I’ll come over now.”

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Hazel Crawford watched in shock as her boyfriend passionately kissed her best friend. Without hesitation, she marched over and slapped them both across the face. A well-dressed woman passing by stopped in her tracks, staring at the scene in amazement. She approached Hazel and asked, “Excuse me, could you slap my son like that too?” Hazel blinked in confusion, but before she could respond, her now ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend started hurling accusations at each other. “You cheating bastard! I’ll never let you have custody of our child!” “You gold-digging whore! I’m done covering up your affair with that old rich guy!” They glared at each other, their silent accusations speaking volumes. Soon, they were at each other’s throats. Hazel felt a sense of satisfaction as she prepared to go home and mourn her dead relationship. Suddenly, the well-dressed woman grabbed her arm, tears in her eyes. “It’s not easy raising a child alone. Here’s a thousand dollars. I hope it helps.” Realizing the woman had misunderstood the situation, Hazel quickly explained that it was all made up. The woman paused for a moment, then asked again, “So… could you still slap my son?” Hazel was taken aback. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I don’t do that sort of thing.” The woman wiped away a tear and pulled out a credit card. “Ten thousand dollars.” “Really, I can’t-” “Fifty thousand.” Hazel hesitated. “Um… maybe we should exchange contact info?” The woman introduced herself as Mrs. Grant. Her son, Lucas, was hopelessly in love with his ex-girlfriend Ruby, who had been studying abroad and leading a promiscuous lifestyle while stringing Lucas along. According to Mrs. Grant, when Ruby returned home wearing a white dress, Lucas was overcome with joy at their reunion, completely ignoring his mother’s warnings. To avoid damaging their mother-son relationship, Mrs. Grant decided to hire Hazel as an “intervention specialist.” “Ruby dumped him as soon as she went abroad, leaving him depressed for three years. He nearly failed out of college, only managing to graduate by cramming in his final year. Now that she’s back, I don’t know what will happen to my Lucas…” Mrs. Grant explained tearfully. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Grant. I’ll take care of it,” Hazel assured her, pocketing the $5,000 deposit. For the first time in her life, Hazel splurged on a taxi instead of taking the bus. She arrived at Lucas’s place in record time, ready to deliver a slap. But as she raised her hand, she was struck by his handsome face and piercing eyes. Her fierce slap transformed into a gentle caress down his cheek. He was too attractive to hit. “I’m so sorry, how rude of me,” Hazel apologized. Lucas’s temple twitched slightly, but his good manners kept him composed. Encouraged by his politeness, Hazel extended her hand. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Hazel Crawford, a friend of a friend of your mother’s.” Lucas smiled faintly. Just as he was about to shake her hand, he suddenly put his arm around Ruby instead. “I’m sorry, but I have a girlfriend,” he said coolly. Ruby looked up at him, her face glowing with happiness. It seemed as if their relationship had just been confirmed in that moment. Hazel’s smile froze. She hoped Mrs. Grant wouldn’t demand a refund. Back home, Hazel began researching Lucas’s interests online, combining this information with what Mrs. Grant had told her. She started subtly inserting herself into Lucas’s world. They had “chance” encounters at cafes, and Hazel got a part-time job as a waitress at his favorite restaurant, her hand occasionally brushing against his as she served him. Ruby grew increasingly unhappy, and the couple started arguing. It was a good sign for Hazel’s mission. That evening, Hazel transformed into a sporty, sunshine girl, jogging past Lucas’s house. She deliberately tripped and fell into his arms as he was taking out the trash. She cried out in pain, then looked up, feigning surprise. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “Mr. Grant…” Lucas remained silent, his expression unreadable. Emboldened, Hazel confessed, “Actually, I’ve liked you for a long time.” The first step in breaking up the lovebirds was to sow discord. Lucas loosely held her, asking, “You like me?” Hazel nodded shyly. He lifted her gently, then unceremoniously dumped her into the recycling bin along with the trash. Keeping one hand on the lid to prevent her from escaping, he pulled out his phone with the other. “Hello? 911? Yes, there’s a stalker here. She’s been following me and just tried to sexually harass me.” “This is unacceptable, Miss Crawford! Even if you have a crush on someone, you can’t go to their home and harass them. Is this what they teach you in college these days?” The police officer lectured Hazel sternly. Hazel tried desperately to explain herself. The officer just stared at her coldly. “Call your academic advisor to come pick you up!” Calling her professor was out of the question. She didn’t want to become a social pariah on campus. Tonight, Hazel should have been in Lucas’s arms, feeling his lean waist, their breaths mingling… only to be caught by Ruby, leading to a dramatic confrontation. Then she would have tearfully collected her $500,000 reward. Instead, she was sitting in a jail cell, listening to a bunch of drunks howling and crying… With no other choice, Hazel called Mrs. Grant early the next morning. Mrs. Grant arrived quickly, using her status as a “relative” to bail Hazel out. Completely ignoring the suspicious looks from the police, she praised Hazel effusively. “You did a great job! Lucas called me last night in a terrible mood. He must have had a fight with Ruby…” As they left the police station, Mrs. Grant continued chattering away. “But he’s too soft-hearted. He made up with her and invited her over. Hazel, do you think you could go to his place and keep an eye on things? Just in case that girl tries to trap him with a pregnancy or something. How awful would that be?” Hazel turned to her wearily. “Mrs. Grant, do you think next time you’ll be picking me up from prison instead?” Breaking and entering would definitely land her in more serious trouble. Mrs. Grant seemed oblivious to Hazel’s concerns. “Don’t worry, Hazel. Just go for it!” Hazel vaguely felt that her relationship with the police was far from over. After finishing her professor’s urgent request for a thesis draft, Hazel looked up to find night had fallen. To avoid creating more “little Lucases,” as Mrs. Grant put it, Hazel reluctantly made her way to Lucas’s house. True to her word, Mrs. Grant had bribed the newly hired security guard, who let Hazel in without question. At that moment, Hazel felt a surge of confidence. The front door was slightly ajar. Through the gap, Hazel could see two figures on the couch engaged in some heavy petting. Lucas’s partially unbuttoned shirt was damp, clinging to his skin and revealing tantalizing glimpses of his muscular physique. Ruby frantically tried to dab at the wet spot with a tissue. “I’m so sorry, so sorry!” Lucas frowned slightly, blocking her hand. “Ruby, we’re both adults now. Some things…” He suddenly trailed off mid-sentence. Hazel’s heart skipped a beat. Were they about to do adult things?! She couldn’t allow that! Lucas’s piercing gaze swept towards the door. “Our visitor at the door, have you seen enough?” Hazel strode in with as much dignity as she could muster. Ruby immediately snuggled closer to Lucas, as if marking her territory. But that meant nothing. Mrs. Grant didn’t approve either. Hazel announced, “Mrs. Grant said she left something here and asked me to retrieve it.” As long as she couldn’t find this nonexistent item, she had an excuse to stick around and prevent any funny business between the couple. Lucas stared at her, his brows furrowed into a deep frown. He was about to stand up when he glanced down at his damp shirt. Instead, he turned to Ruby and said, “I need to take a shower. This wine you spilled is sticky. While I’m gone, please help our guest… leave.” He headed towards the bathroom. Ruby swirled the wine in her glass, her tone dripping with disdain. “I advise you not to use such underhanded tactics to seduce Lucas. He’s different from other men. He’s very loyal.” Hazel couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “He may be loyal, but are you?” Mrs. Grant had already investigated Ruby thoroughly. She had returned to the country, but she wasn’t being faithful. She had several backup boyfriends, but unfortunately, there was no concrete evidence to make Lucas believe it. Hearing this, Ruby’s face changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. “What are you talking about? I only love Lucas.” “In a relationship, loyalty is the bare minimum. And Miss Chen, you don’t even have that. But I do,” Hazel replied coolly. Seeing Ruby’s smile become increasingly strained, Hazel knew Mrs. Grant’s intel was spot on. Suddenly, a phone on the coffee table started ringing. Perhaps due to nervousness, Ruby accidentally hit the speakerphone button. A young man’s voice immediately filled the room: “Babe, are you coming over tonight?” His tone was lazy and intimate. Ruby frantically tried to mute the call, rushing outside in a panic. This was her chance! If she could just let Lucas see Ruby’s infidelity, her mission would be accomplished! Where was Lucas? The sound of running water came from the nearby bathroom. Oh right, he was showering. Hazel rushed over and pounded on the door. “Are you done? I really need to use the bathroom!” A languid voice replied from inside, “No.” “Hurry up, I can’t hold it anymore!” After a moment’s hesitation, Lucas responded, “There’s another bathroom upstairs.” “Please, I’m begging you! It’s an emergency!” Hazel pleaded desperately. Through the window, she could see Ruby’s lips forming what looked like “goodbye.” She ended the call quickly, while Lucas started speeding up his shower. Hazel clawed at her hair in frustration. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! As Ruby was about to come back inside, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. To hell with it! Hazel kicked open the bathroom door and barged in. A Greek god emerging from the bath – that was her first thought.

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