I was doxxed by my boyfriend of three years, exposed online for all to see. His stepsister caused my allergic reaction, and I demanded an apology. Three years of love couldn’t compete with an outsider who wasn’t even blood-related. I always thought it was my fault until I overheard his conversation with friends… “She just had an allergic reaction, not like she died. Why should my sister apologize?” That sentence from my boyfriend became the last straw that broke me. I watched him protect his two-faced stepsister, my heart turning to ashes. Three years. I loved him for three years, only to realize it was all a big joke. I deleted all contact information and blocked him. Until one day, he appeared at my doorstep with bloodshot eyes: “What do you want from me?” I smiled: “I want you… to die.” … I sat at the dining table, feeling terribly uncomfortable. My throat felt like it was blocked by something. Chloe smiled at me sweetly: “Aria, I made this shrimp fried rice especially for you.” I shook my head with difficulty, wanting to say that she knew I was allergic to shrimp, but I couldn’t speak. My body started itching, and red rashes appeared all over. I looked at my arms in horror, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe. “Aria, what’s wrong?” Ethan finally noticed my distress. I wanted to answer him but could only make choking sounds. I collapsed onto the chair, my vision blurring. In my daze, I heard the sound of an ambulance. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. “You’re awake? How do you feel?” Ethan sat by the bed, asking with concern. I looked at him weakly, my voice hoarse: “Chloe did it on purpose, didn’t she?” Ethan frowned: “Don’t overthink it, how could she…” I interrupted him: “I want her to come and apologize to me in person.” Ethan’s expression turned unpleasant, but he nodded. The next morning, just as I was about to be discharged, my phone suddenly started buzzing frantically. I opened it and froze. My photos, ID number, home address – everything had been posted online. I had been doxxed! Even worse, some of my private photos were being sold online for a dollar each. I trembled all over, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. This blatant humiliation and hurt nearly broke me. I called Ethan with shaking hands, but no one answered. I dragged my weak body, taking a cab to the hotel where Ethan usually stayed. In the elevator, I leaned against the cold wall, my heart full of expectations for Ethan. He would comfort me and help me solve this problem, right? As I reached his room and was about to knock, I heard voices from inside. “Haha, that stupid girl must be terrified now, right?” “Serves her right for messing with Chloe and demanding an apology!” I froze, unable to believe my ears. I stood there, ear pressed against the door, listening to the conversation inside. The sound of clinking glasses and unrestrained laughter of several men came from the room. “Guys, check out these photos. What a body!” a drunken voice said. “Tsk tsk, who knew she was so wild in private when she acts so proper in public,” another chimed in. My heart ached, tears falling uncontrollably. Those photos, those scenes were all taken at Ethan’s place. My intimate moments with Ethan had become their entertainment. “Ethan, you dog! You scored such a hot chick!” I heard Ethan chuckle: “She’s alright, just for fun.” My heart instantly turned cold. I gripped the doorframe to keep from falling. “Hey, I heard there’s no info on her parents. Is she an orphan?” “An orphan? Even better! No one to protect her if we mess with her.” I bit my lip hard, trying not to make a sound. “Ethan, what made you do this?” someone asked. Ethan laughed coldly: “It’s all because that bitch dared to ask Chloe to apologize. Who does she think she is?” “This is her lesson, to know her place.” I trembled, unable to believe these words came from Ethan’s mouth. “So, are you still going to marry her?” “Are you kidding? Someone like her? You guys can have her if you want.” My heart shattered completely, tears blurring my vision. So in his eyes, I was never a lover, just a toy to be played with. I covered my mouth, trying hard not to cry out loud. Listening to the laughter from inside, my despair reached its peak. I struggled to support myself on shaky legs. Countless memories flashed through my mind, piercing my heart like shards. “Baby, let’s try something new today?” Ethan had looked at me lovingly in bed. At the time, I thought he wanted to deepen our relationship. Now I realized how disgusting it was. So all those intimate moments had been recorded by him. I covered my mouth, trying hard not to vomit. Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the room. “Guys, I’ve got videos and audio too. Want something more exciting?” Ethan’s voice came through the door. I felt cold all over, as if I’d fallen into an ice pit. The scene at Ethan’s house that day involuntarily flashed through my mind. Chloe came over with a plate of fried rice, smiling sweetly: “Sis, I made this especially for you.” I was so touched at the time, but ended up covered in rashes after eating it. Ethan had said Chloe accepted me and invited me for dinner. Now I realized how ridiculous that was. So they had been plotting against me from the start. I remembered what Ethan’s drunk friend had said last time: “Ethan, when are you going to marry Chloe?” I thought he was just drunk and got the name wrong. Now I understood the truth. In his heart, I was never his true love. Just a substitute, a toy to be discarded at will. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. With trembling hands, I pushed open the hotel doors. The harsh sunlight instantly hit my face. I instinctively lowered my head, feeling the strange gazes of people around me. Shame and fear overwhelmed me like a tidal wave. I quickened my pace, wanting to escape this place. Suddenly, a stranger pointed at me and whispered: “Isn’t that the girl from the internet…” I shuddered and hurriedly hailed a cab to leave the hotel entrance. Sitting in the car, tears streamed down my face. My trembling fingers scrolled through my phone, finally finding my parents’ number. The call connected quickly, my father’s gentle voice came through: “Aria, what’s wrong?” Hearing the familiar voice, I could no longer control my emotions. “Dad… I… I…” I choked, tears bursting forth. My father sensed something was wrong, his tone becoming urgent: “Aria, what happened?” I took a deep breath and told my parents everything that had happened. By the time I finished, I was sobbing uncontrollably. My parents were silent for a moment, then my mother’s soothing voice came through: “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. We’re here for you.”

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After My Husband Lost His Memory, He Wanted a Divorce Claiming His Lover Was Pregnant I agreed. After regaining his memory, he chased me to a foreign country begging to reconcile. But I had already lost all feelings for him. Because I too had regained my lost memories. “Sign the papers. Mandy is pregnant, so I must get a divorce,” said the man sitting across the table from me. Ethan Zhang, heir to the Zhang Group empire. And I was his wife. “Ethan, please reconsider,” pleaded the woman beside him – my mother-in-law. “You’ll regret this when you get your memory back.” That’s right, my husband had lost his memory. Three years ago, on our first wedding anniversary, he went to the supermarket to buy ingredients, saying he wanted to cook a special dinner for me like he used to when we were dating. Hours passed and he didn’t return. After I reported him missing, the hospital called the next day to inform me my husband had been in a car accident. When I rushed to the hospital, I found my husband gazing lovingly at the girl who had saved him. Then the doctor told me my husband had amnesia. His memories stopped at three years ago, the day before we first met. He didn’t remember that I was the wife he had pursued for two years. Even worse, he had fallen madly in love with the girl who brought him to the hospital. The day after he was discharged, he asked for a divorce. I looked into his eyes and saw the same sincerity as when he first confessed his love to me, promising to love me forever. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. I didn’t agree. I couldn’t let go of our relationship so easily. So he moved out. Over the next three years, I heard about many crazy things Ethan did for that girl. After all, the Zhang Group was famous, and Ethan himself was handsome and capable. More importantly, he did things for her that he had never done for me. Sometimes I think love is such an ephemeral thing. Mere memories can completely change who one loves. During those three years, many people tried to talk Ethan out of his foolishness. Every friend and relative who had witnessed our love urged him to move back home for a while. Later they started advising me, saying that once Ethan regained his memory, he would remember how much he loved me. So I endured for three years. I endured when they told me Ethan bought the girl’s company just so she couldn’t leave him. I endured when they said he bought an island as a gift for her. I even endured when I learned they were living together as husband and wife. But now, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Alright,” I smiled. “Give me the papers. I’ll sign.” “Aria, Mom doesn’t agree,” my mother-in-law grabbed my hand, tears in her eyes. “Ethan just lost his memory. He loved you so much, and you loved him too. Oh, how cruel fate has been to you both.” My parents passed away when I was young. Over the years, Ethan’s parents had treated me very well. “It’s okay. You’ve always wanted a grandchild, right? She’s pregnant, and the child is innocent,” I wiped away her tears. “That girl is nice too. Ethan and I… I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.” “I can’t believe you agreed so easily.” Ethan let out a cold laugh, looking at me with none of the love from before, only disdain for a crazy woman. Of course, in his current memories, I was just a mad woman who refused divorce and obstructed his wonderful new love. “She’s pregnant. What else can I do? Let the child be born out of wedlock?” “You…” Ethan glanced at my stomach, suddenly sneering, “Looks like I didn’t love you that much back then either. Otherwise, why weren’t you pregnant after a year of marriage?” I threw my water in his face. “Get out!” He wiped his face angrily, not forgetting to spit out more harsh words. “Just you wait. After the divorce, this house won’t be yours either!” After he left, my mother-in-law tried to comfort me. “Aria, move in with me. Even if you’re no longer Ethan’s wife, you can still be my daughter.” I shook my head. Over the past three years, Ethan had caused trouble with his parents too. He refused to come home, and when I went to his company, he had people block me. But he needed my agreement for the divorce. When his friends were too embarrassed to approach me, he went to his parents. After being scolded by them a few times, he simply stopped going home altogether. After finally persuading my mother-in-law to leave, a friend messaged to say Mandy wanted to meet me. Mandy Su – the girl who had brought my husband to the hospital that day. Now she was pregnant, and I was worried about her safety if we met. Without thinking, I refused. But my friend said Mandy was determined to see me and was waiting at a cafe, saying she wouldn’t leave until she saw me. These two were truly the bane of my existence. Cursing under my breath, I rushed to the cafe. As soon as I entered, I saw Mandy sitting by the window. Thinking about it carefully, I didn’t really have any deep grudge against Mandy. Some friends called Mandy a homewrecker, but I said that ultimately it was Ethan’s fault. Poor Mandy was just doing a good deed by taking an injured man to the hospital, only to be suddenly fallen in love with. I knew the lengths Ethan would go to for a woman he loved. He was quite a catch, and Mandy was a young girl fresh out of college. With all his sweet words and grand gestures, even a heart of stone would melt. Mandy wore a light-colored dress, her long curly hair looking soft and sweet in the sunlight. Only her complexion seemed a bit off. “Aria, thank you for coming,” her voice was as gentle as her appearance. People who knew us said Mandy and I were complete opposites. She studied art, with a gentle personality and a delicate artistic air. Just standing there, she looked like the female lead in a romantic music video. Before I met Ethan, I was a botanist who spent most of my time trekking through forests. Because I became a team leader at a young age, my personality was inevitably strong-willed. Back then, Ethan hadn’t fully taken over the company yet and was a thrill-seeking rich kid. God knows how much money he spent to join our expedition team. Throughout the trip, I scolded him endlessly for his lack of outdoor survival skills. When he first pursued me, I refused. I loved the adventurous life deep in the rainforests. Being a rich man’s wife might be many people’s dream, but not mine. But Ethan knew exactly how to win me over. He showed me things I had never had – the warmth of family. His parents were wonderful, truly treating me like a daughter. And he promised he wouldn’t let marriage constrain me, that he would be my support. It was all lies. At first after marriage, I didn’t give up my career. Until he said he wanted children, and I considered temporarily transferring to a lab. Then, while I was in the process of arranging the transfer, the car accident happened and he lost his memory. The vows of marriage didn’t allow me to just abandon him, so I went to work in the lab, continuing my research during the three years he kept demanding a divorce. Now that I think about it, it’s time to let him go. I’m starting to miss my life before marriage. I sat down across from Mandy at her invitation. She must be in the early stages of pregnancy, as she still looked slender. “You wanted to see me? I’ve agreed to the divorce,” I told her directly. To my surprise, Mandy burst into tears. “Why are you crying? I already agreed to the divorce.” I was baffled. She just kept wiping her tears. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Her tears softened my heart despite myself. “You have nothing to apologize for. It’s not like you made Ethan lose his memory. These things happen, there’s nothing we can do.” I took a sip of coffee. Normally I drank coffee like water, but today for the first time I found the latte unbearably bitter. “You’re having his child now. Live well together in the future.” Mandy cried in fits and starts. “I didn’t want this, really, I didn’t want any of this.” Seeing that we were drawing attention from nearby tables, I felt powerless for the first time today. “Stop crying,” I resignedly started wiping her tears. “I really don’t blame you, honestly.” “Mandy!” Just then, the cafe door was violently pushed open and Ethan rushed in like a gust of wind. “I can’t believe you’re so shameless!” He suddenly grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like he would snap the bone. “Mandy hasn’t done anything wrong. If you have any complaints, take them out on me!” Seriously, how did I never notice Ethan had eye problems before? “Are you insane? Why would I give her a hard time?” “Ethan, Aria didn’t do anything to me. Let go of her.” Mandy pleaded. Ethan flung my hand away violently. With a loud thud, my hand slammed against the table corner. “Ouch,” I hissed. I was supposed to go on an expedition soon. It would be troublesome if my hand was sprained. But I still underestimated how unreasonable Ethan could be. He checked Mandy over carefully, only to find her eyes were just swollen from crying. “Cloud, I’m warning you – I’m the one who wants a divorce. If you dare bother Mandy again, I won’t let you off so easily.” How could my taste in men have been so poor back then? This guy not only had eye problems, but brain damage too. “Let me tell you something too, Ethan Zhang. We’re definitely getting divorced. And…” I raised my hand and slapped him hard. “Since you’re so eager to end this, bring the divorce papers soon. Don’t waste my time.” That evening, I got a call from Ethan’s secretary. “Mrs. Zhang, why did you agree to the divorce?” I was icing my wrist as I corrected her. “Don’t call me Mrs. Zhang anymore. I’m divorcing your boss. Seeing how eager he is, it’ll probably be in the next couple days.” “Miss Cloud, but Mr. Zhang didn’t leave you anything!” I froze. “What do you mean he didn’t leave me anything?” “This afternoon when Mr. Zhang came back, he immediately called a lawyer. He’s demanding you leave with nothing.” Is that so? But I clearly remember Ethan promising when he proposed that if he ever wronged me, he would be the one to leave with nothing. On the other end, the secretary continued explaining. “Including the things Mr. Zhang gifted you before, he wants them all back.” Right, he had been very attentive when pursuing me. I didn’t care for jewelry or bags, so he once gave me a star. “Including that star?” “Star?” The secretary sounded confused. After some keyboard and mouse clicks, she said, “For that star, Mr. Zhang only bought the naming rights. He hasn’t mentioned renaming it yet.” He probably didn’t even remember it, I gathered from the secretary’s tone. Come to think of it, my relationship with Ethan was quite absurd. A star named after me, as worthless as our relationship that crumbled with lost memories. “It’s fine. Those things were his to begin with. He can have them all back.” I was tired. Soon, perhaps none of this would bother me anymore. “Miss Cloud, even though I’m Mr. Zhang’s secretary, the terms of the divorce agreement are unfair to you. You didn’t do anything wrong in this marriage. Mr. Zhang shouldn’t treat you like this.” The secretary paused. “It’s not my place to say this, but Miss Cloud, don’t sign the agreement.” I knew she meant well. Everyone knew I came from an ordinary background, with no parents, living in a small suburban house before I met Ethan. Now Ethan, as heir to the Zhang Group, was demanding his blameless wife leave the marriage with nothing. “Thank you,” I sincerely thanked her. “But honestly, those things are useless to me anyway.” Early the next morning, Ethan’s lawyer showed up at my door. “Mrs. Cloud, this is the divorce agreement Mr. Zhang asked us to draft.” “Let me see it, I’ll sign.” “Mrs. Cloud, don’t you want to read it carefully? If there’s anything you can’t accept, we can discuss it further with Mr. Zhang.” The lawyer seemed surprised by how readily I agreed. “No need. He’s not giving me anything, right? I don’t want anything of his either.” I glanced at the agreement. Ethan had already signed it. According to the secretary, the agreement was commissioned yesterday afternoon. Ethan couldn’t even wait a moment longer. Then why should I insist on our previous vows? I picked up the pen and signed my name too. “Mrs. Cloud, Mr. Zhang hopes you’ll move out today.” Ethan, you’ve really outdone yourself. I looked around the home I’d lived in for over four years. “Fine.” The lawyer had barely left when Ethan’s mother rushed over.

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My childhood friend persuaded me into an intimate encounter, only to later reconcile with his ex-girlfriend, Sophie. A month later, I sent him a pregnancy report. His only response was, “Emily, I always thought of you as a friend. You don’t want to be my wife, do you?” I replied, “No worries, I’ll raise the baby on my own.” Two years later, I went bankrupt. As he was about to marry, he took our child from me, citing my financial inability to support him, and left him in Sophie’s care. Three days later, I received the devastating news of my child’s death. By the time I reached the hospital, Little Round was already cold. His tiny hand lay still in my palm, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t warm him. Michael stood by with his fiancée Sophie, explaining with a disturbingly calm tone, “The child was playing and fell into the villa’s koi pond. By the time Sophie found him, it was too late.” I screamed in agony, “Why did you let her take my child? Why!!” I charged at them in a frenzy. Michael shielded Sophie, angrily replying, “Emily, this happened because of you. If you hadn’t insisted on having him, would we be here now?” I stood frozen, something lodged in my throat, suffocating me. Michael sneered, “You’re just selfish. Did you think having my child would unify the Johnson and Taylor families? Dream on. I, Michael, don’t need a marriage alliance. And now it’s proven—Emily, the sole heir of the Taylor family, you managed to bankrupt the Taylor Corporation in just two years.” I looked at him, the man I had admired for so long, and felt nothing but hatred. “Glaring at me? You still think you’re the high and mighty heiress? What right do you have to glare at me?” Michael pulled out a card and tossed it to me dismissively. “This is for the child’s funeral expenses, and the rest is your payment for the past two years.” He then turned to Sophie, wiping away her feigned tear and gently said, “It’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself. Let’s go home.” “No, Brother Michael, I want to stay with Emily,” Sophie said, looking at me with feigned guilt. “She must be very upset.” “Sophie, you’re too kind. I’ll head back to the office and have someone take you home later.” They shared another deep kiss. Yes, Sophie is seen as kind, weak, and needing protection. I heard this countless times five years ago. That year, amidst a heavy snowfall, Sophie stopped our car, cradling a stray cat, begging us to take it in. Michael held an umbrella over her, gently caressing the kitten in her arms, his gaze never leaving her face. In that moment, I tasted the bitterness of impending loss. Michael took her into the car. I recognized her; she worked at the café near our school. Her home should have been nearby, so why didn’t she take the stray cat home instead of stopping our car? When I questioned this, Michael, displeased, pushed me out of the car, telling me to experience the harshness of life to regain my conscience. The snow that covered me that day enveloped me again today, chilling me to the bone.

After Michael left, Sophie’s sad expression vanished. She picked up the card and brushed it against my face twice. “Emily, I’m about to marry into the Johnson family. Don’t expect a penny from Michael! Just because you had his son doesn’t mean you can sit back and enjoy the benefits.” “Marry! Marry! Marry the Grim Reaper!” I lashed out, grabbing Sophie’s neck tightly. Even as Michael’s bodyguards tried to pull me off, I wouldn’t let go until they used a stun baton, leaving me paralyzed on the ground. Sophie grabbed the baton, laughing maniacally as she hit me. “Emily, you should thank me. If I hadn’t broken up with Michael, he wouldn’t have gone to you out of spite. You know, I still have recordings of how he humiliated you. Want to hear it?” I had no choice. Michael’s voice was already coming through the phone. “Sophie, I just had some drinks, and Emily conveniently showed up. It’s all her fault. This woman has clung to me since childhood, shamelessly sticking around, always finding excuses to be near…” But I remember, Michael was the one who invited me that day. He said, “Emily, will you stay with me until we’re old?” I asked if he wasn’t dating Sophie. He shook his head with a light laugh, “We broke up. What? Don’t you like me anymore?” “No…” I hadn’t even finished speaking when he sealed my lips with a kiss. Before, I placed all my hopes on him and the child. It was my way of holding onto the most heart-fluttering memory of my youth. But today, that hope died with the child. The man in my memories also died.

I buried Little Round with my grandfather so they could keep each other company and not be lonely. I lost my parents at a young age and was raised by my grandfather. Though life was wealthy, something was always missing. The Johnson family and ours were family friends, so Michael and I grew up together. When my grandfather learned I was pregnant with Michael’s child, he was thrilled and immediately discussed our marriage with Michael’s father. But Michael rejected it on the spot. He said, “I have someone I like, and the child in Emily’s womb might not even be mine.” My grandfather’s face went red with anger and he severed ties with the Johnson family. That night, I cried my eyes out. My grandfather sat silently by me until dawn. After Little Round was born, the Taylor household became more lively. But the good times didn’t last. My grandfather fell seriously ill. On his deathbed, he stroked Little Round’s face and sighed, “Thank goodness for this little guy accompanying you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t rest in peace.” After losing my grandfather, I was in a slump for a long time and neglected managing the company, leading to bankruptcy. I initially wanted to take Little Round and leave Wind City, to start anew in an unfamiliar place. But I was intercepted by Michael at the airport. He yelled at me, “You went bankrupt, fine, but why take my son!” That was the first time he met Little Round and the first time he acknowledged him as his child. At first, I was unwilling to give Little Round to him. He had someone forcibly take him and threatened that if I caused trouble again, I wouldn’t see the child well-off. I never imagined that this would be my final goodbye to Little Round. “Little Round, Mama won’t let you die in vain.” I lay before the gravestone, wiped my tears, closed my eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

I don’t know how long I slept, but I heard someone repeatedly calling me. It was the cemetery caretaker. He frowned, “Miss, why are you sleeping here?” I smiled slightly and replied, “I have no home. This cemetery plot is the only place I owned, so I made do for the night.” Yes, I was penniless at that moment. The villa was auctioned off, and all my bags and jewelry went to pay off debts. But I’m not worried. Surviving isn’t difficult for me. I braced against hunger and walked into the most famous club in Wind City, where socialites gather to spend. As a fallen heiress, there’s no way I could rise back to the top from the glamorous side. They’d only try to crush me further. So I had no choice but to choose this route. The receptionist at the club recognized me instantly, “Miss Taylor, I remember you don’t have any wine stored here. Why are you here?” “I’m here to see Manager Brown.” The receptionist smirked sarcastically, “Not just anyone can see Manager Brown.” I wasn’t in the mood for her games and stood aside. Soon, a tall figure appeared in the club. I immediately approached, “Manager Brown, I need to talk to you.” Upon seeing me, Kelly Brown was a bit surprised, “Miss Taylor, you know I only work for money, you…” “I want to sell wine here, to work with you,” I said bluntly. “The news of a fallen heiress selling wine here will surely make your business boom.” “Indeed, anyone who can become an heir must be ruthless enough to let their dignity be trampled,” Kelly Brown extended a hand to me, “Welcome.” Soon, the entire socialite circle in Wind City was eager to see my downfall at the club. Most were my well-off classmates.

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I had an arranged marriage with Lucas Gray. I couldn’t forget my childhood friend, and he had an unresolved love for his childhood sweetheart. The kicker? Those two were actually a couple. Originally, we agreed to secretly sabotage their relationship and then divorce once we succeeded. But when I saw them kissing, Lucas forcefully kissed me. He said, “Your childhood friend kissed my sweetheart. I can’t let myself be at a disadvantage.” I believed him. Until later when I got pregnant. I cried! He said, “It’s legal, and you made the first move.” 0 On the day Lucas and I got our marriage certificate, the wedding photographer tried multiple times before sighing in frustration. “Are you two really here to get married?” “Sir, you look like you have a grudge against this lady.” I chuckled. “You’re right, he does kind of hate me right now.” That’s because the person he wanted to marry wasn’t me, but his childhood sweetheart Bella Johnson. I was actually quite satisfied with him though. Even though the person I wanted to marry wasn’t him either, but my childhood friend Zack Carter. But what could we do? My unattainable childhood love and his unresolved sweetheart were passionately in love with each other. After discovering their relationship, I tried every way I could to break them up. But my efforts were largely ineffective. Then my family received a marriage proposal from the Gray family. I was happy about it. Arranged marriages, you know – all wealthy heirs understand. It’s just a piece of paper, not about feelings. The key point is that his situation was truly similar to mine. I’d gain a highly intelligent ally. We could break those two up and then divorce later. Plus, I heard from my dad that the Gray family had willingly conceded several big projects to seek this marriage alliance. At least three hundred million dollars in profit per year. No matter how you look at it, I was coming out ahead. Looking at Lucas’s gloomy face beside me, I had to admit his looks were really not bad. Even angry, he was so handsome. I should try to cheer him up a bit. I stood on my tiptoes and hooked my arm around Lucas’s neck, whispering in his ear. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure out our situation in due time.” “Come on, let’s take the photos first.” I grabbed his hand and adjusted our position. He looked at his hand tightly gripped in mine, then at me. His expression changed from gloomy to expressionless. Well, as long as we could get the photos taken, that was fine. After leaving city hall, Lucas drove me home. I was flipping through our two red marriage booklets when I suddenly spoke up. “Husband.” The car suddenly slowed down. Lucas turned his head, his eyes locked on me with complex emotions. I continued. “Sigh, I’ve wanted to call Zack ‘husband’ for so long. I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance in this lifetime.” Before I finished speaking, Lucas let out a heavy breath and suddenly floored the gas pedal. Terrified, I grabbed Lucas’s arm and promised him. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make sure you get to call Bella ‘wife’!” Lucas didn’t respond. His face was tense, and the car sped up even more. I gripped the handle and screamed repeatedly. This was too much, Lucas. Just because he couldn’t marry the girl he liked. Was he trying to drag me down with him? 0

That evening, I moved into Lucas’s house with my belongings. Not much, just one suitcase. I hadn’t planned on staying long anyway. It was just to appease our parents, and to make it more convenient when we discussed plans to break up the other couple. Lucas wasn’t home. I toured the rooms one by one with my suitcase. Finally, I chose a large south-facing suite. “I’ll stay in this room.” The housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson, looked troubled. “This is the master’s room.” “It’s so empty it looks unused. What a waste to let him have it. I don’t care, I want this one.” As we were at an impasse, Lucas strode over and pushed me into the room. “Fine, we’re married after all. We’ll share.” “Sharing is fine.” I was certain he would remain chaste for his beloved Bella. I relaxed and flopped onto the bed. Then the mattress dipped beside me. Lucas’s lips curved into a smile as he flipped over, trapping me in a small space. Since he had just returned from the office, he was still in his suit. The silk satin tie hung by my ear. I couldn’t resist, mimicking a move from manga. I reached out and grabbed his tie, twisting my wrist to wrap it around once. The tie shortened, bringing Lucas’s face closer. He was so handsome, with sharp, defined features and captivating phoenix eyes looking down at me. His hot breath burned my cheeks. We remained frozen for a long time. My heart was pounding like a drum. I looked away, no longer daring to meet his gaze directly. “Bella really has no taste, rejecting someone as handsome as you to like Zack instead.” I was the first to back down, releasing his tie and pushing him away. “You’re the same.” Lucas walked to the bathroom door and took off his suit jacket. “I’m not the same. Zack and I grew up together. The timing of when you meet is very important.” “Timing?…” Lucas repeated those two words, chewing them over as he started unbuttoning his shirt. I jumped off the bed and quickly headed for the door. At the doorway, I paused and turned back. “Lucas, you look super hot in a suit. Wear them more often in front of Bella.” Turn, close door, all in one smooth motion. I let out a breath and swallowed hard. I had accidentally caught a glimpse of his chest muscles. They were so… full… 0

That night, I lay in bed texting Lucas. “You there?” He replied instantly. “Mm.” “Let’s discuss our battle plan for breaking up Zack and Bella.” “Fell asleep.” Damn, this Lucas doesn’t seem to care at all. He stopped replying to my messages altogether. For the next few days, whenever I caught him, I’d ask, but he always brushed me off with various excuses. Eventually he just started leaving early and returning late from work, going straight to his room and locking the door as soon as he got home. I stayed up late writing a detailed plan, but he wouldn’t even look at it. He was really slacking off, totally unreliable. Men, if they don’t put in effort, how can they find love? I’d have to rely on myself. Finally, on Saturday, I caught Lucas just as he was leaving his room. “Even CEOs need to rest, right?” “Time to put some effort into your love life.” Lucas looked me up and down for a few seconds, his brows furrowing. I twisted into an S-shape and did a little twirl for him. “Just bought this sexy dress. How do I look?” “Going to seduce Zack with it. Won’t he be head over heels?” Lucas averted his gaze, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he paused for a good while. “No good. You’re flat-chested. That dress just emphasizes your flaws.” ??? You can call me eye candy, but saying I’m flat-chested is not okay! Angry, I walked up to him and put my hands on my hips, sticking out my chest. If I wasn’t half a head shorter than him, I would’ve shoved my chest in his face to open his eyes! “Where am I flat? Where?!” “I’m a B cup! 34B!” “Are! You! Blind!” The sexy dress was a low-cut, tight-fitting spaghetti strap number. I’d even stuffed in two extra pads. I’d definitely squeezed out some cleavage, yet he dared to call me flat! Lucas tilted his head back towards the ceiling, turned around and fled into his room. With a bang, the door was locked. Soon after, the sound of the shower running came from inside. Oh? Taking a shower to smell nice before seeing Bella? What a closet romantic. 0

In the end, I changed into a plain black dress. Lucas was right, we were going to spy on them, so it was better not to stand out too much. But he wore an all-black suit. Looking arrogant like some young mafia boss. We had barely started tailing them when several fangirls came up asking for his SnapChat. So the situation became: Zack and Bella strolling arm in arm. Me hiding and sneaking around behind them. And Lucas lagging behind, smiling and dealing with fangirls. I was fuming. I rushed over, about to start scolding him. But then I heard Lucas’s deep, magnetic voice. “Sorry, I’m married.” Then he looked at me with eyes full of tender affection. Lucas was such a good actor. That one glance was full of the deep love of a man who adored me to the bone. I quickly swallowed my anger and put on a smile, linking my arm with his. Instantly, I received several glares from the fangirls. I curved my lips and raised my chin. Why did I feel a sense of pride, like I was showing off that this handsome man belonged to me? 0

Flirting with those floozies almost made us lose sight of our targets. I pinched Lucas’s arm, gritting my teeth as we hurried to catch up. Zack and Bella went into a movie theater. Lucas and I quickly bought tickets and sat right behind them. The movie was a romantic French art film. I couldn’t focus on it at all, staring at every move the couple in front of us made. They held hands for a bit, then whispered to each other. I anxiously poked at Lucas, telling him to quickly think of something. But he just took my hand in his. “Watch the movie properly. It’s very artistic.” Fine, fine, fine. No wonder no one loves you. Our rivals are right in front of us, about to kiss, and you still have the mind to appreciate art. So infuriating! I tried hard to pull my hand away, but he held it firmly. Just as I was about to turn and scold him, the couple in front had already started kissing. I frantically tugged at the hand he was gripping, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. I leaned close to Lucas and whispered urgently. “What do we do?! They’re kissing!” “Should we use the soda or the popcorn?!” I was so eager my butt had left the seat. Lucas remained as calm as an outsider, not responding. His eyes were fixed on me as he suddenly pulled hard. I lost my balance and fell into his arms. He cupped my face and lowered his head. In the dim light, I couldn’t see clearly, but his eyes seemed to be sparkling. An ambiguous atmosphere arose spontaneously. The way he looked at me was exactly like how the male lead in the movie gazed at the female lead. I recoiled in shock, trying to dodge backwards. “Hey hey, what are you doing?” Lucas lowered his voice, full of endless temptation. “I can’t let myself be at a disadvantage.” “…” His kiss fell lightly. His lips were surprisingly soft, with a hint of coolness. In the stuffy movie theater, it was like a cool drink, quenching my thirst. My head was in a daze. Lucas only let me go when I was nearly out of breath. I was gasping for air, my face flushed red. The couple in front had disappeared, but Lucas acted like nothing had happened. By the time Lucas helped me into the car, I was in tears. Lucas rarely showed a panicked expression. He hurriedly wiped my tears, asking softly what was wrong. I cried out loud. “Lucas, that was my first kiss!” “I hadn’t even kissed Zack yet, and you took it! You owe me, you owe me!” But Lucas just smiled. The kind of smile that showed all his teeth. “Then I’ll let you kiss me once too, to make it up to you.” He grinned at me mischievously, looking just like a playboy toying with someone’s feelings. I couldn’t stop crying. Lucas took out his suit handkerchief and wiped my tears. He cupped the back of my head, really about to kiss me. I pushed him away forcefully, giving him a solid slap. “Lucas Gray, you’re taking advantage of me!” “Do I look like the kind of woman you can just play around with?!” Not giving him a chance to speak, I rushed out of the car and took a taxi home. 0

I stayed at home for half a month. I turned off my phone completely. Lucas came every day, but I refused to see him. Finally my parents couldn’t stand it anymore. “You newlyweds have been fighting long enough.” “Lucas said earlier that you two got along well. If it’s not some major issue, just forgive him.” What sincerity? What sincerity does he have? Coming to my house after work every day and lingering outside – is that what he calls sincerity? I irritably pressed buttons on the remote, flipping through channels. This stupid TV didn’t have anything I wanted to watch. But from the corner of my eye, I was drawn to something shiny in my mom’s hands. In a black velvet box lay a dazzling piece of jewelry, sparkling brilliantly. I scooted over. “Mom, what’s that?” Getting closer, I saw it was a diamond necklace. Shaped like a phoenix with spread wings, ready to take flight. Even though I’d seen many nature-inspired designs before, I was still struck by its powerful sense of vitality. “This is Lawrence’s new work. Only he could create such a lifelike piece of art.” My mom’s eyes were full of admiration. Her fingertips kept tracing the edge of the box, like she didn’t even dare to touch the necklace itself. I smacked my lips beside her. “His works are so rare, how did you get this, Mom?” My mom glanced at me and sighed, with a regretful look like I was wasting a treasure. She shoved the box into my arms. “Lucas brought it. It’s for you, to apologize.” I couldn’t help but smile, my lips curving upwards. I may not really appreciate art, but what girl doesn’t love sparkling diamonds? Opening the card at the bottom of the box, my expression changed. I suddenly sprang up from the sofa. [Zack and Bella are having dinner at Rose tonight. Change clothes, wear the necklace, and let’s go together.] Rose was a famous romantic restaurant known for proposals. What was Zack planning to do by taking her there?! I quickly picked out an evening gown that best matched the necklace, slipped on some heels, and rushed out the door. Lucas was wearing an all-white suit, hands in his pockets, leaning casually against his Maybach. I seriously suspected he was deliberately posing. Like some cliché Prince Charming. I looked down at my own pure white gown. Fine, then I guess I’m the cliché Snow White. As soon as I got in the car, Lucas took my hand. “What are you doing? Trying to take advantage of me again?” “We’re legally married. How can it be called taking advantage?” “We’ll go in like this. When Zack sees us, he might be shocked and realize the one he truly likes is someone else.” “This is using jealousy to trigger deeper emotions hidden in one’s heart.” As expected of the heir to Gray Corp, his methods were more sophisticated than mine. I gripped his hand back, sliding my slender fingers between his to interlock our hands. “Then let’s make it look more convincing.” His long fingers trembled slightly, then held mine tightly. 0

I was so nervous that I didn’t notice Lucas sitting up straight, his posture slightly stiff. Entering Rose, I thought we’d sit to the side and pretend to run into them by chance. But to my surprise, Lucas led me directly to sit opposite Zack and Bella. What a dramatic confrontation. My palms were sweating nervously, sticking to Lucas’s hand. Bella, with her bright eyes, spoke up first. “Luke, what’s this about?” “My wife, Lily Nelson.” Luke? She was still calling him that even though he’s married? I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and showed off the big diamond on my ring finger. Eat your heart out. Zack’s expression did become a bit unnatural. “Lily, when did you two…?” I linked my arm through Lucas’s, feigning intimacy. “We just got our marriage certificate a month ago.” “It’s a business marriage.” To avoid misunderstanding, I added that last part specifically. “Congratulations. Is that necklace Lawrence’s new work? I tried so hard to get it but couldn’t. I can’t believe Luke got it and gave it to his wife. He really dotes on you.” “Zack, I want one too.” Bella clung to Zack’s arm and pouted. I stared at Zack, my smile growing wider. Zack pressed his lips together without responding, lowering his gaze. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “I have some good news to share too.” Bella held out a gold-embossed invitation. “Zack and I are getting engaged. The engagement party is the day after tomorrow.” “We’d like to invite you two as a couple.” She emphasized the word “couple” heavily. Lucas took the invitation, his expression natural. “We’ll be there.” Engaged? They’re getting engaged? My head suddenly felt like it was exploding, my ears ringing. My stomach felt empty and nauseous. I retched a few times and left the table. As soon as I turned away, tears started falling. I quickened my pace, running out of the restaurant. Behind me, I heard Bella’s surprised exclamation. “Is Lily pregnant?” 0

The night of Zack and Bella’s engagement party, I got drunk at a bar. I ordered eight male models to surround me, with two kneeling to massage my legs. If I couldn’t sleep with the man I liked, I might as well sleep with a hot guy, at least to make myself feel better. I was stroking the chins of the male models one by one, trying to decide who to take home tonight. That’s when Lucas burst into the private room. His face ashen, he fished me out from among the male models. I sprawled on the table, refusing to leave, my eyes still on the models. “Hey hey, what are you doing?” “I haven’t chosen who to take home yet.” Lucas’s expression darkened further. He hoisted me over his shoulder, looking as fierce as if he was kidnapping a bride. “If you want to crash a wedding, go to the engagement party.” “Did you come to the wrong place? Why are you looking for me?” Back home, I was tossed onto the sofa. The more I thought about it, the more wronged I felt. Tears and snot flowed freely. Lucas frowned, his lips pressed into a line as he wiped my face with a silk handkerchief. I clutched Lucas’s shirt hem, not letting him leave. “You owe me my male models. You owe me, you keep me company, waaah.” Actually, looking closely, Lucas was much more handsome than those male models. Great body too, and clean. Most importantly, those lips. So soft. I hooked my arms around his neck, hanging my full weight on him. I breathed into his ear, biting out each word. “Why don’t I just pick you for tonight.” Lucas’s eyes flashed. He looked down at me for two seconds. Then he grabbed the collar at the back of my neck and plucked me off him. “Look carefully. I’m not one of your hired male models.” I grinned at him: “You’re my husband.” Lucas didn’t hear clearly. “What?” As he leaned down, I pounced on him. Lucas held my hands, his breathing unsteady. “Lily, do you know what you’re doing?” He bent down and picked me up in his arms. With a few long strides, he carried me into the bedroom. “Lily, don’t regret this.” My head was so dizzy. Why would I regret it?

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At nine years old, I met Adrian at the foster home. He had been abandoned by child traffickers. I took beatings for him, shared my food with him, and we begged together on the streets. Later, when Adrian’s family found him, he insisted on bringing me back with him. I thought Adrian would marry me as he had promised. But he ended up proposing to his business partner’s daughter instead. He said, “She’s just a filthy, stinking beggar. Nothing but a burden.” Clutching my brain tumor diagnosis, I numbly thought: In a month, you’ll finally be rid of me for good. “Do I really only have a month left?” I asked the doctor. The doctor nodded gravely, “At most a month before the tumor in your brain ruptures.” “During this month, headaches, nosebleeds, and temporary blindness are all normal symptoms.” I nodded, gripping the diagnosis paper tightly. The doctor asked, “Where’s your family? It’s best to have loved ones with you at a time like this.” Hearing this, my heart ached like it had been stabbed with needles. I forced a smile and told the doctor, “He’s busy with work… he couldn’t come.” If Adrian knew I was dying, would he be sad? He probably… would be, right? After all, he did love me once. But if he loved me, why did he abandon me on the way to my medical check-up just because of one call from Rosalie? Maybe my death would be a relief for him? When I returned to Adrian’s house, I found a crowd gathered in the garden. It seemed like a party was being held. Although I had lived in Adrian’s house for several years, the young ladies and gentlemen from wealthy families always looked down on me because of my past as a beggar. Before, Adrian would protect me, even beating up those who despised me. But rumors and gossip can be hurtful, and he gradually grew distant and began to despise me too. I didn’t want to draw attention, just hoping to quietly return to my room. Rosalie, who had been basking in everyone’s attention, suddenly called out to me: “Sister Lily!” She came over, feigning affection as she linked arms with me, showing me the necklace around her neck. “Look, Adrian gave this to me to celebrate my award at school!” “Isn’t it beautiful?” So that’s why Adrian had abandoned me – to celebrate Rosalie’s school award. The huge pink diamond on the necklace reflected light, somewhat dazzling. I suddenly felt a bit dizzy. I could only stiffly reply, “It’s beautiful.” The people around us burst into laughter. “Look at her dumb expression, she must be so jealous!” “Oh please, don’t flatter her. A dirty beggar like her wouldn’t even know what she’s looking at!” “How dare a street rat compare herself to Rosalie?” I was used to their mockery and Rosalie’s smug looks by now, and had no intention of arguing. The dizziness was slowly turning into a headache. Numbly, I asked, “Can I go now?” Rosalie flashed me a sly smile. The next second, she threw the necklace directly into the lake! “Ah!” Rosalie let out a piercing scream, clutching my sleeve tightly. Her sharp nails dug into my arm, causing a stinging pain. “Sister Lily! This was a gift from Adrian! Even if you’re jealous of me, you shouldn’t throw the necklace into the lake!” I struggled to break free from her grip: “I didn’t!” Blood trickled down my arm where Rosalie had grabbed me. I tried to cover it, but the blood wouldn’t stop flowing. At that moment, Adrian appeared, pulling Rosalie into his arms and roughly pushing me away! Rosalie sobbed quietly in Adrian’s embrace. Adrian lowered his head to kiss her, softly comforting her. Earlier at the hospital, when the doctor told me I didn’t have long to live, I had managed to accept the fact calmly. But seeing Adrian now, an indescribable feeling of grievance washed over me. My eyes reddened. “I…” I wanted to say, Adrian, the doctor says I’m sick. I’m dying. I’m in so much pain. But I was cut off before I could finish. Adrian coldly said, “Go fish it out.” The lake water was truly cold on that early winter night. The chill felt like sharp needles stabbing into my legs. My hands searched back and forth in the water. By the time I found the necklace, over an hour had passed since I jumped into the lake. The headache was getting worse, as if a sharp knife was being twisted inside my skull. I crawled up to the shore, enduring the pain as I shakily handed the necklace to Rosalie. But Rosalie recoiled as if she’d seen garbage, shrinking into Adrian’s arms. “I don’t want it, it’s too dirty now.” Adrian was amused by her little tantrum, holding her even tighter. “Then we won’t keep it.” He glanced at me, “What are you still standing there for? Get lost!” I tossed the necklace aside and turned to leave. I had barely taken a few steps when an intense pain shot through my head. The next second, I lost consciousness. In my hazy state, I felt someone carrying me. That embrace was so warm, just like Adrian’s embrace from many years ago. When I was nine, I met Adrian at the foster home. The caretaker at the time, Mr. Thompson, was greedy and made a rule that children over seven had to do forced labor every day to “earn their keep”. As for how seven-year-olds were supposed to do this work, that wasn’t important. Begging, stealing, robbing, or conning – it didn’t matter, as long as they did the work. If they couldn’t, the lightest punishment was no food. The worst was being beaten half to death. Adrian was different from those of us who had grown up in the foster system. He came later. Apparently, Adrian had been kidnapped first, but when he got a fever that wouldn’t break, the traffickers dumped him on the roadside where Mr. Thompson found him. Adrian was proud and could never do enough work to satisfy Mr. Thompson, so he was always getting beaten. I felt sorry for him. So when he couldn’t bring himself to beg, I would give him all the money I had scraped together. Even the sandwiches I secretly saved up to buy, I would share half with him. The one getting beaten became me instead. Late at night, Adrian would cry looking at the bruises on my body. I comforted him: “I’m used to the beatings now, it doesn’t hurt!” But how could it not hurt? I grew up under the shadow of those beatings, even trembling at the sight of a stick. I just didn’t want him to feel guilty or sad for me. On cold winter nights, he would hold me as we huddled in a corner. He said: Lily, when I find my family, I’ll give you all the best things in the world. He said: Lily, I’ll protect you forever and ever. He said: Lily, I love you. When we go home, I’ll marry you. I thought it was just silly talk from a little boy and didn’t take it to heart. A few years later, someone really did come looking for Adrian. Adrian’s parents came, bringing a whole fleet of cars. It was quite a spectacle. Those cars were so spacious and grand, unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Adrian wanted to take me with him. But I was scared. Everything about Adrian’s family was foreign to me, like a whole different world. I said I didn’t want to go. The corrupt caretaker had been fired, and the foster home got a new person in charge – a kind and gentle lady. I wanted to stay and help her take care of the younger kids. But Adrian said he couldn’t leave without me. In the end, I softened. When we got to Adrian’s home, he treated me really well at first. I didn’t understand anything and made a lot of silly mistakes. The servants would secretly laugh at me behind my back. When Adrian found out, he beat them up and threw them out of the house. He even had a big fight with his parents and replaced all the servants and nannies. Adrian did love me once, I knew that better than anyone. But unfortunately, that love couldn’t withstand the rumors and gossip. My background gradually spread throughout their social circle. Adrian was mocked because of me. He seemed to get tired of it all and slowly distanced himself from me. When Rosalie appeared, he tossed me aside like garbage. I became their laughingstock. But it’s okay, because it will all be over soon. “What will be over?” A cold, hoarse voice came from beside me. I jerked awake. Adrian was sitting next to me, wiping my face. Hearing my sleep-talking, his eyes were cold. “Nothing,” I turned my face away, avoiding his touch. Adrian’s expression grew colder. He gripped my arm and repeated, “I asked you, what’s going to be over? Or where are you planning to go?” “Ouch—” I sucked in a sharp breath. Adrian’s hand was pressing right on the wound on my arm. He pulled up my sleeve, looking at the now dried wound. “Did Rosalie do this?” I didn’t say anything. “Don’t blame her,” Adrian said. “Rosalie’s just a young girl, it’s normal for her to lose control of her strength when she’s upset.” “Besides, you were in the wrong first in this matter.” I sat up straight and said, “I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t throw the necklace, she threw it in herself.” “Nonsense,” Adrian frowned. “When did you learn to lie like this?” “Rosalie loves me so much, how could she possibly throw away something I gave her?!” “Go apologize to Rosalie tomorrow. She’s good-natured and won’t hold it against you.” I said firmly, “I won’t!” Adrian stood up angrily. “Lily, you’re getting more and more rebellious. It seems I’ve really spoiled you!” He thought for a moment and decided to punish me: “You’re not allowed to eat for the next few days. Take some time to reflect on your behavior!” Five days after being given my death sentence, I huddled in a corner, trying to ignore my hunger pangs. I was starving, so I snuck downstairs at night to find some food, only to discover the huge kitchen completely empty. All the food had been locked away. After searching for a while, I finally found half a bowl of leftover rice in a corner of the cupboard. It must have been overlooked by the servants and accidentally left there. I wolfed it down ravenously. There were no forks, so I had to use my hands. For a moment, it felt like I was back at the foster home, never having enough to eat. Suddenly, there was a loud “boom”, and a huge firework burst open in the dark sky. It was followed by a second, then a third. Countless fireworks shot into the night sky, exploding in a dazzling display that lit up my face. I suddenly remembered something and ran out of the house with a smile. Adrian actually remembered our promise! Back at the foster home, someone had set off fireworks during New Year’s. I thought they were beautiful but couldn’t afford them, so I could only watch longingly. Adrian had promised me that he would set off fireworks for my birthday every year in the future. I thought he had forgotten that promise after Rosalie came along. I never expected him to still remember. I kept telling myself over and over that I couldn’t love Adrian anymore. But at that moment, the feeling called love began to spread uncontrollably in my heart once again. Overjoyed, I ran into the garden. Adrian was already there. “Adrian…” I started to call out to him. But I stopped short when I saw Rosalie standing across from him. Adrian noticed me but only gave me a cold glance before turning away. He got down on one knee in front of Rosalie. Amidst the spectacular fireworks, he said softly: “Rosalie, will you marry me?” The people around them burst into cheers, chanting: “Kiss! Kiss!” Adrian lowered his head and gently kissed Rosalie’s lips. Rosalie wrapped her arms around his neck, passionately returning the kiss. The cheers from the others grew even louder. I stood in the shadows under a tree, staring blankly at them. Someone noticed me. The mocking whispers started up again. “She doesn’t think the fireworks were for her, does she?” “Where does she get the nerve?” “Talk about thick-skinned.” I fled in panic. A few days later, as I was tidying up my room, I felt the diagnosis paper in my bag. Should I tell Adrian? I had been foolishly hoping that if Adrian knew I was sick, he would feel sorry for me. But now that Adrian and Rosalie were engaged, my death would probably just be a relief for him. Still clinging to that foolish hope, I hesitated for a moment before placing the diagnosis on the table. Let fate decide. Just then, Adrian pushed open the door and came in. I panicked for a second and said, “Why didn’t you knock?” Adrian smiled, “Back at the foster home, we used to sleep in the same bed. What’s the big deal?” I calmed down and said, “You’re engaged now. It’s not appropriate.” Adrian raised his hand and gently stroked my face. “Are you still mad at me?” I stepped back a few paces: “No.” “I was wrong to be upset about Rosalie before. It won’t happen again.” Adrian lowered his hand, looking quite displeased. He used to always think I wasn’t well-behaved enough, that I embarrassed him. Now that I was being obedient, he still didn’t seem happy. Adrian seemed to remember something and took a deep breath to calm himself. “Forget it, you haven’t been feeling well lately. I won’t argue with you.” “How did your check-up go the other day? What did the doctor say?” So Adrian did still care about me. I stared at the test results on the table not far away, and decided to tell the truth. “The doctor said…” Before I could finish, Adrian’s phone rang. Rosalie’s coquettish voice came through from the other end. “Adrian, where are you? Didn’t you say you’d come have dinner with me?” Adrian coaxed her: “I’ll be right there.” I grabbed Adrian’s sleeve: “I wasn’t done talking.” After hanging up, Adrian irritably swatted my hand away: “I have something to do now. We’ll talk when I get back.” With that, he hurried out the door. He was really in a rush to have dinner with Rosalie, swatting my hand quite forcefully. He really seemed to love Rosalie. My hand was red and swollen in no time. I rubbed my swollen hand, unsure if it was my hand or my heart that hurt more. I spent a week knitting a scarf for Adrian. This was one of the promises between us. When I first came to Adrian’s house, his birthday was coming up. I had no money since Adrian’s family provided everything for me, so I couldn’t afford expensive gifts like the other young ladies and gentlemen. Adrian was always cold. After much thought, I knitted him a scarf. After that, giving him a scarf on his birthday became a tradition. Adrian’s birthday was still two months away, but I only had half a month left, so I wouldn’t be able to give it to him on his actual birthday. I had to prepare it early. I knitted and unraveled the scarf over and over, never quite satisfied, afraid Adrian wouldn’t like it. I took the scarf and went downstairs to find Adrian. At the turn of the staircase, I heard many people talking. “Adrian, now that you’re engaged to Rosalie, why don’t you give that Lily girl to me!” “She may be a beggar, but she’s not bad looking!” “You’re not picky at all. Aren’t you afraid she’ll stink, coming from such a lowly background?” Adrian’s voice was lazy: “She’s just a filthy, stinking beggar. Nothing but a burden. If you’re not afraid of your dad skinning you alive, feel free to take her.” Amidst their raucous laughter, I walked over and handed Adrian the box containing the scarf. Seeing me, Adrian’s face became a bit unnatural. “What’s this?” “A birthday gift,” I replied calmly. Adrian looked confused and very uneasy: “Why not wait until my actual birthday to give it to me?” “I saw some nice yarn and decided to knit it.” Adrian was about to say something when Rosalie interrupted. “What nice thing is it? Let me see!” She opened the box and pinched the gray scarf between two fingers. It was a very disdainful gesture. But she said, “Lily, you’re so skilled!” She turned to Adrian and said, “Adrian, I really like this scarf. Give it to me!” Adrian glanced at me and said softly to her, “This scarf is just cheap stuff. I’ll buy you a nice one tomorrow.” Rosalie pouted and whined, “No, I want this one!” Adrian was amused by her act. “Alright, alright. It’s yours. You can play with it.” With that, he personally put the scarf around Rosalie’s neck. I said, “Adrian, that’s something I gave to you. If you don’t like it, give it back to me.” “Lily, aren’t you happy that I got the gift?” Rosalie blinked her eyes, looking innocently at me. Adrian’s expression became stern: “Lily, don’t be so petty.” My heart was pounding, and I could feel the blood rushing to my head. The familiar headache came back. I rushed into my bedroom, found a pair of scissors, grabbed the scarf around Rosalie’s neck, and started cutting furiously! “Ah—” Rosalie thought I was trying to kill her and let out a piercing scream. Adrian hurried over to pull me away. “Lily, stop! Don’t go crazy!” In the struggle, the scissors left a bloody scratch on Rosalie’s face. It also cut my hand, blood flowing freely. With a loud rip, the scarf tore in two. Adrian grabbed my hand and slapped me hard across the face! I fell to the ground. “Lily, don’t push it too far!” “It’s just a piece of trash, I don’t want it anymore, okay?!” Rosalie yelled as she tore off the ruined scarf and threw it in the trash. Then she came over and kicked me several times to vent her anger. Adrian held her back and coldly told me: “Get out!” This was the second time Adrian had told me to “get out.” I tried to get up, but I had no strength. I wasn’t sure if it was because of Adrian’s slap or because of the tumor. My nose felt hot, and then blood started gushing out uncontrollably. My vision flickered, and everything became blurry. I couldn’t see anymore. Adrian’s expression changed when he saw me covered in blood. I lay in the hospital bed, my vision completely dark. I waved my hand in front of my face but couldn’t see anything. Death was getting closer and closer. Adrian was talking to his assistant outside the hospital room. The assistant said: “Don’t worry, sir. The country’s top dermatologists and plastic surgeons are on their way here.” “They’ll examine Miss Rosalie as soon as they arrive and make sure she doesn’t have any scars on her face.” Adrian grunted in acknowledgment. “Lily went too far this time. She needs to be warned properly, or who knows what trouble she might cause in the future!” The assistant listened quietly. Adrian casually asked: “When will Lily’s test results be ready?” The assistant replied: “In about twenty minutes.” Adrian pushed open the door and entered the room. I had my eyes open but couldn’t see him. Adrian started berating me. “Lily, you’re really out of line!” “Rosalie is young and finds everything new and exciting. What’s wrong with indulging her a bit?!” “It’s just a scarf, not worth anything. What’s the big deal about giving it to her?!” I struggled to sit up, facing Adrian’s direction. “Adrian, I can’t see.” Adrian sighed. “Lily, stop trying to gain sympathy now!” “There’s a limit to how much you can lie!” “Back then you took so many beatings and never got sick. How come you’ve become so delicate since coming to my house?!” “What, are you trying to say I haven’t taken good care of you?!” I suddenly felt like laughing. Oh, Adrian. Of course you never saw me get sick. Because I was afraid you’d feel guilty and blame yourself. Back at the foster home, I’d kneel in the snow with a fever after taking punishments for you. After coming to your house, I always endured when I was sick, afraid of causing you trouble. In the end, I became nothing but a joke to you. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I won’t cause you any more trouble in the future.” “I wish you and Rosalie a lifetime of happiness.” Adrian seemed unaccustomed to my calmness. I could sense him staring at me. Perhaps with a hint of concern. At that moment, the assistant pushed open the door. “Mr. Gu, the doctors have arrived and are waiting for you.” Adrian said to me: “I’ll come back to talk to you after I take care of Rosalie’s situation.” The assistant added: “The doctor said Miss Lily’s test results are ready. He seemed quite urgent and is on his way here now.” Adrian paused for a moment, but he had already left the room: “That’s not urgent, we’ll deal with it later.” He and the assistant had just entered the elevator when the doctor arrived with my test results and knocked on the door. They just missed each other. “Your condition is very serious. It’s best if you’re admitted for treatment.” I laughed bitterly: “No thanks, I don’t have much money.” “Could you just prescribe me some painkillers? My head hurts so much, I can’t stand it.” My heart was aching constantly too. I stayed in the hospital for a few days, leaving once I could vaguely see things again. Adrian wasn’t around. Not seeing him and Rosalie gave me a rare moment of peace. That afternoon, I received a video call from Adrian. “Guess where I am now?” Adrian panned the camera around, looking quite happy. I didn’t recognize the buildings around him, only realizing where he was when I saw a large oak tree at the street corner. This tree was all too familiar to me. Adrian said: “Remember when Mr. Thompson used to beat me? You’d help me run away, and when we couldn’t run anymore, we’d hide in this oak tree.” Looking at the tree, I felt a bit dazed, as if I’d gone back to when Adrian and I only had each other as children. My heart softened, and I continued his thought: “In the summer when you were too hot, since there was no air conditioning at the home, I’d bring you up here to cool off.” These memories should have been painful. But now, with death approaching, they felt warm somehow. Adrian said: “We should come back here for a visit sometime.” I smiled and agreed. But the next second, Rosalie suddenly appeared on screen. “Wow! Lily, you’re so amazing! You can even climb trees. Not like me, I’m too scared. Adrian has to carry me up!” “Adrian, I want to climb the tree too. Carry me up!” Adrian smiled and pinched her nose: “No way, what if you fall?” Rosalie pouted: “But Lily can climb up, I’m sure I can too!” Adrian coaxed her gently: “She’s tough, she won’t get hurt if she falls. If you got hurt, I’d be heartbroken.” “Okay then.” I watched them being affectionate on screen, feeling only bitterness in my heart. After hanging up, I curled up in the corner of my bed, enduring the unbearable pain. In the past, I always thought the time Adrian and I spent relying on each other was unique and irreplaceable. Now, Adrian and Rosalie were creating sweeter memories under that oak tree. I no longer had any value to him. By now, twenty days had passed since my diagnosis. Maybe it was because of the tumor in my brain, but I’d been sleeping more and more lately. Most of the time, it was less like sleeping and more like being unconscious. When I woke up, it was already afternoon. Surprisingly, Rosalie was sitting by my bed. I looked at her warily: “What are you doing here?” Rosalie held up a piece of paper, smiling smugly. It was the diagnosis I had left on the table earlier. “So you really are dying. I thought you were just faking it for Adrian’s attention.” “Look at you, a lowly beggar is still a lowly beggar. Coveting things that don’t belong to you will only bring retribution.” “Adrian’s been sick of you for ages. You dying would actually be doing him a favor.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296105”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn

I married Ethan Foster in what was essentially a marriage of convenience between our wealthy families. Our relationship had always been cold and distant after the wedding. Our parents couldn’t stand to see us like this anymore. They ordered us to work on developing genuine feelings for each other. Ethan said to me, “If you have any requests, feel free to ask. I can fulfill them all.” I replied, “Then bring home a collar.” Ethan’s voice was strained as he said, “You… You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not someone who can play those kinds of games with you. You shouldn’t do this either. It’s not good.” I shrugged. “Fine, then I’ll find someone else.” That night, he tightly gripped my hand against the collar, his eyes red as he said: “No one but me gets to be your puppy.” The marriage of convenience had landed me a sexually repressed CEO for a husband. Not only did he button his shirts all the way to the top, he wouldn’t even let me see him in the shower. Two years had passed with no progress in our relationship. If anything, things seemed to be getting even colder between us. Our parents couldn’t stand it anymore. They called multiple family meetings, ordering us to work on developing real feelings for each other. They wanted us to hurry up and become the model of a loving couple in our social circles. I’d heard this speech so many times I was immune to it by now. But Ethan seemed to take it seriously this time. He hadn’t been at the office long when he sent me a message: “Is there anything you want today?” I was busy at the time and casually replied: “No.” Ethan wasn’t satisfied with this answer. “Why not? A handbag? Jewelry? Are you sure there’s nothing?” I took a moment to respond again: “Really, there’s nothing.” Ethan could be a bit old-fashioned, but he was always generous when it came to these things. Clothes, bags, jewelry – gifts would arrive at the house every few days. Ethan still wouldn’t let it go: “If there’s anything you want, you can tell me. I can fulfill all your desires.” It seemed his family must have put quite a bit of pressure on him again. I petted the puppy’s head and replied to him: “Then bring home a collar when you come back.” Ethan had just left for work that morning when my best friend arrived carrying a puppy. She said she thought I might be bored, and they’d just had puppies at home, so she wanted to give me one. I spent the whole morning bonding with the puppy and learning about puppy care. I had most of the other supplies like food and toys ready, but I’d forgotten about getting a collar. Since Ethan was so insistent on me making requests, I figured I’d humor him. Ethan’s chat showed he was typing for a long time. After a while, he sent a video call request instead. The puppy had gotten restless in my arms and jumped down to run around. I answered Ethan’s video call and saw his face on the screen. He looked like he was trying hard to control himself as he finally spoke: “You…” “Don’t joke around with me like this.” I was totally focused on the puppy and frowned when I heard him say that. “I’m not joking. Puppies need training.” Ethan’s frown deepened. The hand visible on camera was clenched into a fist, like he was struggling to hold something back. After a long moment, he let out a slow breath and said: “You…” He paused, then continued in a controlled voice: “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not someone who can play those kinds of games with you.” What a weirdo. He wouldn’t even wear a simple collar. Then why say he could fulfill any request I had? I kept my face neutral. “Fine, forget it then. I’ll find someone else.” Ethan tried to explain: “That’s not what I meant.” I didn’t give him a chance to say anything else. I hung up the video call and immediately ordered a delivery.

The delivery arrived half an hour before Ethan got home. The collar was very elegant. I took over a dozen photos and posted them on Instagram with the caption: “Looks like I’m a puppy parent now!” Ethan immediately commented: “?” I’d forgotten to hide the post from him. If he knew, my mom would find out. She’d rush over as fast as possible and insist on taking the puppy to raise herself, saying it was too much trouble for me. Realizing this, I quickly deleted the Instagram post. When I reposted it, I made sure to hide it from all the key people who shouldn’t see. Our house was so big that even with a puppy here, Ethan might not necessarily find out. I was admiring the photos of the puppy on my phone when I heard the screech of tires in the driveway. The sound of dress shoes on the floor followed. For some reason, my right eye started twitching. Through the gap in the not-quite-closed door, I caught a glimpse of Ethan’s shadow. But he didn’t come in right away. He stood outside the door for over 10 minutes before he finally seemed to work up the courage to lightly knock twice. I adjusted my clothes and said, “Come in.” Ethan entered with one hand in his pocket. His sharp gaze swept every corner of the room. I looked up at him after smoothing my outfit. “What are you looking for?” Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Where is he?” Who? The puppy? He’d commented on my Instagram post, so he must have looked at it carefully. He had to be talking about the puppy. Since he already knew, there was no point in hiding it anymore. I answered him honestly: “He ran off.” Ethan’s hand in his pocket clenched into a fist, veins standing out on his arm. “Where did he run off to?” I gave him a strange look, not understanding why he was acting this way. Seeing I wasn’t answering, Ethan took a deep breath and said in a strained voice: “He just left you all alone like that? What kind of man is he?” My brow furrowed even more. “What are you talking about?” Talking about a puppy having responsibility? This fit my stereotypical image of Ethan perfectly. Ethan kept taking deep breaths, like he was trying to calm himself down. I didn’t want to keep having this nonsensical conversation with him. I turned to go dry my hair. Ethan stood behind me, his emotions seeming more under control now. “Why are you taking a shower at this time?” I sighed. “The puppy made a mess on me.” He must have been overexcited today. While I was playing with him, he peed all over me. I had no choice but to shower. Ethan clenched his fist again. He nearly crushed a decorative object nearby. After a long moment, he spoke through gritted teeth: “Don’t see him anymore. Let’s just pretend none of this ever happened.” I couldn’t believe this. What was wrong with me having a puppy? Was it illegal? Besides, it’s not like Ethan disliked dogs. He was clearly just looking for an excuse to argue. My own tone wasn’t very pleasant as I replied: “Why should I?” In the mirror, I saw Ethan staring intently at me. He spoke as if forcing himself to compromise: “It was my fault earlier. I shouldn’t have rejected you like that. If you really want to, I suppose I could… But you shouldn’t have…” He paused, then continued: “It’s my problem.” His attitude had changed so quickly, I didn’t have the heart to keep glaring at him. But before I could speak, Ethan went on: “As long as you don’t see him anymore, I’ll do whatever you want.” He kept fixating on the puppy. I was getting angry now. I slammed the hairbrush on the table and stood up. “Ethan Foster, I put up with you not treating me like a real wife before. But now you’re going too far, trying to control even little things like this. If you insist on being this way, we might as well get divorced!” We didn’t have much of a relationship anyway. I didn’t say that last part out loud, but Ethan had already pushed me against the wall and was kissing me fiercely. I don’t know how long it lasted before he pulled back slightly. His breathing was ragged and his eyes were a bit red as he said: “Divorce? Don’t even think about it! No one but me gets to be your puppy!” I stared at him blankly, my mind not quite processing what was happening. Just last night he’d been so guarded around me, not even letting me see him in the shower. How had he gone from that to wanting to be my “puppy” in one day? Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, he’d regained his usual composure. He brushed his thumb across my lips and apologized softly: “I’m sorry, I got carried away just now.” See, this was the real Ethan Foster. Apologizing even for a simple kiss. Before I could say anything, Ethan was already speaking in a conciliatory tone: “If you really insist on keeping it, I… I suppose I can accept that. But don’t let yourself get tricked, and try not to bring it around me if possible. As for divorce…” Ethan withdrew his hand without finishing the sentence. “You should get some sleep.” By the time I came back to my senses, all I saw was Ethan’s retreating back. My mind was a jumbled mess. I tried to sort through my thoughts. Ethan wouldn’t be jealous of an actual puppy. His loss of control earlier must have been because he thought I was talking about keeping some kind of boy toy “puppy.” But that made even less sense. If that were the case, knowing Ethan’s personality, he would immediately file for divorce. To end this loveless marriage of convenience. But he didn’t. Instead, he said things like “I can accept it” that sounded more like a jealous boyfriend. Come to think of it, over our two years of marriage, he’d always shown me proper respect and care no matter where we were. He never forgot my birthday or any anniversaries either. Could it be… that he had feelings for me? I chewed on my fingernail, pondering for 10 minutes, but still couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation. I gave up and decided to just go to bed instead of wasting more brainpower on it. Just before falling asleep, I took out my phone, intending to check on the puppy through the security camera. But I accidentally tapped into the feed for outside my bedroom instead. It showed that after Ethan left my room, his footsteps had clearly slowed down. Then he leaned against the hallway wall, covering his eyes with the back of his hand. I turned up the volume. With my ear practically pressed to the speaker, I finally made out the faint sound of his muffled sobs. My heart clenched. Thinking back carefully, from the moment I’d misunderstood Ethan not letting me keep the puppy, every word I said had been laced with thorns. Then at the height of my emotions, I’d even blurted out something about divorce. Ethan didn’t know the puppy was a real puppy. So from his perspective, I was arguing with him over another man and even bringing up divorce, right? No wonder he cried. The root of the problem was me, so I should probably go comfort him a bit, right? Yes, just to comfort him. No other reason. After psyching myself up, I put on my slippers and headed straight for Ethan’s room.

His door wasn’t locked. Only a small night light was on. I snuck in quietly, taking off my shoes to creep up behind him. I wanted to see if he was still crying. But I’d barely gotten close when Ethan suddenly whirled around. In the dim light, I could see his eyes were a bit swollen. Oh no. I really had hurt him this time. I scratched my head awkwardly and apologized: “I’m sorry, I didn’t really mean it about divorce earlier. I just got emotional because you seemed to hate the puppy so much.” Ethan’s body was tense as he stared at me like he’d seen a ghost. Worried he’d be uncomfortable in that position, I turned him back around to lie flat. To show how sincere my apology was, I practically draped myself over him. I wanted him to see the honesty in my eyes: “I’ve apologized now, so please don’t cry anymore, okay?” Ethan seemed to be wound tight as a spring. He forced out through clenched teeth: “Get… off… first.” I ignored him. Ethan couldn’t take it anymore. He gripped my waist and set me to the side. To prevent me from hugging him again, he quickly sat up and turned on the light. The sudden brightness made me squint. Ethan’s hand immediately covered my eyes. Once he was sure I’d fully adjusted, he started to pull away. But I caught his hand and kissed his palm lightly. Ethan yanked his hand back like he’d been electrocuted. “What are you doing?!” We were sitting face to face now. I could clearly see his puffy eyes and ears that had turned bright red. Ethan belatedly realized this. He turned away, not letting me look at him anymore. I averted my gaze and asked, “Were you really crying in bed earlier because I mentioned divorce?” It didn’t seem like the Ethan I was used to seeing. But he had definitely started crying right after leaving my room. That word seemed to hit a sore spot for Ethan. His tone was a bit harsh: “I wasn’t crying!” I instinctively reached out to touch his slightly warm eyelids: “But your eyes are all swollen.” Ethan grabbed my wrist: “I was just watching a movie.” So stubborn. I pulled up that segment of security footage to show him: “You started crying as soon as you left my room.” Ethan barely glanced at it before taking my phone away. He said in a strained voice: “You’re mistaken. I didn’t.” I’d never realized Ethan could be so obstinate before. I tried to reassure him: “It’s okay if you cried. I won’t make fun of you. I just wanted to tell you that mentioning divorce earlier was impulsive. I won’t casually say things like that again.” Ethan frowned: “So you only came to comfort me because you saw me crying?” I nodded. A flash of disappointment crossed Ethan’s eyes. I explained: “I came to apologize because I didn’t want you to be upset.” It was only after seeing him cry that I realized how hurtful my words had been. Ethan’s breathing hitched for a moment: “Why don’t you want me to be upset? Is it because…” He trailed off there. I furrowed my brow: “I don’t have some weird fetish for watching people be miserable. Why would I want to see you upset?” But come to think of it… Ethan did look pretty… sexy… when he was crying. My gaze lingered on his slightly swollen eyes, then trailed downward. Maybe because he was about to sleep, or maybe because he’d been too busy being upset. Ethan’s pajama top had fewer buttons done up than usual. After my manhandling earlier, it was even riding up a bit to reveal his abs. My cheeks felt hot. I couldn’t bring myself to look directly at Ethan anymore. After forcefully shaking the inappropriate thoughts from my head, I spoke up: “I’m going back to bed now. Bye.” If I stayed any longer, I was afraid I might lose control. Just before getting off the bed, I suddenly remembered the most important thing I still hadn’t explained: “Oh right, about the puppy, you…” I’d meant to tell him he’d misunderstood. But as soon as the word “puppy” left my mouth, Ethan flopped back down and bundled himself tightly in the blanket. I poked him: “Ethan?” He closed his eyes: “I’m going to sleep now.” I tugged at his blanket, trying to get him to open his eyes. Before I could say anything, Ethan had already lifted the covers and pulled me in with him: “Time to sleep.” He seemed to have a visceral aversion to the word “puppy.” Curled up in his arms, I tried speaking again: “The puppy is a real puppy. The kind that barks.” Ethan kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. He clearly had no intention of listening seriously. Fine, I’d explain properly tomorrow. Sensing I wasn’t going to say anything else, Ethan held me even tighter. He was so warm. I quickly started drifting off to sleep. But in the middle of the night, my feet got cold again. I instinctively tried to burrow closer to Ethan. It took a couple tries before I realized his spot was empty. I was too sleepy to open my eyes, so I just called out groggily: “Ethan?” A few seconds later, Ethan lay back down. I was about to wrap my arms around his waist. But he caught my hand and placed it on his neck. He seemed to be wearing something. It felt a bit cool, like metal. His lips brushed my ear as he said: “I can be your puppy too. Don’t find anyone else, okay?” His breath tickled my ear. I buried my face in his chest, mumbling an incoherent: “Okay.”

When I woke up, I was still in Ethan’s arms. He was in the same position as when we’d fallen asleep, like he hadn’t moved all night. So what had I felt last night? Noticing me staring at him, Ethan casually pulled the blanket up higher to cover himself: “What are you looking at?” My mind was filled with the sensation from last night. Hearing his question, I instinctively pointed at his neck: “You’re not wearing anything there?” Ethan frowned, like he had no idea what I was talking about. I still wasn’t convinced: “Like a collar or something?” In our two years of marriage, I’d never dreamed about Ethan before. And I definitely wouldn’t have some risqué dream just from seeing him shirtless. So he must have done something while I was asleep! Ethan still looked confused: “Collar?” Then he had a look of realization: “You really want to see me wear one?” Yeah right. Playing dumb. I didn’t pursue that line of questioning. I threw back the covers and got out of bed. Ethan watched me pitifully: “Where are you going?” My gaze fell on his neck as I said deliberately: “To see my puppy, of course.” “I bought lots of cute collars yesterday. If you won’t wear one, I’m sure he’d love to.” Ethan clutched the blanket tightly, like he was struggling with some great internal conflict. After a long moment, he finally spoke: “I’ll come too.” I pretended to hesitate: “Is that appropriate? You said last night not to bring him around you.” Ever since realizing last night that Ethan probably had feelings for me, I felt no guilt about teasing him like this. It was his own fault for not saying anything. If he wouldn’t say it, I’d just have to test the waters myself. Ethan gripped the blanket so hard it wrinkled: “I’ll just take a quick look. To make sure he’s suitable.” I’d been planning to take him down to see the puppy room anyway. Hearing him say that, I nodded reluctantly: “Alright then.” Our destination was in the house, but I couldn’t tell him that yet. I could only hint vaguely: “You don’t need to dress up too formally.” He’d even put on shirt stays. If he found out we weren’t even leaving the house… I rubbed my nose, debating whether to reveal the truth now. After a moment’s hesitation, seeing Ethan turn back to pick out a tie, I decisively abandoned that idea. I couldn’t really blame myself. I’d tried to explain last night, but he was the one who refused to listen. Besides, I really wanted to see his expression when he met the actual puppy.

An hour later, Ethan had finally finished getting ready. To prevent him from suspecting anything, I’d even changed into a different outfit. Ethan looked down at the dress I was wearing: “Why are you wearing that one?” I glanced down at myself. This was a dress Ethan had sent over last month. I loved it, but I’d been saving it to take nice photos in, so I hadn’t worn it yet. I put it on today partly because puppies can see yellow well. And partly because I wanted Ethan to help me take photos with the puppy after I explained everything. Before I could answer, Ethan had already retracted his question: “Never mind, of course you should dress up nicely to see someone you like.” It was such a simple statement. But I detected a hint of sarcasm in it. Before my brain could fully process it, I blurted out: “If this counts as dressing up, then what do you call putting on shirt stays and styling your hair?” He looked more like he was going to intimidate a rival than just check things out. Ethan glanced at me: “Meeting the man my wife likes.” With that, he took my hand and led me downstairs.

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I gave Lucas Bennett two million dollars to help him rebuild his business after his family went bankrupt. Later, I even became blind after saving him in a car accident. The day I regained my sight, I discovered he had already moved his first love into our home. She had been living with me as a maid for five years, eating and sleeping under the same roof. Even the child I had raised for five years turned out to be hers and Lucas’s. During an argument, Lucas pushed me, causing me to fall and bleed to death. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day of the car accident. This time, I didn’t save Lucas. He became the blind one instead. I stared at the light dancing on my fingertips, stunned. After coming to my senses, I wanted to run downstairs to tell Lucas the good news. But when I reached the stairs, I saw two people sitting on the sofa. One was my so-called husband Lucas, and the other was his first love, Mia. So the maid my husband Lucas had hired for me was actually his former flame. The two were passionately kissing, completely disregarding anyone else’s presence. My mind went blank as I silently watched for a while. Then I started walking down the stairs. Lucas heard the noise and gently pushed Mia away. When he realized it was me, a flash of panic crossed his face before he regained his composure. “Why did you come down? Has your vision returned?” I looked at the lipstick mark on Lucas’s lips and sneered. “Yes, I’m not blind anymore. How else could I see you two being so affectionate?” Lucas had never seen me speak so sarcastically before. His brows furrowed. He wanted to say something, but Mia stopped him. She sashayed over to me, the picture of an innocent flower. In a voice only the two of us could hear, she said: “Olivia, I’ve been living here for five years now.” “I went through pregnancy and postpartum recovery with you. Even the child you’ve been holding for five years is mine and Lucas’s.” “That bastard of yours? I put it in formaldehyde and made it into a specimen long ago.” Hearing this, I violently pushed Mia away. I stared at her sitting on the ground, my eyes full of shock and hatred for her. But before I could do anything, Lucas had already rushed over and shoved me away. Caught off guard, I hit the corner of the table hard. Blood immediately gushed from the back of my head, dripping onto the floor. I tried to say something, but no words came out. Lucas went straight to Mia and carried her away. He didn’t even spare a glance at me lying in a pool of blood. I died, my eyes still open in disbelief.

I remember being adopted by the Bennett family when I was eight years old. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were extremely good to me, as was Lucas. At eighteen, I realized I had fallen for Lucas. Unfortunately, he only saw me as a sister. Later, he met Mia and quickly became her boyfriend. Someone gossiped about it to Mr. Bennett, who flew into a rage: “Break up with that girl immediately. I won’t acknowledge her or let her into our family.” “You can only marry Olivia in this lifetime.” Because of that last sentence, Lucas began to hate me. No matter how I tried to explain, he was convinced I had told on him. He stormed out and didn’t come home for a long time. Mr. Bennett regretted his words and swallowed his pride to call Lucas. The only response he got was: “If Olivia is in this house, I won’t be.” To avoid putting Mr. and Mrs. Bennett in a difficult position, I left the Bennett family and started my own company. When I heard news of the Bennetts again at age twenty, it was that the family had gone bankrupt and Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had committed suicide. Mia had broken up with Lucas and gone abroad to further her studies. I returned to the Bennett family’s old house to find it in ruins. Lucas was surrounded by empty bottles and cigarette butts. The sight pierced my heart. How had that once ambitious young man become like this? Despite my friends’ objections, I insisted on giving him two million dollars to help him get back on his feet. Later, I even became blind after saving Lucas, enduring all kinds of insults from others. Fortunately, he eventually achieved success. Just when others thought my suffering had paid off, he cheated on me with his first love. He even kept her under my nose.

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I saved Lucas and became blind. I stared at the skyscrapers before me, dazed. A security guard noticed and came over to shoo me away: “Get out of here! Do you know where you are?” “You poor beggar, leave now before I call someone to throw you out.” His words snapped me back to reality. I looked at this familiar security guard without saying anything, just sneering before turning to leave. I tossed the lunchbox I was holding into a nearby trash can. Then I found a shady, hidden spot to watch and wait. Sure enough, Lucas soon rushed out of the office building. He hurried across the street, ignoring the traffic. I smirked as I watched it all unfold, counting down in my mind. “3” “2” “1” A piercing screech of brakes filled the air, followed by the thud of a body hitting the ground. I looked up at the road. Lucas was lying on the ground convulsing, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The sudden accident frightened passersby, who were momentarily stunned. It wasn’t until someone shouted “Call 911!” that people frantically took out their phones to dial emergency services. A crowd began to gather, with some even taking out their phones to record Lucas in this state. Imagining Lucas’s reaction when he found out about the online videos, I couldn’t help but cover my mouth and giggle. A cough sounded behind me. I slowly turned around to find an unfamiliar man, and silently breathed a sigh of relief. The ambulance sirens wailed as medical staff rushed out and quickly took Lucas away. Only the traffic police remained at the scene to investigate. I stole a glance at the man before calmly walking away. But the burning gaze on my back made my steps falter.

I had just gotten home and laid down when my phone rang, echoing through the house. I lazily picked up the phone to see it was Henry, Lucas’s friend calling. I answered casually. An anxious voice came through: “Olivia, come to City Hospital quickly. Lucas has been in a car accident.” Before I could respond, he had already hung up. I looked at the ended call screen and rolled my eyes. Birds of a feather really do flock together – what kind of person someone is determines who they’re friends with. But now wasn’t the time to burn bridges. After getting ready, I made my way to the hospital at a leisurely pace. By the time I arrived, Lucas had already finished surgery and regained consciousness. “Why aren’t the lights on?” he asked. Henry stood nearby and explained: “The lights are on. You just can’t see because you’ve lost your vision.” Lucas was stunned for a moment before he started shouting: “How is that possible? I don’t want to be blind!” “Where’s the doctor? Where’s the doctor? I need to see a doctor!” I stood outside the door, silently watching Lucas’s meltdown. In my previous life, I had been blind for a full seven years. He couldn’t accept it after just becoming blind – how would he cope in the future? I pushed open the door and walked in. Henry looked at me as if he’d seen a savior. He gestured for me to go comfort Lucas. Swallowing the nausea rising in my throat, I walked to the bedside and took Lucas’s hand, gently consoling him: “Lucas, Lucas, don’t be like this. The doctor said you’ll recover.” While I outwardly comforted him, inwardly I was praying Lucas would never regain his sight. Lucas gripped my hand back, his face anxious. “Olivia, even if I’m like this, you’ll always stay by my side, right?” I nodded lightly and replied with a soft “Mm.” But my face was full of mockery. With Lucas in this state now, who would really stay by his side? His precious Mia?

Lucas stayed in the hospital for a full month before being discharged. On the day he was released, Henry came too. He handed over an invitation. “Lucas, this is for a banquet hosted by CZ Company.” “It’s the invitation you asked me to get for you before.” When I heard the company name, I paused for a second. Lucas fumbled to take the invitation, mumbling a “thank you.” Then he said nothing more and turned to go home. In my previous life, CZ Company had a major project at this time that needed a partner. The banquet was being held for this purpose. Lucas was attending in hopes of securing the project. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but laugh. With his abilities, it was nothing but a pipe dream. On the day of the banquet, I showed up in a burgundy mermaid gown. Lucas beside me was still handsome, but he was leaning on a white cane with a vacant stare. Seeing this sight, the other guests began whispering among themselves. My gaze locked onto a woman in the middle of the room, and my smile became more genuine. She swirled her wine glass and walked towards me. Looking at Lucas beside me with disdain, her voice dripped with sarcasm: “Why is there a blind man at the banquet?” Lucas’s face darkened. He was about to lose his temper when Henry stopped him, leaning in to whisper the woman’s identity. Zoe Lewis, CEO of CZ Company. When I looked up at her, I unexpectedly met her gaze. I gave a small smile. It had been a long time since I’d seen my old friend. Lucas’s expression froze, but he forced out a smile: “Ms. Lewis, I’m the CEO of JC Company. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Zoe was the first to look away. She lowered her eyes to watch her swirling wine glass, her voice full of disinterest. “Oh, I don’t know you.” Then without sparing Lucas another glance, she turned and left. Seeing Zoe’s attitude, the surrounding crowd began to make snide remarks. “Tch, he still thinks he’s that young master from before.” “If it weren’t for the two million his woman beside him gave him, who knows where he’d be washing dishes now.” “Just a man living off a woman.” Lucas’s face turned black, his fists clenched tight. But he couldn’t refute them. After all, everyone in A City knew Lucas had gotten back on his feet thanks to me. I silently watched as everyone mocked Lucas, not helping him. Until a woman’s voice came from behind the crowd. “How can you all talk about Lucas like that?”

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The final argument with Ethan ended with him slamming the door as he stormed out. Overcome with anger and grief, I suffered a fatal heart attack. He used the excuse of “clearing his head” to take his mistress and her son on a scenic getaway. Meanwhile, our young daughter Sophie was left alone at home, keeping vigil over my lifeless body for seven days and nights. When Ethan finally remembered us, he returned to find me cold and still. Sophie was weak and sickly, her small face gaunt and pale, on the verge of collapse. Finally coming to his senses, Ethan broke down sobbing at my grave, clutching Sophie. But she struggled free from his arms and hid behind my headstone. Blinking up at him with big eyes, she asked, “Who are you? Please don’t disturb my mommy.” Ethan and I had the worst fight of our marriage. He violently swept everything off the table, shouting at me in a rage: “Lily, stop being so paranoid! There’s nothing going on between Olivia and me.” I silently tucked away the lipstick I had found in his clothes. It was a hard-to-get limited edition luxury brand – what a shame it had already been used. Sighing deeply to mask my pain, I said, “Can you please be rational, at least in front of our child?” Ethan angrily smacked the lipstick out of my hand. The force left a deep red mark on the back of my hand. “I’m sick of living like this. Do whatever you want from now on.” With that, he grabbed his jacket from the couch and stormed out, slamming the door. The thunderous slam made my ears ring. I sank to the floor, exhausted, and began cleaning up the mess Ethan had made in his outburst. 5-year-old Sophie came running out of the bedroom. She gently hugged my neck and stroked the red mark on my hand. “Mommy, does it hurt?” Seeing her tear-filled eyes, I pulled her close, my heart aching. “Sophie sweetie, Mommy’s not hurt. Mommy’s just…tired.” I had trusted Ethan unwaveringly for seven years. Yet he and Olivia kept testing my limits again and again. At this point, I truly couldn’t maintain this marriage any longer. Sophie stood up and held my hand in both of her little ones. “Sophie will help Mommy to bed to rest. My preschool teacher says sleep makes you less tired.” Sophie’s sweetness relieved much of the ache in my heart. I tucked her into her little bed and lay down beside her. We read our endless bedtime stories together, just the two of us. As night fell, Sophie’s breathing became slow and steady. A notification popped up on my phone by the bed. I absently opened it. It was a photo from Olivia. The image showed Ethan lying shirtless on white hotel sheets. There was no caption, but the message was clear – she was staking her claim. My blood rushed to my head as my heart clenched painfully. I stumbled to the living room to find my medication. The pill bottle I normally kept carefully stored was nowhere to be found. In my final moments, I suddenly remembered. It was Ethan. Earlier during our fight, he had knocked everything over. A white pill bottle had fallen out the window – the one containing my life-saving heart medication. The cardiac arrest came on so suddenly. By the time I realized what was happening, I had already become a spirit hovering above my body. I looked helplessly at my sleeping daughter, my heart breaking. My death may have freed me from pain, but she was still so young – what would become of her now? The next morning, Sophie slept in naturally. She drowsily opened her eyes, instinctively trying to rest her head on my arm as usual. But she found I was already gone. As the reality sunk in, Sophie felt bereft. She ran barefoot through the house. Calling out “Mommy” in each room. Finally she found me collapsed by the sofa. Sophie pressed her little face against my cheek, whining. “Mommy, why are you sleeping here? You’re supposed to sleep in bed with Sophie.” She lay on top of me for a long, long time, but I didn’t comfort her like I normally would. Sophie’s lower lip trembled unhappily, but she said: “It’s okay, Mommy must be really tired and needs more rest.” My poor little Sophie. She was still so young. I hadn’t even had the chance to teach her about the concept of life and death. In her mind, she only thought Mommy was sleeping and would eventually wake up. The moment Ethan angrily walked out, I truly hoped he would have the guts to never come back. But now, I didn’t care if he had cheated or not. I didn’t care about Olivia and her son’s insults and abuse. I could even accept if he scattered my ashes to the wind. I just wanted him to come home quickly. Our daughter was only 5 years old. She couldn’t take care of herself and shouldn’t be alone for too long. But I stayed by Sophie’s side from morning until nightfall, and Ethan never appeared. Sophie’s tummy started to growl with hunger. Once again she climbed on top of me with her little bare feet. “Mommy, why won’t you wake up? Sophie is hungry and wants you to make dumplings.” Previously, to help her quit unhealthy junk food, We didn’t keep many ready-to-eat snacks at home. The kitchen was stocked with mostly raw ingredients. Now I deeply regretted that decision. If I had known I would have such little time left with her, Why did I place so many restrictions on her? She was just a child after all. Time ticked by slowly. I couldn’t bear to watch Sophie’s pitiful state any longer. I tried to leave her side to go outside. I had to find Ethan. Even if my soul scattered, I had to find a way to make him come back and save Sophie. I didn’t know which hotel Ethan and Olivia had slept at last night. But I knew where Olivia lived, because I had seen that address in Ethan’s car GPS countless times. The man who always claimed to be busy with work and often needed to stay late at the office Was now lounging on Olivia’s couch, playing video games with her son. As one game ended, Ethan had clearly let the boy win on purpose. Ryan happily jumped up and hugged Ethan’s neck, saying: “Uncle Ethan, I wish you were my dad.” Olivia smoothly fed Ethan a piece of cut watermelon. She chided gently, “Ryan, what are you saying? You have a father. Mommy’s just unlucky that he left us.” Seeing Olivia’s pitiful expression, Ethan’s eyes filled with tenderness. He picked up Ryan and lifted him overhead: “It’s alright, a father’s love is essential for a child’s growth. Ryan can call me Dad if he wants. I already think of him as my own son anyway.” After Sophie was born, Ethan said he trusted me and left her upbringing entirely to me. He rarely even attended parent-teacher events at her preschool. I made excuses for him, always telling Sophie: “Daddy doesn’t dislike you, he’s just very busy. Don’t blame Daddy.” Then I shouldered everything behind the scenes, all to maintain the trust between father and daughter. I never imagined that during all those days and nights Sophie’s father was absent, He was here playing dad to someone else’s child. Olivia looked slightly embarrassed as she said coyly, “But won’t Lily be upset about this?” At the mention of me, Ethan’s expression instantly darkened. He said coldly, “Don’t worry about her. She was still arguing with me before I left. We used to get along fine, but now she’s always nagging like a shrew.” Hearing his words, Olivia’s face lit up with joy. She clung tightly to Ethan’s arm, her voice dripping with honey. “Then why don’t you stay here tonight? Get some peace and quiet away from home.” I hovered in the air, frantically circling. I opened my mouth, wanting to scream: Ethan, you can’t stay. Our daughter is waiting for you to take care of her. Please stop worrying about someone else’s child. Sophie is your real daughter. But it was all futile. I couldn’t make a sound, and they couldn’t hear my cries anyway. Ethan considered for a moment, then relaxed back on the sofa. He replied, “Alright.” The TV blared loudly as Ryan contentedly sat in Ethan’s lap. Olivia snuggled against Ethan’s shoulder, occasionally feeding him fruit. In this moment, they truly looked like the happiest family of three in the world. Seeing Olivia and her son’s smug faces made me sick to my stomach. I couldn’t bear to watch their intimate moments any longer, and I was worried sick about Sophie at home. When I floated back home, Sophie was sitting silently beside my body, staring into space. Her eyes were red and puffy, as if she had just been crying. She brought over her favorite stuffed bunny. The toy was made of cheap materials, and I worried it wasn’t hygienic, so I usually didn’t let her sleep with it. But to coax her, I would always say: “Mommy likes Fluffy too. Why don’t you let me keep him?” That tactic wasn’t very effective – she would usually throw a fit before giving in. But today Sophie lifted my stiff arm and tucked her most treasured toy into my embrace. She said in a small voice: “Mommy, I’m giving you Fluffy. I don’t want him anymore. Please don’t be mad at Sophie.” She hugged my arm and pleaded, “You can sleep with Fluffy now. When you wake up, will you forgive Sophie?” My tears fell but disappeared into thin air. This silly child thought I wasn’t waking up because I was angry with her. But how could I ever be mad at my Sophie? I may have regretted moving far away to marry, and forgiving Ethan time after time. But having Sophie was the one thing I never regretted. She was the most important light in my life, one of the few comforts in my difficult days. If not for Sophie, this world would have lost its appeal for me long ago. I wanted to reach out and hug her, but my ethereal arms passed right through her small body, leaving no trace. The warmth that was once within reach was still so close, yet now completely beyond my grasp. Sophie fell into a deep sleep leaning against me. The weather was getting chilly as autumn approached. When Sophie woke again, she couldn’t stop sneezing. Her little nose turned red, clearly coming down with a cold. But she paid no attention to her discomfort. Her first action upon waking was to check my reaction. Fluffy had slipped out from under my rigid hand onto the floor. Seeing the lifeless toy, Sophie burst into tears. She shook my body, sobbing: “Mommy, do you not want Sophie anymore? You won’t even keep Fluffy?” Perhaps sensing something was wrong, she reached out to feel my cold forehead.

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Seven years after my death, my wife Sophia, who had been in a coma all this time, finally woke up. But when she regained consciousness, her memories were in chaos. She mistook me for the person who had ruined her family – her first love. And so, she embarked on a vengeful rampage against my entire family, determined to see me begging for forgiveness on my knees. To force me out of hiding, she threw my mother to her death, crippled my father, and even buried our daughter alive. Just as she mobilized all her resources, dead set on capturing me, the mastermind behind it all… She suddenly regained all her memories. Seven years ago, I had already died in a car crash while trying to protect her. On the rooftop of a high-rise condo, a group of bodyguards surrounded a woman in her fifties. Cornered at the edge, the woman’s legs shook uncontrollably. “Rachel, please, I’m afraid of heights. Let me go, I’m begging you…” This woman was my mother. Her cloudy eyes were filled with tears as she looked pleadingly at Rachel. Rachel stared coldly at my mom. Seated nearby, she seemed to relish seeing my mother beg like a dog. “When William comes out to kneel and apologize to me, that’s when I’ll let you go. If he doesn’t show up, you’ll face the consequences!” Tears welled up in my mom’s eyes as she bit her lip. “Don’t you remember? My son died seven years ago trying to protect you!” Rachel’s expression froze for a moment before she let out a cold laugh. “You people are truly shameless, taking credit for others’ deeds. Your son ruined my family, how dare you claim he saved me?” As Rachel spoke, she grew more agitated. She stood up and shoved my mother, who instantly fell from the 28th floor. “People like you all deserve to die!” I rushed over like a madman, trying to grab my mother’s hand, but my hand passed right through her body. My mom screamed as she plummeted, hitting the ground with a sickening thud in a pool of blood. My soul felt drained, my mind went blank. I collapsed, glaring furiously at Rachel. Rachel showed not a hint of remorse, just staring coldly at the scene. “If you want to blame someone, blame that heartless son of yours! You go die first to atone for his sins!” Then Rachel turned to her subordinates: “Spread the news of this old woman’s death. I refuse to believe that cold-blooded beast William won’t show himself!” I opened my mouth numbly. “Why are you doing this to me? I’m not the one who ruined your family.” But Rachel couldn’t hear anything I said. Of course not. I’ve been dead for seven years. “Martha! Wake up! Don’t die!” Heart-wrenching cries came from below. My father’s voice was hoarse as he cradled my mother’s body, nearly fainting from grief. Rachel suddenly appeared, looking down at my dad with a cold smirk. “This is the fate of the Thompson family. As long as William doesn’t show up, don’t expect to have a single peaceful day.” Hearing her voice, my dad slowly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes staring at Rachel in disbelief. “It was you… Our family treated you so well. Even when you were in a coma, your mother-in-law never stopped taking care of you. Do you have any conscience left?” Suddenly Rachel burst out laughing, as if she’d heard some hilarious joke. “The Thompson family wants to talk to me about conscience now? You’re just trying to atone for your guilt. Cut the act – it makes me sick just looking at you!” I stood to the side, my soul shaken. My breathing grew rapid as I clenched my fists. It felt like a huge stone was lodged in my chest. My dad had no idea what Rachel was talking about. All he knew was that Rachel had killed my mom with her own hands. He lunged at Rachel like a madman, his face showing a willingness to die. “You vicious woman! If I’d known you were such an ungrateful snake, I never would have let my son save you. I’ll kill you to join my wife in death!” Rachel remained calm, coldly watching my father. She didn’t move an inch, but five or six bodyguards stepped out from behind her. They all wielded batons, bringing them down hard on my father’s head. My dad’s face was instantly a bloody mess as he collapsed. I shouted in anguish, feeling pain course through every nerve. “Foolish man. You’re the ones who should join her in death! I’ll make that beast William regret ever crossing me!” With a wave of Rachel’s hand, the bodyguards’ batons rained down on my father’s body. The sound of flesh tearing open exploded in my ears. I stumbled and fell to my knees beside my dad. “You’re right, I do regret it. I regret saving you!” I raged impotently, overwhelmed by a sense of hopeless despair. Why? I wanted so badly to ask Rachel – why was she doing this after I saved her life? My dad struggled for a bit before going still. Rachel’s sharp voice suddenly rang out: “Leave him with a breath of life. Otherwise who will spread the news?” The bodyguards stopped. Rachel slowly crouched in front of my dad, patting his blood-covered face nonchalantly. “I suggest you hurry and find that son of yours. Until he shows up, be prepared to live in fear every day.” My dad had no strength left. His lips moved slightly, his voice barely a whisper. “Why couldn’t it have been you who died seven years ago…” But Rachel didn’t hear those words. She stood up, looking down at my father with obvious threat in her eyes. “Oh right, I seem to recall seeing you pick up a little girl every day. I think I’ll start with her. After all, the Thompson family doesn’t deserve to have descendants!” Those words hit like a thunderbolt. My mind went blank, my ears ringing. My daughter. No. Our daughter! Rachel turned to leave. My dad desperately grabbed her pant leg. “Please… spare my granddaughter… she’s innocent…” My dad’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s, blood blurring his vision. But wasn’t my daughter the only innocent one? Wasn’t every member of my family harmed by Rachel innocent? Rachel yanked her pant leg free in disgust, kicking my dad one more time. “Wasn’t my family innocent too? If it weren’t for your black-hearted son tampering with my brakes, how would I have ended up in a coma? “The Thompson family has the least right to bargain with me! Go tell William, if he doesn’t show up tomorrow, he can prepare to collect that little brat’s corpse!” Rachel left behind only her resolute back. My dad passed out. I cried my heart out, slapping myself over and over. Why couldn’t I, as a spirit, do anything? Seven years ago, Rachel and I went on a road trip. Her first love, afraid Rachel would find evidence to send him to jail, tampered with our car. Halfway through the trip, Rachel suddenly yelled that the brakes weren’t working. She jerked the steering wheel hard. I unbuckled my seatbelt and threw myself over her, shielding her from all harm. Although Rachel’s life was saved, the violent impact left her unconscious and in a coma. As for me, a shard of windshield pierced straight through my heart. Blood gushing from my chest, I endured the pain and held Rachel tightly in my arms. When the ambulance arrived, it took the efforts of several medics and nurses to pry me away. They sighed, saying: “This husband must have loved his wife deeply, to trade his life for hers.” If I’d known Rachel’s first act upon waking would be to kill my family, when I clearly had a chance to survive, I definitely wouldn’t have sacrificed myself to save her! My thoughts were dragged back to the present. My dad lay unconscious on the street all night. But when he woke up, his first thought wasn’t to go to the hospital, but to rush to the preschool to find my daughter. When he learned my daughter wasn’t at the preschool, my dad instantly broke down. I watched helplessly as my dad crouched down, clutching his head in anguish. He pounded his chest and punched himself repeatedly. I looked at my dad with a pained heart, wanting to comfort him, but I was just as anxious. Just then, Rachel sent my dad a message: [If you don’t come by 8 AM, prepare to collect this little brat’s body.] I knew Rachel’s “you” meant me and my dad. All of Rachel’s actions were just to force me, the supposed mastermind, to appear. If possible, I would rather Rachel torture me instead of my family. My dad couldn’t think of anything else. He ran towards the outskirts of town, even losing a shoe along the way without stopping. The soles of his feet were covered in bloody blisters. Rachel’s men were digging a hole. My daughter clutched Rachel’s hand affectionately, calling out sweetly: “Mommy, I’ve missed you so much.” But Rachel’s expression didn’t change at all. She just shook off my daughter’s hand in disgust. “Shameless little brat. Like father, like daughter. Sucking up at such a young age – disgusting!” Rachel shoved my daughter hard, making her fall to the ground. Frightened, she started crying: “Grandma lied. Mommy isn’t gentle at all. Mommy’s so mean. I want to go home!” I ached to hold my daughter, but I was powerless. My daughter is seven and a half this year. She was born just before our car accident, only a month old at the time. After I died and Rachel fell into a coma, my mom would take my daughter to visit Rachel every day. Back then, my mom would hold my daughter gently, telling her that her mom was a kind person and her dad was responsible. I really wanted to know – if Rachel regained her memories, would she regret what she’d done today? “Shut up! Gag her!” Rachel frowned in irritation, ordering her men. They carelessly stuffed a dirty rag in my daughter’s mouth. She trembled in fear. Rachel impatiently checked her watch. “Time’s up. Throw her in and bury her alive!” My dad still hadn’t arrived, and Rachel had lost patience. At her command, the bodyguards ignored my daughter’s muffled cries and tossed her into the pit. I gritted my teeth in hatred. Rachel’s revenge on my family over the past days had left me exhausted. But the little girl before me was our daughter. How could Rachel bear to do this? I watched in despair as the bodyguards shoveled dirt onto my daughter. Her breathing grew weaker, her little face turning from blue to white. My heart died along with her. In her final moments before death, my daughter still mumbled: “Mommy, save me. Mommy, I can’t breathe.” But Rachel watched it all with cold detachment. As the last shovelful of dirt covered my daughter’s face, my dad finally arrived. Rachel sneered.

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I gave up a promising career to support my boyfriend’s dreams, living in a tiny apartment and scraping by for ten years. But on our wedding day, he abandoned me to take care of his sick ex-girlfriend. As guests looked at me with pity and mockery, he posted sweetly on social media: “Looking forward to our new 1+1=3 family model.” The post included an ultrasound image and an intimate photo of him with his ex. I liked the post, then asked Jack for a divorce. But he knelt before me with tears in his eyes, begging me not to leave. The next day, Jack’s call finally came. As soon as I picked up, a sickeningly sweet female voice greeted me: “I’m so sorry, Aria. I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, and I had no idea Jack would miss the wedding because he was worried about me.” “I’ve already scolded him for you.” “And that social media post? I made him delete it. Don’t overthink it, okay?” After a pause, her voice turned coy: “Jack, aren’t you a bit old for this? Still acting like a lovesick puppy. You haven’t changed a bit since college.” “You’ve always done whatever I asked. What were you thinking yesterday? How do you think Aria feels?” “Be a good boy and go make things right. Have the wedding. I’ll be fine here on my own.” Her tone was scolding, but her voice dripped with honey, making me nauseous. I was about to speak when Jack’s voice came through: “Get back to bed and rest. You’re still not feeling well.” “If you don’t behave, I really will stop taking care of you.” His tone was gentler than I’d ever heard, cutting straight to my heart. “Jack, since you’re busy, I won’t keep you. The divorce papers will be sent to you in a few days. Don’t forget to sign them,” I said, interrupting their lovey-dovey exchange. “Aria, are you done? You’re almost thirty, isn’t it time to stop with these divorce threats?” Jack’s voice rose in irritation. “Vanessa just explained everything about yesterday.” “I’m already exhausted dealing with other things. Don’t make more trouble for me.” His accusatory tone grated on my nerves. “Don’t make more trouble.” This was Jack’s favorite phrase for me. My usual care and concern were “trouble”. My devotion was “trouble”. It had become his go-to response whenever he faced me. In the past, when he frowned and said those words, I would always apologize first. I’d reflect on whether I had done something wrong, beg for his forgiveness, and promise not to do it again. Even when I wracked my brain and couldn’t figure out what I had done wrong, subconsciously, I always believed I was the one who needed to back down. “Jack, I’m not threatening you. I’m just letting you know,” I said firmly. Sensing my unusual tone, Jack paused, his voice softening slightly: “Aria, do you really have to fixate on this? Vanessa suddenly fell ill yesterday. I had to say those things to keep her calm.” “The wedding is just a ceremony. We can have it any day. As for the social media post, it was just a few words and photos. It doesn’t mean anything. A human life is at stake here. Can’t you see what’s more important?” “Aria, weren’t you always the understanding one? What’s happened to you?” “You’ve really disappointed me.” Vanessa was Jack’s patient. She was also his first love, the girl he could never get over. A tearful female voice came through the phone: “Aria, it’s all my fault. Don’t blame Jack. I’ll even kneel and apologize if that’s what you want.” How fake. I smirked, “If you’re so eager to apologize, don’t just talk about it. I’m at home now. Come over and kneel if you mean it.” The atmosphere froze. Neither of them had expected me to actually demand Vanessa kneel in apology. Vanessa’s sobs grew louder. As Jack comforted her softly, he turned his anger on me: “Aria, I can’t believe how petty you are. How is any of this Vanessa’s fault? What right do you have to demand she kneel to apologize?” “I should be the one demanding an apology! Yesterday, when I was at the hospital, you were blowing up my phone. You almost interfered with Vanessa’s emergency treatment.” “I must have been blind to marry you. You want a divorce? Fine! Don’t regret it later!” Before I could respond, he hung up.

Although I had made my decision and finally seen this man’s true colors, my heart still ached when the call ended. Jack was right about his superiority complex when it came to me. After all, I was the one who had pursued him first. Jack and I met at a party. He was a talented doctor-in-training, and I was the heiress to a medical equipment company. I fell for him at first sight and began a long journey of chasing him. They say it’s easy for a woman to chase a man, but that saying didn’t apply to me. I pursued Jack for two full years, confessing my feelings dozens of times. Jack’s attitude toward me was always hot and cold, impossible to decipher. Eventually, I grew tired and decided to give up. I was preparing to study abroad when Jack cornered me in a stairwell. “Aria, why did you stop chasing me?” he asked. “I won’t let you give up,” he said, pulling me into a kiss. His sudden confession threw all my plans into disarray. I canceled my flight to France the next day. Jack came from a modest background. To protect his male pride, I moved out of my spacious apartment and into his tiny rental. When we decided to get married, everyone in my family tried to talk me out of it. But because it was Jack, I chose love over financial security without hesitation. Jack had no savings, so we only registered our marriage without holding a ceremony. “Aria, wait for me. I want to earn enough money to give you the grandest wedding. I want to show everyone I can do it on my own,” Jack would promise, holding me close on countless nights. I would respond with passionate kisses. I thought I was the happiest woman in the world. Until Vanessa appeared. She had suffered a miscarriage abroad and developed severe depression. Upon returning home, she became Jack’s patient. At first, I didn’t pay much attention. But gradually, Jack’s eyes were no longer focused solely on me. His world was no longer just the hospital and our home. It was slowly being taken over by Vanessa. “Vanessa has a cold. I’m staying at the hospital with her for IV fluids. Tell your dad I can’t make the family dinner tonight.” “Vanessa is moving today. She doesn’t have any friends or family here, so I’m going to help her.” “Vanessa is feeling unstable today. I’m worried about her being alone, so I won’t be coming home tonight.” … Jack spent less and less time at home, his excuses becoming increasingly flimsy. I had argued with him about this, but whenever I mentioned Vanessa’s name, it was like touching a raw nerve. He would immediately lash out. He’d accuse me of being petty and unreasonable. “Vanessa is my patient. What’s wrong with me taking extra care of her?” “Aria, I think you’re just bored being a housewife all day, letting your imagination run wild. I’m already exhausted working to support us. Can’t you stop causing more trouble?” Housewife? Trouble? Jack, I wasn’t born to be the annoying housewife you despise. I once had my own dreams, my own chance to become a top designer. But now I’m reduced to doing housework and arguing with you over another woman. And why? Because of you, I gave up pursuing my own dreams. Time truly dulls everything. Jack had forgotten it all, leaving me with nothing but endless criticism and disappointment. After each argument, I would be the one to apologize first. This cycle repeated, and I gradually accepted it all. I chose to retreat step by step, to endure in silence. After all, I loved Jack. That was an undeniable fact. I thought that as long as I didn’t make a fuss, as long as I didn’t expose the truth, this man would still belong to me. We could still be the model couple in everyone’s eyes. Only now do I realize how completely wrong I was. My tolerance only made Vanessa more brazen and diminished my importance in Jack’s heart. This time at the wedding, Jack, who was supposed to be the groom, abandoned me for Vanessa. I’ll never forget the disappointment when I couldn’t reach Jack on the phone. The pity and mockery in the guests’ eyes. The pain in my parents’ eyes as they sat there in their finest clothes. Jack, no matter how reluctant I am, this is where it has to end.

After deciding on divorce, I booked a flight to France. I also listed my downtown condo with a real estate agent. That was the wedding gift my family had given Jack and me. But back then, Jack’s pride wouldn’t let him move into my property, fearing others would say he married me for money. And I, just to protect his ridiculous ego, lived with him in a tiny 600-square-foot rental for six years. Now that I’ve decided to go abroad, there’s no point in keeping the condo. As I returned from the real estate office and opened the door, I saw Jack sitting on the sofa: “Where have you been? Why didn’t you answer my calls? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?” His tone was harsh, as if I had committed some terrible crime. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the hospital with your dear Vanessa? What are you doing here?” I asked calmly. “Aria, stop with the sarcasm!” Jack snapped. “I’ve explained countless times that Vanessa is just my patient. If you don’t believe me, that’s your problem.” “Now go to the market and buy a chicken. Vanessa is hurt, and you need to make her some chicken soup.” He spoke as if this was the most natural thing in the world. I was stunned. Only after coming to my senses did I realize how truly shameless this man had become. Seeing me silent, he grew impatient and pushed my shoulder, urging: “What are you standing there for? Hurry up. If you’re late, you won’t be able to get a fresh chicken.” “Oh, and buy some cordyceps flowers and other herbs to add to the soup. Remember to skim off the oil when you’re done. Vanessa doesn’t like greasy food.” Although I was already deeply disappointed in Jack, hearing these words from his mouth still filled me with sorrow. In all our years together, I always put Jack first, and he accepted my care as if it were his due. He didn’t know what foods I liked, what colors I preferred, or what brands of clothes I usually wore. Two years ago, when I had emergency surgery for appendicitis, I begged Jack to make me some porridge. But he just frowned and said: “Aria, your princess act doesn’t work on me.” “If you want porridge, can’t you just order it yourself?” After that time, I never made such a request of him again. In the past, I naively thought Jack was just too focused on his work to notice these things. I thought he just didn’t understand how to care for a woman’s feelings. But now I know. It’s not that he doesn’t understand. He just never wanted to understand when it came to me. My heart ached, and it took all my control not to let the tears fall. Seeing me silent, just staring at the floor with reddened eyes, Jack grew a bit flustered. Realizing his words might have been too harsh, he softened his tone: “Aria, I know missing the wedding was my fault. I apologize. But you know there was an emergency that day.” “As a doctor, I couldn’t ignore it. Aria, you’re from a medical family. I thought you’d understand.” “As for the wedding, didn’t you always want to go to Iceland? Next month I’ll take some time off, and we can have our wedding there. How about that?” “Now be good and go make the chicken soup. Vanessa is waiting at the hospital.” After all that explanation, he still hadn’t forgotten his purpose. I couldn’t be bothered to argue anymore. I walked past him towards the bedroom. “Aria, I’ve already given you a way out. Don’t push your luck!” Jack shouted, finally losing his patience. “I’m doing this to let you make amends. You liked Vanessa’s post, causing her to be attacked by netizens. Her mood hasn’t been good these past few days.” “I’m not even pursuing your responsibility for that. How dare you still give me this attitude?” Seeing me walk further away, Jack finally couldn’t contain his anger and yelled. I turned around and looked at the man whose face was contorted with rage. He was so familiar yet felt like a complete stranger. “Don’t forget to sign the divorce papers,” I said calmly. With that, I closed the bedroom door. “Aria, don’t come crying back later!” I heard Jack’s furious voice, followed by the sound of the front door slamming.

Not long after, as I was still packing my clothes, I received a call from the real estate agent: “Miss Walker, could you come to your property right away? There’s been an issue.” The voice on the phone sounded urgent. I hurried to drive to the condo. What I saw left me stunned. The previously empty apartment was now filled with furniture, exuding a lived-in atmosphere. And Vanessa, wearing loungewear, was glaring at me and the agent with hostility. “Miss Walker, you see…” the agent looked at me helplessly. My mind flashed to a social media post Vanessa had made long ago: “Thank you for giving me a home.” The background in the photo was my wedding gift condo. At the time, I thought the decor looked familiar, but many luxury apartments have similar designs, so I didn’t think much of it. I never imagined that Jack, who had refused to live in my property to avoid being seen as a gold-digger, had secretly let Vanessa move in. Suppressing my disgust, I was about to speak when Vanessa beat me to it: “This is the home Jack gave me. What are you doing here, Miss Walker?” “If I remember correctly, don’t you live in a tiny 600-square-foot rental? Well, what can I say? Jack always wants to give me the best.” She covered her mouth and giggled, her eyes filled with undisguised mockery. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. I calmly said: “This is my property. Please move out immediately!” As soon as I finished speaking, Vanessa burst into laughter: “Your property? Aria, do you think we’re all idiots? If this was your property, why would you be squeezing yourself into that old, tiny apartment? Are you a masochist?” She then turned to the property manager who had just arrived: “Mr. Liu, your security is really lacking. How can you let just anyone in? If this happens again, I’ll have to file a complaint!” The manager hurriedly apologized, then glared at me: “Miss, you’re disturbing the resident’s peace. Please leave immediately.” Talk about the cuckoo stealing the magpie’s nest. A crowd of onlookers had gathered: “What’s going on? Who is this woman causing trouble at Miss Chen’s home?” “Yeah, Miss Chen and Mr. Johnson have lived here for years. Everyone in the building knows them.” “Could she be the other woman? I never thought Mr. Johnson was that kind of man. He always seemed so proper.” “Oh please, don’t jump to conclusions. Look at Miss Chen – she’s so beautiful and gentle. Mr. Johnson isn’t blind. Why would he go for some unkempt country bumpkin?” Everyone was discussing enthusiastically. Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Jack walked out.

He was carrying two large bags of groceries, clearly planning to cook. My heart sank. In our ten years of marriage, even when I had a high fever, I had to drag myself out of bed to prepare meals for Jack when he came home from work. For ten years, he had never cooked a single dish or washed a single dish at home. “Baby, you’re not feeling well. Why are you out here? Go back inside,” Jack said tenderly, looking at Vanessa with loving eyes. He hadn’t even noticed me standing to the side. “Baby?” In all our years of marriage, Jack had always addressed me coldly and distantly as “Aria”. Whenever I pouted and asked him to call me something more intimate, Jack would impatiently cut me off: “Aria, I don’t like that sort of thing. A name is just a label. It doesn’t matter what I call you.” Back then, I thought he just didn’t like being overly affectionate. But hearing the word “baby” from his lips now, I realized Jack just treated people differently. Looking at Vanessa, who had now switched to a weak and innocent expression, I couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “Since you’re so eager to apologize, don’t just talk about it. Come kneel and apologize to me right now.” The atmosphere instantly froze. Neither of them had expected me to actually demand Vanessa kneel in apology. Vanessa’s sobs grew even more pitiful. Jack comforted her gently while turning to berate me: “Aria, how can you be so small-minded? How is any of this Vanessa’s fault? What right do you have to demand she kneel to you?” The property manager also rushed over with a big smile: “Mr. Johnson, you’re back! Is this the hourly maid you hired to cook?” Jack frowned slightly but didn’t respond. Vanessa quickly linked her arm with his and chimed in: “That’s right, she’s the maid Jack hired to cook for me. Isn’t that right, Jack?” Jack nodded, then casually tried to hand me the groceries: “Go start cooking.” The onlooking neighbors suddenly understood: “Oh, I see! I was wondering how there could be so many mistresses in the world stealing other people’s husbands. So she’s just the maid!” “Miss Chen, you’re so lucky. Mr. Johnson really dotes on you.” “Yeah, looking at how good Mr. Johnson is to you, then looking at my own husband at home… it’s like comparing heaven and earth.” I didn’t say a word, nor did I take the groceries Jack was holding out. I just stared coldly at the man in front of me. “Aria, what are you still standing there for? Didn’t you hear what I said?” Jack’s face darkened as he impatiently urged me. Just then, my phone rang. “I’m right outside the door. Come on up,” I said into the phone. Everyone looked at me in confusion. “Aria, what new trick are you trying to pull?” Jack questioned with furrowed brows. I remained silent, just looking towards the elevator. In less than a minute, a dozen men in crisp suits walked out of the elevator. “Miss, here’s the property deed you requested,” the middle-aged man in the lead respectfully handed me a red booklet. It was time to fight back.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296100”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn