On the day of my pregnancy checkup, my boyfriend William and my best friend Heather came with me. Everyone said I was lucky, blessed with both love and friendship. I held Heather’s hand and joked with William, “Heather is my best friend. You better not neglect her.” William gave a helpless smile, but didn’t exactly give Heather a warm look. Seeing William maintain such clear boundaries filled me with happiness as I went in for my exam, but when the checkup was over, William and Heather were nowhere to be found. I immediately called William on my phone, but heard a familiar ringtone coming from the stairwell. I followed the sound toward the stairwell door. Separated by just that one door, I heard the most devastating words of my life. “Darling, you smell so good~” “Stop it, we’re in a hospital.” The normally gentle and respectable William was now shamelessly tangled up with Heather. I watched them flirt as if no one else existed, their vulgar and suggestive words spilling out nonstop. The massive shock made my head spin instantly, a sharp pain twisting in my abdomen, and I let out a groan of pain before blacking out. When I woke up again, I saw the worried expressions on William and Heather’s faces…

“Lisa, are you okay?” William reached out to help me up, but I instinctively pulled back. The filthy, disgusting scene in the stairwell flashed through my mind again. “Don’t touch me.” William met my eyes and his face stiffened. He knew I must have seen everything. Just then, the doctor walked over and said, “The patient fainted due to emotional shock. Luckily, her body is fine, but your wife is about to give birth. Be a little more considerate.” The doctor looked at William with a hint of displeasure. William quickly nodded and apologized, unsure of how to face me. After the doctor left, Heather, who had been silent the whole time, finally stepped forward. “Lisa, since you know, there’s no need for William and me to hide it from you anymore.” William shot Heather a glare, but she didn’t care at all. “Lisa is my best friend. What’s there to hide between us? We’re together now.” She said it with such self-righteousness, like it was just some kind of announcement. My face was pale. William had been watching my expression closely and immediately snapped at Heather. “Enough! Don’t you know Lisa is pregnant?” Heather pouted. William came over to soothe me. “Don’t upset the baby. I’ll explain this whole thing to you later.” “Get away from me!” I shoved William away with disgust, a sharp pain twisting in my chest. The truth was slapping me right in the face. What was there left to explain? Heather quickly steadied the stumbling William and glared at me angrily. “Lisa, don’t be so unreasonable. Don’t use your pregnancy as an excuse to scream at William.” “He’s not just your man anymore. Even if you don’t care about him, I do.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My eyes red, I demanded, “How long has this… been going on?” Just asking that question took every ounce of my strength. The pain in my chest was so fierce I could barely breathe. “Let it go, Lisa. Please, just listen to me, okay? The most important thing right now is your health,” William said, unable to bear seeing me like this. But I screamed, my heart shattering, “Answer me!” The scream made Heather’s face twist with anger. She shot back, a hint of revenge in her tone, without any hesitation. “I’ll be honest with you. The day I introduced William to you… no, even earlier than that, we were already together.” My whole body trembled. Three years. Three whole years. And even longer. The first year, Heather introduced William to me. The second year, William and I officially started dating. And this year, the third year, I got pregnant. Yet in some corner I never saw, William and Heather were inseparable. The thought that we had shared a man for these three years made me violently nauseous. Heather, however, put on understanding act and smiled at me. “Lisa, we’re friends who tell each other everything. You’ll understand, right?” Looking at my once cheerful best friend holding onto my man, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I bent over and retched violently. William was terrified. He rushed to my side in a flash. “Lisa, what’s wrong? Let me get a doctor.” I used all my remaining strength to back away, refusing to let him near me. Gasping for air, I said, “William, I don’t want this baby anymore.”

William’s face instantly turned ashen. He grabbed my hands tightly and forced me back down onto the bed. “Lisa, don’t joke around.” William was usually mild-mannered and never lost his temper with me. This was the first time I’d seen him like this. I was stunned, but when I came to my senses, I was more confused than anything. I didn’t understand why William, who was so clearly entangled with Heather, had purposely gotten me pregnant with his child. William seemed to realize how frightening he looked. He took a deep breath and returned to his usual gentleness, coaxing me softly. “This is my fault. It has nothing to do with the baby. If you’re angry, take it all out on me.” I couldn’t speak. It all felt so absurd. Seeing I was still upset, William turned to Heather and scolded her, “This is all because of your big mouth! Get over here and apologize to Lisa right now!” He was defending me, just like he always did. And that was exactly why I had never suspected anything between them before. Heather was clearly unhappy after being yelled at by William, but she obediently walked over to me, looking wronged. “Lisa, don’t be mad anymore. The baby in your belly is what’s important.” The nausea washed over me again. Heather pouted. “You saw it yourself. William cares about you. Besides, we’ve been friends for so many years. I’m not here to steal your man.” I was so shocked by Heather’s shamelessness that I couldn’t even speak. Was what I saw in the stairwell just some kind of illusion? “You’re the baby’s mother. William can’t bear to lose you, and I care about you too. Can we just focus on having a healthy pregnancy, okay?” “Get out!” It was like I was seeing Heather for the first time. I grabbed the teacup from the nightstand and hurled it at her with all my might. “Ah!” Heather let out a pitiful scream. I looked up and saw the teacup shattered in the corner, with Heather on the floor. I stared at my own hand, momentarily at a loss. Then I looked up and met William’s furious gaze. “Lisa!” It was almost a roar, but the accusing words were forced back down when he saw my pale face. William silently rushed to Heather, carefully checking her body. “I’m fine. Lisa is mad at me, and I deserve it.” William helped her up to go see a doctor, but before leaving, he made a point of saying to me. “Don’t go anywhere. The baby you’re carrying is also my child. If anything happens to the baby…” He stopped there, his expression extremely complicated. Then he took Heather and finally left the hospital room. I sucked in a sharp breath, tears streaming down my face at the same time. The tears I had been holding back for so long, alone now in that hospital room, finally burst forth like a flood.

Heather and I had been friends for six years. Three years ago, she introduced me to her childhood friend. William, an independent game developer. Handsome and rich. In Heather’s words, he was a high-quality man. But I hadn’t really had any strong feelings for William. I knew he was Heather’s childhood friend, and because of that connection, I kept turning him down. I didn’t want a man to ruin my friendship with Heather. But Heather kept pushing for us to be together, saying her biggest wish was for me to be happy. So, with Heather cheering us on, William chased me for an entire year. And just like Heather said, William was a great guy. He was gentle and caring, never once losing his temper with me. In the years I was with William, I felt incredibly happy. We would all go out together like usual. I didn’t mind Heather joining us, but William seemed quite annoyed by it. Taking advantage of a moment when Heather went to the bathroom, he grabbed my waist and whispered a kiss near my ear. “Lisa, I was hoping our dates could be just the two of us. Heather always tagging along… what is this?” “During the movie just now, I didn’t even get a chance to steal a kiss.” William’s words made my heart tingle. Just as I was about to soothe him, Heather popped up again. Embarrassed, I pushed William away. “Oh, William, stop it.” Heather took the opportunity to wedge herself between us, naturally looping her arm through mine and saying sourly. “Lisa, you’re so blinded by love. Now that you have a boyfriend, you’ve forgotten all about me!” I quickly denied it jokingly, moving to placate Heather. “You’re the one who set us up. When we get married, I’ll have to thank you properly.” But just as the words left my mouth, Heather froze. Maybe it was my imagination, but I caught a flicker of shock in Heather’s eyes. I didn’t think too much of it at the time. Heather laughed dryly and said, a little strangely, “You two are getting married?” As she spoke, her eyes darted toward William. William looked at me and was silent for a long time before finally murmuring, “Yeah.” But after that outing, year after year, I brought up my wish to get married countless times. William’s answer was always the same: wait a little longer, there’s no rush. Now that I think about it, I realize he wasn’t against marriage. It was just that I was never the one he wanted to marry. Thinking this, my tears had already run dry. I was like an empty shell drained of all strength, my heart filled with nothing but endless grief and helplessness. The door clicked softly, and Heather walked into the room, perfectly fine. She came closer and sat on the edge of my bed, saying softly, “Don’t worry, I’m not hurt at all.” I stared silently at this incredibly familiar face, trying to see through her and figure out what she was thinking. “Pretty good act, right?” She smiled, a look of provocation on her face. “William really does still care about me.” My brow furrowed, and I ground my teeth. “Why?” Heather let out a sigh and answered casually, “Because I love him.” “You bitch!” Heather’s shamelessness made me furious all over again. I raised my hand to slap her. But I was too weak. Heather easily overpowered me in a second. She grabbed my wrist and slammed it down hard against the bed. Her face flushed with anger, clearly offended by what I called her. “Lisa, watch your mouth! You’re the one who stole William from me!” I let out a humorless laugh. She was the one who pushed me towards William, and now she was the one betraying me! How dare she accuse me of stealing her man?! If she loved William, why did she go out of her way to set us up, over and over? More than William’s betrayal, being played by Heather hurt me so much more. I ground my teeth, threw all dignity out the window, and spat out the most hurtful words I could find. “I’m pregnant with William’s child. We’re going to get married. So aren’t you the one rushing to be the other woman right now?” 　　 Heather’s face darkened with humiliation. “So what if you two were sneaking around behind my back? Did he give you any real status? Did he promise you anything?” “Am I wrong to call you a whore? Sharing my husband with me?” I glared at her fiercely, my voice a low growl through gritted teeth. “Heather, you are a goddamn whore!” “Shut up!” Heather was furious. She raised her hand and suddenly grabbed my throat. This time, I understood. There was hatred in her eyes. She hated me. “Who do you think you are? Let me tell you something. The only reason I let William go to you was because I wanted to use your body to get a child!” “You bitch, you actually dared to seduce William. If it weren’t for his baby in your belly, I’d strangle you right now!” “What do you have to be so smug about? You think William loves you? He has never loved you! I’m the only one he loves!” “If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t even want to touch you! You call me the other woman? Let me tell you, you’re the other woman!” “The one who isn’t loved is the other woman!” My heart shuddered violently. My eyes red, I asked her one more time, “Then why? Why do this to me? Wasn’t I your best friend?” Heather glared at me, grinding her teeth. “I never considered you my friend.” Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. So it was all one-sided. I was the one who foolishly thought Heather was my friend. I was the one who foolishly fell in love with William. 　　 Whether it was William or Heather, this disgustingly twisted three-way relationship, I wanted nothing to do with any of it anymore! “Fine. I’ll give him back to you.” I climbed out of bed in a daze. “I’m going to get rid of this baby right now. You and William, and that… child that can never see the light of day. I don’t want any of it.”

“No!” Heather’s face stiffened as she grabbed my wrist. I froze, my brow furrowing, and just then, there was a noise from outside the door. I tried to pull my wrist free from Heather’s grip, but she was terrified I’d rush out to get an abortion, so she held on even tighter. I was in serious pain. “Let go!” So I struggled even harder, and right at that moment, William pushed the door open. Heather immediately slapped herself across the face. I was stunned. William stormed over impatiently, couldn’t help but roughly shove me aside, and shielded Heather behind him. “Lisa, are you done causing trouble yet? Heather’s already admitted she was wrong. Is there any point in you constantly going after her?” I stared at William in disbelief. Heather, seeing this, immediately pressed closer to William, looking utterly wronged. “Lisa thinks I’m the other woman who broke you two up. In the end, it’s all my fault. But I really never meant to steal your man.” “I love William, and William loves me. Isn’t that just two people who love each other?” I looked at William, hoping he would deny it. William looked at the red slap mark on Heather’s cheek, his expression complicated. After a moment of silence, he spoke. “Heather is not the other woman. We truly do love each other.” Heather raised an eyebrow, unable to hide the provocation in her eyes, as if she was proving something. In that moment, my heart died completely. A doctor knocked on the door from outside, reminding us about the medical bill. Heather said smugly, “I’ll go pay it. Gotta do my duty for the baby.” The hospital room was left with just me and William. William looked conflicted. He reached out to take my hand, but I subtly avoided him and walked over to the window alone. “Lisa, please don’t be mad anymore, okay?” I stared blankly out the window. In William’s memory, I was always bright and radiant, but right now, I looked like a deflated, empty shell. “Lisa, I know I shouldn’t have kept this from you, but aren’t you and Heather friends? This little thing isn’t worth all this drama, right?” A little thing? I scoffed bitterly. “William, these past three years… did you ever love me?” A sharp pain twisted in William’s chest. He didn’t know how to answer. After a long while, he said hesitantly, “Of course I love you, but I also love Heather.” I was silent. Seeing me not say a word, the unease in William’s heart grew more intense, a primal intuition of loss. He was terrified I didn’t want to keep the baby, even more terrified I’d say the word ‘breakup’. So he launched into a string of explanations on his own, but I couldn’t listen to any of it. Suddenly, as if he’d thought of something, he looked up hopefully. “Lisa, haven’t you always wanted to marry me? Once you have the baby, let’s get married, okay… Lisa!” The proposal wasn’t even finished when William’s hopeful face turned deathly pale in an instant. Time seemed to stretch out in that moment. William lunged toward the window. But it was all too late.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “418997”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

After the fake heiress slandered me for the ninety-ninth time, my family sold me to the most sadistic tycoon in Los Angeles. I lay on the ground, crying and banging my head until it bled, begging them to let me go. But my father, George, slapped me hard across the face. “You wanted to fight for attention and bully Audrey? Go to the tycoon, learn your place, and how to behave.” My brother, Holt, chimed in from the side, “Exactly! Audrey is the same age as you, so how is she so much more thoughtful and caring? If you can’t learn the rules, don’t ever come back!” My mother, Mason, who once loved me the most, looked at me with a stranger’s eyes. She held Audrey in her arms, and her gaze was like an icy arrow. “Only by suffering can the lesson be etched into your bones. Only then can you understand Audrey’s hardships and pain.” So I was sent away. I carried three pregnancies for the tycoon that never came to term, was handed to his rivals for humiliation, took the fall for his crimes and went to prison, had three fingers severed, was forced to crawl through crotches and bark like a dog… In the third winter, I escaped, and died alone under a frozen bridge. Two years later, my family wanted to draw my Rh-negative blood to save the fake heiress, but I had already been dead for five years.

I died. My soul drifted into the pitch-black night sky, staring down at my ghastly, inhuman, pale corpse. Following my faded memories, I drifted back to the Rasmus family home. The house was so lively, hosting Audrey’s birthday party. I stared at Audrey, who was the center of attention, like a princess among her subjects. She wore a designer haute couture dress, diamond-encrusted high heels, and jewelry worth a fortune, smiling a stunning, show-stopping smile. I thought of myself, frozen to death under the cold bridge. Dressed in a filthy, ragged cloth, my face so disfigured from inhuman torture it no longer looked human. My left hand was a disgusting sight, three fingers chopped off from my escape attempt. Yet, I was clearly the child of my parents, Holt’s biological sister, and I had died a miserable death in the ice and snow, with a grievance I could never let go. Amidst the laughter and chatter, a noblewoman mentioned me. “Where’s Carol? Why isn’t she out? Isn’t it her birthday too?” Mason’s face darkened, and George and Holt’s faces looked like they could drip water. Audrey paused, her eyes darting around, and said with a smile, trying to smooth things over. “Mom and Dad punished her, and she got upset and ran away from home. It can’t be helped; Carol has always been more delicate than me.” The noblewoman nodded, tactfully not mentioning me again. George snorted, sneering. “Audrey, you don’t need to make excuses for that scoundrel. A degenerate who frames her sisters and harms her own family—the Rasmus family has no such daughter!” The noblewoman gasped, covering her mouth. I knew she was a gossip. Without a doubt, my reputation would be dragged through the mud by those few words tonight. Holt’s face was full of disgust as he clenched his fist. “Dad’s right. Rest assured, Audrey, as long as I’m alive, and as long as she hasn’t repented, I won’t let her set foot through the Rasmus family’s door again.” Mason also nodded, her face expressionless. “On such a joyous day, why bring up that unlucky person?” I thought about the past. When I first returned to the Rasmus family as the true heiress, they all treated me like a treasure. Audrey always said she saw me as her dearest and best sister, but whenever we were together, she was always having some kind of “accident.” She fell and scraped her knee, saying I pushed her, deliberately making her look bad at a business banquet. She said I poisoned her drink, making her throat hoarse so she couldn’t sing, causing them to get last place in a choir competition. Slowly, George stopped smiling at me, Holt stopped calling me his sister, the gifts they prepared never included me, and Mason stopped holding me or making me delicious food. The only things I received were endless distrust and punishment. Finally, one day, when Audrey cut her own face and said I did it, they sold me to the most ruthless “sugar daddy” in all of Los Angeles. “If you don’t learn your place, don’t ever come back!” I was sold to be molested in a casino, forced into bed with greasy men. I was beaten until I miscarried, carried three pregnancies for my abuser that never came to term. I was handed to his rivals for humiliation, took the fall for his crimes and went to prison. I had three fingers severed, was forced to crawl through crotches and bark like a dog… Thinking about this, my eyes turned red. Dad, Mom, Holt, if you knew the torture I endured and that I was already dead, what would you do? Just then, George’s phone rang. He patted Audrey’s shoulder affectionately and walked aside to answer it. “Hello, this is the LAPD. Carol’s body was discovered by a passerby tonight. Please come to claim the body as soon as possible.”

I waited for George’s reaction, but he just let out a cold smirk. “Carol, what kind of trick are you playing now? You want to come home? Dream on!” “Did you think we’d let you come back and bully Audrey?” A pang of pain shot through my heart. It was true. Over the years, I never stopped hoping my family would get me out. Even when the result of trying to contact them was a broken right leg, ten fingernails being pried off, or being beaten unconscious again and again. Over the years, I tried everything. Sending messages through people, calling, texting, even going to find them myself, but it was always like a stone sinking into the ocean. The day after I was beaten into a miscarriage, I chewed through the ropes and jumped from a fourth-story window, running barefoot straight to the Rasmus Group headquarters. The security guard was shocked by my pale face and horrific injuries, hurriedly helping me call the police and running to find my family. But in the end, I didn’t see any of my family members. The security guard was fired by Audrey. I was sent back to my abuser’s house by the Rasmus Group’s bodyguards, awaiting me was pepper spray, a waterboarding cell, and being tied up under the sun while the flesh on my back was sliced off piece by piece… The tycoon picked his teeth with a sadistic grin, spat his phlegm on my face. “Miss your family, huh? Here, let me let you hear their voices.” He played a recording on his phone. It had my dad, mom, Holt, and Audrey. “Dad, I heard someone calling herself Carol is at the gate. Shouldn’t you go check it out?” It was Audrey, feigning concern for me. Holt sounded impatient. “What? She ran out? Then just send her back. Is this little thing worth bothering Dad over?” “That’s right, Audrey. You’re just too kind. After all the bullying she did to you back then, a little suffering is good for her.” George echoed. “I bought you a carload of new clothes. Go see if you like them.” From then on, I lost all will to live, only wanting to die. Back to the present. Holt furrowed his brow, his face hesitant. “Dad, the police wouldn’t mess around with someone like this, would they? Should we send someone to check?” Audrey’s face was grim. She picked up her phone and went off to the side, fiddling with it. George scoffed, his face full of disdain. “Silly boy. With AI so prevalent now, who can’t fake an audio clip?” “Don’t let family ties blind you to the truth. A mistake deserves punishment. Why should Audrey be the one to suffer?” Mason, who had been a bit suspicious, immediately lost most of her doubt and turned angry again. “That kid is really something else, deliberately using our concern for her to threaten us!” Holt shook his head, his brow furrowed, expression grave. “Is it real or not?” Just then, Audrey ran over with her phone in hand. “Look! Carol’s Twitter account just followed a celebrity and liked her favorite celebrity’s posts!” Holt grabbed the phone and looked; his face flushed red, he clenched his fist, and the veins on his forehead throbbed. “Great! She fools us and still has the nerve to be on Twitter! It seems the tycoon’s punishment was too light.” Saying this, he walked aside and called the tycoon. “Hey, Mr. Brooks. Yeah, you need to step up the punishment for Carol. Don’t let her have any more of these ridiculous, strange ideas.” I floated in mid-air, shivering in fear at the sound of the tycoon’s voice. But Holt, that Twitter account that belonged to me had long been taken by Audrey to boost her favorite celebrities. And the so-called usage record was clearly staged by her. The truth was, I was already dead, long ago.

After the party ended, the Rasmus family home returned to silence. But that phone call about me was like a needle lodged in everyone’s heart. The usually fastidious George sat on the couch, chain-smoking one cigarette after another, ashes falling all over the floor. Mason held a teacup, the tea long gone, but she mechanically sipped from it, her gaze drifting towards the door. Holt paced back and forth irritably, unlocking and locking his phone, finally slamming his fist against the wall. “What the hell is Carol trying to do now?!” Nobody answered. I just looked at them sorrowfully. Then, the housekeeper came down from upstairs carrying a cardboard box, asking cautiously. “Sir, should I still keep these?” I looked down, and my heart clenched violently. Those were my things. The teddy bear I slept with as a child, the trophy from my first competition, a photo with my parents, the birthday gift Holt bought me, and a diary worn ragged at the edges. George’s face instantly darkened. “Throw it all away.” Mason’s fingers paused slightly, and she said subconsciously, “Maybe we should keep it for now.” A flicker of panic flashed in Audrey’s eyes. She quickly hugged Mason’s arm, her eyes reddening. “Are you still reluctant to let go of Carol?” “It’s actually okay. After all, she’s your biological daughter, and I’m just an outsider…” She lowered her head as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. Holt’s expression changed immediately. He rushed to her and pulled her into his arms. “Nonsense! How can she compare to you!” George was even more furious. “That beast isn’t even fit to lick your boots!” He stood up abruptly, kicking the cardboard box over. “Burn it! Burn every last bit of it!” The contents scattered all over the floor. I watched helplessly as the scarf Mason had knitted for me as a child was trampled into the mud, and the music box Holt gave me shattered into pieces. Finally, the housekeeper took everything to the backyard. The fire burned fiercely, the flames lighting up half the sky. I stood by the fire, staring blankly as those things slowly turned to ash. Mason suddenly spoke. “Carol used to really love that bear.” Holt paused for a moment. George’s face was grim as he snorted. “Love it? Then she shouldn’t have done such shameless things!” But after he finished, the surrounding area fell silent, and nobody spoke. Audrey clenched her hands, her nails digging deep into her palms. George irritably stubbed out his cigarette. The next day, the Rasmus family went to dine at the most exclusive private club in Los Angeles. From the hallway came the loud, drunken laughter of a few men. “I’m telling you, that crippled chick at Mr. Brooks’ place, tsk, an absolute delicacy.” “Not only does she crawl like a dog, but she wiggles her ass. I heard she used to be some Miss Carol or something!” The wine glass in Holt’s hand shattered on the floor. Mason’s face turned ashen, and George froze instantly. I hovered in mid-air, shaking all over. Those men, they were the ones who had brutalized me. Holt suddenly stood up and rushed over, his voice trembling. “Who did you just say?” The men were startled. One of them said drunkenly. “Mr. Brooks’ little plaything. What was her name…” “Oh, yeah. Carol.” A dead silence filled the air. Mason’s legs went weak, almost collapsing to the floor. George’s face was ashen, veins bulging on his forehead. “Say that again?” The man was frightened by them, his drunkenness fading by half. “Just that woman Mr. Brooks keeps. Everyone knows about her.” “I heard she was pregnant several times, all aborted. She even did time for Mr. Brooks…” “Later, she ran away and got caught. Three fingers were chopped off. It’s even more thrilling with a broken body!” Holt’s breathing grew more and more rapid, his eyes bloodshot. “What did she look like?” The man tried hard to remember. “Pretty skinny. Her face was ruined, couldn’t really see clearly. But I heard she used to be really beautiful…” “Her name was something like Carol?” The knife and fork in Mason’s hands clattered to the ground. She began to tremble all over. George’s face was terrifyingly grim, his lips turning white. At that moment, Audrey suddenly stood up, forcing a smile to interrupt. “It definitely wasn’t Carol!” “Lots of people in LA are named Carol. And isn’t she still active on Twitter?” “How could she be as miserable as they say?” She deliberately clung to Mason’s arm, saying softly. “Mom, don’t overthink things. Carol is so smart, she wouldn’t let herself be taken advantage of.” Holt was stunned for a moment. The wavering in George’s face slowly subsided. Right. If it was really me, how could there be no news at all? If it was really me, why would the police only call once? If it was really me, why wouldn’t I come home? They desperately convinced themselves, but once the seed of doubt was planted, it would eventually take root and sprout. I was willing to wait, wait for the day the truth came to light. I could afford to wait. After all, I was already a spirit.

Ever since returning from the club that day, everyone in the Rasmus family had been acting a little strange. Especially Mason, who started having sleepless nights. Sometimes she would wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in a cold sweat, grabbing George and asking. “Hey, you don’t think something really happened to Carol, do you?” George would turn over irritably. “Don’t be so paranoid!” But after he said it, he couldn’t sleep anymore either. On the internet, news about me started popping up out of nowhere. At first, it was just some gossip accounts posting comparison videos. “‘Fake Heiress Audrey is the True Socialite,’ ‘Carol is Evil, Bullies Poor Audrey.’” In the videos, Audrey was gentle, kind, elegant, and noble. And I was edited to look like a vicious, scheming, jealous true heiress. The comment sections were flooded with abuse. “I heard she got kicked out of the house. Serves her right.” “Audrey is so pitiful, being bullied by someone like that for so many years.” Audrey held her phone, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth. She pretended to be worried. “Mom, Dad, should we clarify? I’m afraid Carol will be sad if she sees this…” Holt sneered. “She has the nerve to be sad?” George even directly told his assistant to fuel the trending topic, pushing the hashtag #Carol The Evil Heiress# to the top. I floated in mid-air, watching those filthy words, my heart felt like it was being carved by a thousand cuts. But slowly, the tide began to turn. Someone anonymously posted a few photos. In a dim basement, a woman covered in blood was kneeling on the ground. She was barely clothed, her left hand was empty, missing three fingers, and her back was covered in crisscrossing wounds. There was also a blurry video clip. In the video, a woman was being forced to crawl through a man’s crotch and bark like a dog. The men around her roared with laughter. And that woman, curled up on the ground like a dying dog. Although her face was mostly hidden by blood and matted hair, anyone familiar with her could still recognize it was me. The internet exploded instantly. “WTF! Is that Carol?” “For real? That’s so brutal.” “I thought it was just running away from home?” “This is a crime!” When Mason scrolled to the video, her face went white as a sheet. Her phone fell to the ground, shattering. Holt stared intently at the screen, his breath ragged. “How is this possible…” George, for the first time, fell silent. The entire living room was deathly quiet. Just then, Audrey suddenly cried out. “Look! There are already people online analyzing it, saying the video was deliberately faked to smear the Rasmus family!” Sure enough, a massive number of accounts started posting like crazy. “‘Secret of the Rich! The Rasmus Family’s True Heiress Suspected of Being Sacrificed’” “‘The Rasmus Family Made Their Fortune Through Dark Arts, Their Biological Daughter Was Used to Ward Off Disaster’” “‘Carol is Dead, Her Vengeful Spirit Appears at the Rasmus Family Home for Revenge.’” The rumors got more and more absurd, and someone even Photoshopped a picture of me, covered in blood, standing in front of the Rasmus family home. For a moment, the entire internet was buzzing, and the Rasmus family actually felt a sense of relief. Yes. With things this ridiculous, it must be fake. Holt irritably turned off his phone. “A bunch of psychos.” George sneered. “I told you someone was deliberately messing with us.” Although Mason’s face still didn’t look good, she reluctantly nodded. Only I was desperately shaking my head. It wasn’t fake. Those wounds were real. That blood was real. Audrey suddenly let out a little “ah!” “Carol’s online on Twitter!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “418996”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

The day it went viral online that I’d cheated on my husband, everyone assumed Ethan Vance would divorce me. Yet, he calmly went on a trip with his mistress. When asked about it, he spoke nonchalantly. “Ten years ago, I jumped from the third story of the school building to pursue Anastasia Reed, and broke a leg. She called me a pathetic simp, unworthy of love.” “Ten years later, I’ve ruined her. I’ve trapped her in the marital prison she hates most, making her life a living hell.” “I don’t love her anymore, so how could I care if she cheats?” His words were recorded and sent to me. A thirty-million dollar wager was placed, betting I’d beg for forgiveness within a day. Instead, I calmly dialed the hospital’s body donation program. Ethan didn’t know that on the day he confessed his love to me ten years ago, I dropped out of school and vanished because I’d been diagnosed with a rare disease. Doctors had given me countless death sentences, but my love for him pulled me through time and again. Now, I no longer loved him. A marital prison couldn’t hold a dead woman.

A month after Ethan went traveling with his mistress, I signed the body donation agreement. I calmly packed all my belongings and called the cemetery manager. “Ms. Davies, please buy me that plot.” “Yes, I won’t be burying a body, just some old things.” “Could you please pick up the packed items from Ethan’s villa?” With everything arranged, I transferred the last of my money via PayPal. The moment my account balance hit zero, there was no fear or confusion. Only a sense of peace and release from death. A year ago, I thought my illness was cured. With a mix of hope and trepidation, I returned to New York, hoping to win Ethan back. But I found everything had changed. Ethan hated me. He wished I was dead. He trapped me in the marriage I despised most. Reminding me again and again how much I’d hurt him back then. For a year, I quietly endured it, trying to melt away the hatred between us with love. But I failed. The consequence of that failure was my disease relapsing. This time, Ethan got what he wished for. His screams in bed, asking why I didn’t just die, had finally come true. Forcing myself to ship out the packed items, I swallowed a handful of painkillers. Just as the pain began to subside, my phone rang. Ethan’s Ins feed had updated again. He’d posted countless photos of him and Serena on their trip. They kissed under romantic snow-capped mountains. They planted a pine tree named after them in a vast, endless desert. They went deep-sea diving and took photos with sharks… All the things I had once written in my diary. All the things Ethan had promised to do with me. He had done them, one by one, with Serena. A sharp, stabbing pain pulsed in my chest, and I endured it numbly. Just as I was about to turn off my phone, Ethan’s call came directly through. “Ana Reed, send ten boxes of condoms to the Hilton Hotel.” “Serena is allergic to strawberry-flavored ones. If you mess up again, I’ll tell the vet to stop treating your precious sick dog!” Ethan’s voice was slightly breathless, and if I listened closely, I could hear a woman’s seductive voice. I gripped my phone, it took me a long moment to find my voice. “Ethan, Buddy is already dead…” “Poisoned by your mistress…” A month ago, Ethan held a welcome-home party for Serena. That night, he threw the games in front of me, deliberately losing to her multiple times. The first time, Serena demanded he French-kiss her for three minutes. Before the kiss, he drank the soup I’d spent three hours making for him, then locked lips with Serena, deliberately humiliating me.

The second time, Serena demanded he take off his shirt and leave seven hickeys on his abs, to commemorate their seven years apart. He stood before me, his voice cold, and ordered me to take off the shirt I’d ironed for him that morning. The third time, Serena leaned limply against him, pulling out a hotel key card, and wanted to go to bed with him. He tossed me a black card and told me to personally go buy condoms. I threw the strawberry-flavored condoms from my bag onto the table and walked away. In the middle of the night, Serena had an allergic reaction to strawberry-flavored condoms, went into anaphylactic shock, and was hospitalized. To punish me, he brought a critically ill Buddy home. When I found out, the doctor was telling me the news of my relapse, and Serena called me on FaceTime, laughing. “Ana Reed, I’m so sorry. I accidentally fed your dog rat poison. It died, foaming at the mouth.” My fingers gripping the phone turned white, and a sharp, continuous throbbing pain shot through my chest. Buddy was the dog we’d promised to raise together. Its warm yellow fur was the first color I saw after countless resuscitations. It had accompanied me through the most painful ten years, only to be poisoned to death. Tears streamed down my face. I didn’t wait for Ethan to speak again, hanging up the call immediately. Numbly, I returned to my bed, curling up, trying to draw warmth from around me. Just then, my phone started buzzing with texts, one after another. **[Ana Reed, do you know who orchestrated your affair??]** **[It was Ethan Vance!]** **[He knew you hated cheating most, but for Serena’s amusement, he still did it!]** The anonymous texts. I froze. My eyes were glued to the words: “Ethan orchestrated your affair.” Emotions churned within me, and a metallic taste of blood filled my throat. I once had a happy family. But because my dad cheated, my mom drove us away. The car collided with a semi-truck. My mom shielded me, her body crushed into pieces. That night, my mouth, eyes, and nostrils were all filled with the taste of my mother’s blood. I had once laid bare my deepest vulnerability. Ethan had protected it carefully, treasured it. Now, for Serena’s amusement, he’d used infidelity against me. My whole body spasmed with pain. I didn’t take any more painkillers and finally passed out. The next day when I woke up again, I signed for the euthanasia pills the doctor had sent. I unwrapped the pills and had just put them into my bag. When the villa door was suddenly kicked wide open. “Ana Reed, who told you to send Serena so many strawberry-flavored things!” “Don’t you know her allergy is so severe she couldn’t even stand the smell of strawberries?!” Ethan radiated cold fury, his eyes filled with intense disgust. I froze, then saw Serena, behind him, covering her face, smiling a knowing, meaningful smile. “Ethan, my face is ruined!” “I have to get my revenge…” Before she finished speaking, Serena strode forward. She slapped me, hard, across the face, again and again. “Smack!” “Smack, smack, smack!” My face stung and swelled from the slaps. I leaned against the wall. After collecting myself, I picked up a nearby vase and smashed it over her head. “Crash!” The vase shattered on Serena’s head. I stared intently at Ethan, and asked the question. “Ethan Vance, was that affair, was that all your doing?!” “It was my doing.” “I knew you hated cheating most, I did it on purpose!” “Ana Reed, do you know what I regret most?” “Saving you in sophomore year of high school! I should have let your dad and his mistress beat you to death!”

He spoke each word slowly. Ethan’s eyes harbored deep hatred. He gave me a look of disgust, then stepped back, calling a doctor to bandage Serena up. I slid down the wall to the floor. My heart felt like it was being chiseled open with an axe. In my agony, I finally realized that perhaps I had been wrong ten years ago. My perceived “good intentions” were actually slow poison. Ten years later, the poison took effect. Neither Ethan nor I could escape it. “Ethan, actually ten years ago, I…” Lying on the floor, I forced the metallic taste of blood down and began to speak. The next second, a delicate, fearful voice sounded. “Ethan, my head hurts so much! Come over and look at me!” Serena’s voice cut me off. Ethan walked past me, a sneer on his face as he spoke. “Ana Reed, you want to say you had a hidden reason back then? Do you think I’d believe it?” “Or, to put it another way, can the leg I broke for you just magically reappear?” His cold, mocking words were like a sledgehammer striking my soul. I bit down hard on my lip, looking down at Ethan’s left leg, which moved with an unnatural limp. All strength left my body. Without another word, I slowly stood up to return to the bedroom. But Ethan mocked me again. “Ana Reed, wrongdoers must be punished, didn’t you say that?” “How will you apologize this time?” “I’ll apologize with my death…” I said calmly, my fingers resting on the doorknob. I noticed my fingers, once slender and strong, were now dry and brittle like wood. “Ana Reed, what did you say?!” Ethan grabbed my hand tightly, his voice trembling with anger. “Death? You want to use death to escape your guilt towards me?” “I’m telling you, no way! In this world, as long as I don’t want you dead, you can’t die!” Ethan spoke through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with fury. I didn’t say a word, calmly letting him hold my arm. Ethan didn’t know that everyone is subject to the natural cycle of life and death; he couldn’t stop it. “Ethan, I remember you broke a leg falling from the third story of the school building trying to pursue Ana Reed. How about we make Ana Reed jump from the third floor of the villa?” “There’s a pool below anyway, she’ll be fine.” After a few seconds of silent stalemate, Serena, her wounds bandaged and her eyes filled with hatred, walked over. She gently tugged Ethan’s arm, whining. “Ethan, just agree! Ana Reed hit my head so hard, she has to apologize to me!” “Plus, I have a photography exhibition soon, and I still need a dramatic diving photo!” Ethan’s grip on my arm tightened, and hatred churned in his eyes. In that moment, I thought he would just strangle me. But a few seconds later, he let out a cold laugh. “Fine!” “Let’s do it!” “I also want to see if our little scaredy-cat, who used to be terrified of heights and water, has overcome it yet?” That familiar nickname echoed in my ears. I clenched my fists and bit down hard on my lip, remaining silent. Ethan, however, smiled and had the bodyguards take me to the third floor of the villa. “Ana Reed, I’ll be waiting for you on the first floor. Don’t disappoint me with your apology…” Forced by the bodyguards to stand by the third-floor window, my whole body trembled. The long-suppressed metallic taste of blood seemed ready to burst forth. “Ana Reed, hurry up! Ethan and I are getting tired of waiting!”

On the ground floor, Ethan and Serena stood side-by-side. I didn’t know what Serena said, but Ethan bent down and kissed her. A sharp pain pierced my heart. I took out the euthanasia pills from my bag, remembering the doctor’s instructions. “Ms. Reed, if you want to go quickly, take this new pill.” “But after taking it, you mustn’t touch water for an hour, or your body will…” The doctor’s horrified expression reappeared in my mind. I held the euthanasia pills, turned, and had a bodyguard call Ethan. “Ethan, can I not jump?” I asked quietly, and Ethan’s sarcastic voice immediately came through. “Ana Reed, are you scared? Want me to give you a push?” “With your fake ashes.” Ethan’s words made my heart clench. Just then, the bodyguard came out carrying the box I’d sent to the cemetery for burial. “Shipping things to be buried in a cemetery?” “Ana Reed, you’re a real comedian.” “And this urn, it looks so convincing. If Serena hadn’t told me your dog was still alive, I would’ve been fooled.” “I’ll give you ten seconds. Jump now, or all these things are going straight into the pool!” His cold words came through the phone. I bit down so hard on my lip, I tasted blood, and was about to speak. But Ethan was already counting down. “Ten!” “Nine!” “Eight!” … Each count, one after another, was like the anesthetist’s countdown before surgery. I smiled through my tears, and agreed, my voice hoarse. “Okay…” The countdown on the phone stopped. Without hesitation, I swallowed the euthanasia pill. I stood on the windowsill. Just as I spread my arms, I heard a startled cry from below. “Ah! I didn’t mean to!” “I just wanted to see what was inside…” Serena’s surprised voice floated up. The small dog urn in Ethan’s hand was knocked over. A gust of wind blew, and the ashes inside scattered into the pool. Gray ashes floated on the surface of the water. Tears rolled down my eyes, blurring my vision. I spoke to Ethan on the phone one last time. “Ethan, after this apology with my death, I’ll owe you nothing anymore…” With that, I leaped from the third floor of the villa. My body plummeted rapidly. The wind whistled past. Memories flashed through my mind. I saw Ethan when we first met, his face radiating a bright, righteous energy, shielding me behind him. I saw Ethan bringing me tampons for the first time, his face flushed, but still asking if I was in pain. I saw Ethan, having written ninety-nine love letters, his eyes filled with love, swearing to love me forever. In the final flicker of my life, I saw the only sweetness in my short life. As my consciousness faded and I hit the pool, I saw twenty-eight-year-old Ethan, his face filled with shock and panic. … By the swimming pool, Ethan’s face was splashed by the water. The icy cold water snapped him back to reality. He looked at the ashes floating in the pool. My words echoed in his mind. For a moment, his mind went blank. “Ethan, Ana Reed’s expression when she jumped was so funny. When I put it in my exhibition, it’s going to go viral!” Serena held her camera, laughing carelessly. “Oh, why isn’t Ana Reed coming up yet? It’s so cold out, we should go back inside!” Serena pulled Ethan, heading towards the villa. But Ethan remained rooted to the spot. His eyes were fixed on the pool.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “418995”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

My daughter clutched my hand, her body trembling with sobs, as she choked out words into the live camera: “Dear netizens, even if it means giving every last bit of my bone marrow, I will save my dad! He raised me, now I’ll care for him in his old age!” My son stood beside her, eyes red-rimmed, bowing deeply to the camera: “Thank you for all your donations. We’ll sell everything we own to make sure Dad gets better!” The comments instantly flooded the entire screen: “Now *these* are truly filial children! So touching!” “That old man must have done good deeds in his past life to have such amazing kids!” “Already donated! Wishing a speedy recovery to the uncle!” The whole internet envied me, saying I had a pair of devoted children eager to donate their bone marrow. Only I knew they were here to claim my life. The live stream ended, and from the end of the hallway, I heard the siblings’ conversation. There wasn’t a hint of their earlier sobs, only cold calculation: “Bro, I really don’t want to donate bone marrow to that old man. It’ll hurt my body and mess up my wedding photos next month!” “Don’t worry, silly sis, who’s actually going to donate to him? We’ll just tell the netizens the transplant failed due to rejection, and they can’t check the records anyway.” “Oh, right! And when he dies, that downtown apartment of his and his fifty thousand in savings, we’ll split it evenly!” “Plus, the eighty thousand from the netizens’ donations, we’ll divide that too. It’ll be just enough for your wedding fund!” I lay in my hospital bed, listening to them plot how to divide my assets, and quietly activated a hidden live stream. Today, I would expose these “internet’s most filial children” and ruin their lives. 0

My fingertip lightly pressed the frame of my glasses, and the live camera feed synchronized online. The next second, my daughter came over with a bowl. “Dad, let me feed you some chicken noodle soup. I specially made this for you, it’s good for your stomach.” She spoon-fed me, one spoonful at a time, with their camera set up beside her. “As long as my dad gets better, I’ll do anything. I’d trade my life for his.” I looked at the soup offered to my mouth and deliberately knocked the bowl over. The scalding soup spilled all over my daughter. The comments instantly flooded the screen. 【Is this dad sick in the head?! His daughter is so good to him, and he’s still not satisfied!】 【I think he deserves to be sick. This kind of person shouldn’t be a burden to his children anymore.】 Ethan immediately rushed over, gripping my emaciated hand, his voice choked. “Dad, don’t worry, Chloe and I will get you cured, even if we have to sell everything we own.” “We’ve already prepared to donate our bone marrow to you. As soon as you give the go-ahead, the surgery can happen.” Chloe picked up a towel, delicately trying to wipe the soup off me. On camera, she looked patient and kind, but only I knew. Every movement of her hand was so heavy it felt like it could peel off a layer of skin. The comments were still full of angry remarks. 【These children are so incredibly devoted. What bad luck to have a dad like this.】 【The internet’s most filial children, truly deserving of the title.】 Watching their phony act, I spoke. “I suddenly feel like having some pecan pie.” It was a treat I’d been mentioning for years. Chloe immediately nodded. “Dad, don’t worry, I’ll go buy you some right now, the most authentic kind!” She pulled Ethan out, thinking I couldn’t hear them. “Do you even know which bakery’s pecan pie he wants?” Ethan scoffed. “How would I know? Just buy the cheapest pie and bring it back. That old man won’t taste the difference; just get it over with.” Before long, Chloe walked back in with the pie. Comments flashed wildly before my eyes. 【This daughter is too good. What more could the protagonist be unhappy about?】 I merely took a bite, then abruptly threw the box to the floor. Ethan and Chloe immediately surrounded me again. Looking at their feigned concern, then at the barrage of insults in the comments. My heart was calm. I just wanted to see how long they could keep up the act. That night, I was in too much pain to sleep, so I faked a cough and a restless turn. But I heard muffled arguing from outside the hospital room. “Bro, how much longer? I can’t keep this act up, seeing him every day drives me crazy.” It was Chloe’s impatient voice. “Just hold on a little longer. Once that donation money clears, and we get his apartment, we’ll be free.” Ethan whispered. “Don’t mess up, don’t let him find any cracks in our story.” “What if he suddenly gets better?” “Relax, the doctors said his condition has progressed to its advanced stages. He wouldn’t last much longer. Then we’ll just say the bone marrow transplant failed. Netizens will only sympathize with us more.” As soon as he finished speaking, I deliberately coughed loudly a few times. The voices outside instantly vanished. Seconds later, my “children” pushed open the door, their faces again filled with worry. Ethan reached out to feel my forehead, his voice tender. “Dad, are you feeling bad again? We’ll stay with you, don’t be scared.” I lay still in bed, letting them perform. The whole internet was still praising their deep affection. Only I knew that these two were wolves in sheep’s clothing. 0

After that day, Ethan and Chloe constantly talked about taking me for check-ups and pulling strings to find specialists. They put on a show of being devoted children, worried sick about me. But in reality, they deliberately delayed every check-up. They even secretly changed my appointment times. Important bone marrow re-examination dates were secretly changed again and again, postponed repeatedly, and finally, simply missed. I suddenly remembered how before, they’d held up their phones, constantly filming me. Completely ignoring how my skin had already ulcerated from the illness, red and broken in patches. The pain at night was excruciating. The slightest movement tore at my flesh, making even the blanket unbearable. During filming, Chloe would gently dab ointment on my sores, crying into the live stream about how much it pained her to see me suffer. But as soon as the camera was off, they wouldn’t even spare me a glance. I’d whimper in pain, and they’d only complain that I was noisy, that I was a burden, that my rotting appearance was an eyesore. Forget applying medicine or wiping me down; they wouldn’t even bother to hand me a glass of water. One time, I was in such agony that I begged Chloe to help me change a bandage. But she recoiled in disgust, her brows furrowed. “It’s so gross. Don’t touch me. Can’t you just deal with it for a few days? It’s not the first time.” Ethan was even more direct, waving his hand impatiently. “Don’t bother. Medicine isn’t free, you know? Just endure a few days, it’ll pass.” All those tears shed on camera, all that feigned sympathy, were just an act for the netizens. When the doctor made rounds, I pretended to know nothing. “Doctor, why haven’t my last bone marrow re-examination results come back yet?” As soon as I spoke, Ethan’s face changed, and he hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over. “The doctor is busy; maybe they haven’t sorted them out yet. Dad, don’t worry, we’ll ask them for you.” The doctor frowned, looking puzzled. “The re-examination date was long ago. Didn’t you say the patient wasn’t feeling well and canceled it?” That sentence, clear as day, was recorded verbatim by the camera. The comments were still a chaotic mess, defending them, but my heart had turned to stone. I pretended my phone was dead and reached for Ethan’s phone. “Let me call a relative.” He reluctantly handed it over. My fingers swiftly swiped open his bank statement. A large, unfamiliar transfer stood out, marked as ‘advance payment’. Scrolling further up, recent cash withdrawal records—amounts, times— They perfectly matched the records of my retirement savings that I had secretly checked. My retirement savings were being slowly drained by them. Late at night, I suddenly developed a high fever, my body burning hot. I desperately pressed the call button, the bell ringing repeatedly, but no one came in. Dragging my heavy body, I slowly shuffled out of the hospital room. My “children” were arguing in hushed tones in the hallway. “How much longer do we have to endure this, Bro? I’m really starting to break.” It was Chloe’s annoyed voice. “Just hang in there. This is a critical time. Once this period is over, everything will be fine.” Ethan gently persuaded her. “He’s lucid one moment, confused the next. What if he slips up on camera one day and all our previous efforts go to waste?” “Don’t worry, he’s so far gone, he wouldn’t be able to cause any trouble. Just wait patiently.” After confirming the camera captured their conversation, I quietly retreated back to my room. The comments were silent for a moment before someone hesitantly typed: 【Did anyone just hear voices outside?】 【It sounds like the siblings chatting? Too quiet to hear clearly.】 【They’re probably worried about their dad. Taking care of a sick person is hard work, after all.】 【It sounds a bit like complaining, but that’s normal. Anyone would have complaints after caring for someone for so long.】 Seeing that doubts were finally appearing in the comments, a faint smile touched my lips. This was only day one. These two’s true faces would soon be impossible to hide. 0

The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Ethan and Chloe had already set up their camera and were filming me. The two were chatting and laughing, discussing how much money they could make today. Online, they claimed all that money was for my treatment. But in the end, they were spending all *my* retirement money. And the money they earned from the videos had long since gone into their own pockets. I suddenly raised my hand and fiercely swept the water glass on the nightstand to the floor. Chloe’s face stiffened, then instantly plastered on a smile. “It’s okay, Dad, just an accident. We’ll get you clean sheets right away.” Ethan also leaned in, wiping his eyes for the camera. “As long as Dad is comfortable, we’re willing to endure any hardship.” The comments were full of praise. 【What wonderful children. If it were me, I’d have lost my temper already.】 【This dad is too much trouble.】 The camera turned. They stood with their backs to me, changing the sheets, their voices hushed, yet every word was swallowed by the microphone on my glasses. “Such a hassle. If it weren’t for the traffic and the money, who’d want to wait on this old man?” “Hurry up and change it. Don’t let him cause any more trouble. Once the money is ours, I’ll show him.” The live stream momentarily froze. Finally, a few doubtful comments popped up. 【Wait, I think I heard something?】 【Did I mishear? It sounded like they were badmouthing him?】 They couldn’t see the comments in front of me, so they naturally didn’t know that everything was being recorded by me. Before long, they composed themselves again, holding up a piece of paper to film a video. “Everyone, don’t worry, we found a match! Bone marrow transplant can be arranged soon!” They turned the camera to me. “Dad, you finally have a chance to recover. Then we’ll take you on a world trip, and we won’t have to suffer from illness anymore.” The two wiped away tears, looking as if they’d finally seen light after hardship. “We’re still a bit short on surgery fees. We’ll just work extra shifts and sell everything we can, and we’ll have enough.” Ethan and Chloe finished filming and started editing. The so-called matching report was tossed aside. I clearly saw the blurred handwriting and crooked stamp on it. Seeing this, the comments grew more suspicious. 【It feels like a setup, that report looks fake.】 【These children are completely different when the camera is off, so weird.】 While they were out taking a call, I secretly pressed the doctor’s direct line. My attending physician sounded surprised. “Matching? Both of them failed the matching test a week ago. I thought you already knew.” That single sentence hit me, making my whole body go cold. They never intended to save me. The so-called bone marrow donation was a scam from beginning to end. Before long, Mr. Henderson, an old neighbor, rushed in with fruit. Ethan immediately blocked the doorway, a fake smile on his face. “Uncle, Dad just fell asleep, it’s not convenient to see anyone.” “I’ll just take a quick look, I won’t bother him.” Mr. Henderson insisted on entering. Chloe frantically rushed over, pushing him out while giving Ethan a look. “Quick, cover Dad up properly, don’t let him catch a cold.” She spoke with feigned concern, but her hand pressed hard against my ulcerated skin, making me tremble all over. As soon as Mr. Henderson left and the door closed, Ethan’s face instantly changed. “Dad, please don’t do that again. If outsiders find out anything, won’t all our efforts be wasted?” Chloe also stood by, sighing softly. “We’re doing this for your own good, trying to raise more money for your treatment. If you keep acting like this, it makes things very difficult for us.” “If we weren’t thinking about your apartment and savings, which could support your subsequent treatment, we wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble.” His tone held a hint of subtle menace. “Just rest and recover, don’t overthink things, and don’t say anything to outsiders. It’s better for you, and for us.” I didn’t say a word. And the camera on my glasses clearly captured the impatience in his eyes and the falseness in her voice. At the same time, the live stream, which had remained on, completely exploded with comments. 【That tone just now… that wasn’t concern, was it?】 【His eyes were terrifying, where’s the filial piety? That was clearly a threat!】 【I felt something was off before. They only put on a filial act in front of the camera.】 They didn’t realize the live stream from my glasses had gone out of control. After lecturing me for a few minutes, they slammed the door and left. That night, I pretended to be asleep, closing my eyes and listening to them conspire in low voices outside the hallway. “Once the apartment is successfully transferred to our names, don’t let that old neighbor say anything else, to avoid any further complications.” “Don’t worry. Once the old man… then no one will suspect us.” A chill ran from my feet to the top of my head, freezing my limbs. I lay quietly in bed, watching the now out-of-control comments on the live stream, my mind clear. The real show was just beginning. 0

Over the next few days, I deliberately feigned a worsening condition. They thought I was too disoriented to hear or remember anything, so they stopped being cautious, conversing directly by my bedside. “Bro, he won’t last much longer.” Chloe’s voice was full of impatience. Ethan scoffed, kicking the foot of my bed. “Once he hands over the rest of his retirement savings, we’ll just dispose of him. The apartment and savings will all be ours.” I lay there, my body cold. The glasses camera live-streamed every word, every expression, crystal clear. The comments instantly blew up. 【They’re not even pretending anymore! Are these really his biological children? These are demons!】 【I praised their filial piety before, I must have been blind!】 I appeared unconscious, but secretly, I had already sent the live stream recording, bank statements, and the forged matching report. All of it went to Detective Miller, my retired police uncle. As soon as the message was sent, I clutched the fruit knife I had secretly taken from the cafeteria, hiding it under my pillow. To make one last big score, they decided to host a fully live-streamed “filial piety” birthday celebration on my sixtieth birthday. They would publicly announce a successful bone marrow transplant and share the good news at the banquet to scam more donations. As soon as the banquet ended, they planned to eliminate me. Then they would claim I died on the operating table due to transplant failure. They would walk away scot-free. That day, the hospital room was decorated festively with red. Ethan forced a smile. “Dad, happy sixtieth birthday. May you live a hundred years.” Chloe held her phone, live-streaming. “Thank you, everyone, for your continued support! My dad will be fully recovered soon!” The comments were already flooded with bots. But the viewers of my secret live stream tacitly agreed not to expose their true nature. They, too, wanted to see what these two “children” would do. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a menacing-looking stranger standing outside the door—one of their accomplices. A fellow patient and a few enthusiastic netizens came in to wish me a happy birthday. Someone smiled and asked me, “Uncle, your children are so devoted, you’re truly blessed.” I offered a weak smile and a gentle nod, secretly adjusting the camera to high definition. It captured them exchanging glances with the man outside the door and secretly passing him a note. Chloe brought a cake and held it to my mouth. One whiff told me something was wrong; the cream had a strange smell. I pretended to eat it, but spit it out the moment they turned away. The celebration soon ended, this “filial piety” birthday banquet was a complete success. The final act was over. My “children” stopped bothering to hide their true intentions. Ethan looked at his phone, checking the payouts, and scoffed. “Why were the donations from this live stream so low? But with the previous ones, it’s enough for us to make a clean break and disappear overseas.” Chloe, after seeing off the guests one by one at the door, turned her gaze to me. “We’ve been acting for so long, finally no need to pretend. Old man, you should just accept your fate.” The secret live stream instantly erupted. 【Holy sh*t! They’re completely dropping the act! These two aren’t even human!】 【I pitied them before, now I want to slap myself twice!】 I slowly raised my eyes to them. “You thought I wouldn’t recognize you?” “You are not my son and daughter at all. From the first day you stood by my hospital bed, I knew.” Both of them visibly froze, clearly not expecting me to have known the truth all along. After a brief moment of shock, they burst into arrogant laughter. “Didn’t expect you, old man, to be quite clever. Too bad, what good is knowing? You’re still at our mercy.” I used all my strength to question them. “What did you do to my real children?” Chloe leaned closer to me. “Your good children? They’ve long been buried on some distant hillside, their bones probably rotten by now.” The live stream exploded completely. 【Animals! They’re absolute animals!】 【Call the police! Quick, call the police! These are murderers!】 Ethan saw my face turn pale and my breathing become rapid, assuming the drug in the cake was finally taking effect. He leaned in smugly to provoke me. “They were crying and begging us back then, that sight was much more entertaining than you now.” “Just wait patiently. Once that fake surgery tomorrow is over, you can go join them for a family reunion.” With that, he reached out to tie me up. The moment he came closer, I suddenly pulled out the fruit knife hidden in my sleeve. Using all my strength, I plunged it into Ethan.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “418994”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

After I got pregnant, I became incredibly anxious. Every day, I’d text Ethan Vance, asking if he loved me. For the first 99 times, he’d respond gently. Until the 100th time I asked. He suddenly replied with three impatient messages. `[Aria, are you that bored?]` `[Now that your morning sickness is over and the baby isn’t bothering you, you’re going to start bothering me?]` `[If you have so much time, why don’t you look in the mirror and see that face of yours? It looks like a bruised piece of meat.]` I froze. The next second, the messages were unsent, and a voice message popped up. “My apologies, my assistant accidentally sent that. Please don’t mind it.” Whether it was accidental or not didn’t matter anymore. All I knew was, our marriage was completely over. I got up and went to the clinic. When I walked out, my four-month-old baby was gone. By the time I got home, it was pitch black outside. The living room lights were on, and Ethan Vance was sitting on the couch. He looked up when he heard the door, his brows furrowed. “Where have you been? Why are you back so late? Couldn’t you bother to reply to my messages or calls?” I didn’t say anything. I kicked off my shoes and went to pour myself a glass of water. He looked at me, his gaze lingering on my face for a few seconds before he finally spoke: “About what happened this afternoon, I explained it to you. My assistant grabbed the wrong phone.” “She’s already apologized to me, and I gave her a stern talking-to. It won’t happen again.” An assistant, grabbing her boss’s private phone by mistake? I chuckled softly, put down my glass, and looked at him. Ethan Vance was incredibly handsome. I’d known that from the first moment I saw him. Now at thirty-three, he looked better than most men his age. Sitting on the couch in his loungewear, he looked like he’d stepped right out of a magazine. I used to love looking at him, thinking I’d never get tired of it. But today, I suddenly realized that his good looks had nothing to do with me anymore. It was like a beautiful dress in a storefront window. You look at it for a long time through the glass, thinking it’s yours, but you never actually get to hold it. “Ethan,” I spoke, my voice calmer than I expected: “What was your assistant’s name again?” He paused. “Megan. Why?” “How long has she been with you?” “About six months,” he said, then added, “Why are you asking? I told you it was a misunderstanding, didn’t I? Do you have to keep dwelling on it? Can’t you just pretend you didn’t see it?” He fired off four questions in a row. I didn’t answer him, instead continuing: “I remember when she first started, you mentioned she was clumsy, nothing like the efficient type you usually preferred. Then you stopped talking about her, and I thought you’d fired her.” “Turns out you didn’t fire her. And because of her, I’ve noticed that for the past six months, your overtime hours have been getting longer, and your business trips more frequent.” Ethan Vance’s brows furrowed again. “Aria, what exactly are you trying to say?” I smiled. “I’m just stating facts.” His frown deepened, and his tone became impatient: “Aria, I know pregnancy is hard, and your emotions are all over the place. I get that. But you can’t be paranoid over a few accidentally sent messages. It’s not good for you, and it’s not good for the baby.” Baby. That word was like a needle, piercing straight through my heart. How long had we been married? Four years, I think.

When I was twenty-two, I secretly came back from overseas to have some fun. At a friend’s party, I fell for Ethan Vance at first sight and pursued him. At first, he thought I was too young. Later, I relentlessly pursued him, laying my heart bare. I sent him flowers, gave him jewelry, and even proposed to him. People gossiped, saying I was too bold, too eager. But I didn’t care. Shouldn’t you be brave when you love someone? Later, we got together. We dated for a year before getting married. For four years of marriage, every single day, I was the one carefully giving my all. He’d respond with just a little bit, and I’d feel like my whole world lit up. It wasn’t until I got pregnant that I noticed he seemed happy, even giving me more attention than usual. But deep down, I suddenly started to feel uneasy. I kept pestering him, asking if he loved me. Though he never said “I love you,” he’d gently reply with “I’ll come home early.” Until this time, his private phone, which he never even let me touch, was taken and used to send multiple messages. Only then did I understand. He’d never truly cared about me, not once. But it was fine; it was over now. I was tired of loving him. Seeing that I remained silent, he probably thought I’d given in. He walked over to me, bending down as if to hug me. “Alright, don’t overthink things. The housekeeper made you some soup; drink a little and get some rest. Tomorrow’s the weekend, I’ll take you shopping…” “I aborted the baby.” My words were barely a whisper. He froze. His arm was still in mid-air, poised to hug me. The living room was so quiet you could hear the wall clock ticking. One tick, two ticks, three ticks. Then he straightened up, looking down at me, as if he hadn’t understood. “What did you say?” I looked up, meeting his gaze, and said, word for word: “I said, the baby’s gone.” “After you sent those messages, I went to the clinic and had the procedure done.” Ethan Vance’s face gradually turned white. In the five years I’d known him, I’d almost never seen him lose his composure. He was always in control in front of everyone, emotionally stable like a finely tuned machine. But at this moment, that machine had jammed. I found it oddly refreshing and kept watching him. “You aborted the baby without consulting me?” My lips remained curved. “Yes.” “Aria.” He called my name, his voice trembling: “That was my baby too.” I shrugged indifferently. “I know.” “You know?” His voice suddenly rose, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot: “You knew, and you still went to the clinic by yourself and aborted the baby, without even telling me!” “Aria! Do you even see me as your husband?” He had never yelled at me like this before. In our occasional arguments, he would at most just go silent with a cold expression, waiting for me to back down first. At that moment, I suddenly laughed: “Ethan, so you *can* get angry? You *can* get red-eyed? You *can* have moments like this when you lose your composure? I thought you were only capable of giving me the silent treatment.” Ethan Vance froze, then instantly clamped a hand on my jaw, his eyes blazing with fury. “Aria! What exactly are you trying to pull? I told you those messages weren’t from me. Why won’t you just believe me!” “And that wasn’t just your baby, it was mine too. How dare you get rid of it by yourself without consulting me?” “Since you’re so capable of aborting my child on your own, then you better make me another one!”

He suddenly lowered his head and bit my lip. A metallic taste quickly filled my mouth, and I winced in pain. In our one year of dating and four years of marriage, he had never initiated a kiss. Even during our most intimate moments, I was always the one to initiate the kiss. There was a time I dreamed he’d be more proactive. But now, I just felt disgusted. I bit him back, hard. He cried out in pain and roughly shoved me away. I looked up, my eyes red, staring fixedly at him: “If you want a baby, go find another woman to have one with. I’m sure your assistant would be thrilled to have your baby.” Ethan Vance froze: “What did you say?” My eyes red, I shrieked: “I said, if you want a baby, go have one with your assistant! Don’t you dare disgust me!” “Ethan, you truly, truly disgust me now!” He stared intently at me, like he wanted to pierce right through me. Three seconds later, he suddenly laughed. “Fine! Since you’re so generous, I’ll give you what you want.” “Don’t you dare regret it! And don’t come back crying and begging me!” The door slammed shut with a heavy thud. Silence fell. I looked at the closed door, tears silently streaming down my face, until finally, I burst into loud sobs. As if to cry out all the grievances of so many years. Ethan Vance, this time, I won’t regret it. And I won’t beg you ever again. I wiped away my tears and made a call. “Marcus, pull the funding we gave Ethan.” Ethan Vance didn’t come back that night. The next morning, I went to a lawyer’s office to prepare divorce papers. It was the weekend, so he wasn’t at work. But I didn’t know where to find him. Just then, my phone popped up with a video. Immediately followed by Chloe’s frantic voice message. “Aria! Isn’t this your super-cool, unapproachable husband?” “I saw him at The Galleria with some woman! He even knelt down to tie her shoelace for her!” “You’re only four months pregnant, and he’s already out chasing other women? That asshole, has he no shame?! Holy crap, I’m going to kill those two scumbags!” I tapped on the video. In the clip, the man who always acted so superior around me was kneeling down to tie a girl’s shoelace, just because of a few playful words from her. The girl laughed and filmed him with her phone, and he was smiling reluctantly too. My heart still couldn’t help but ache. I used to wish for that, too. But back then, he always maintained an aloof posture. He never flat-out refused, but he never reciprocated either. Leaving me to awkwardly find an excuse to back down. I forced a smile and replied to Chloe. “We’re getting a divorce.” No sooner had I sent the message than an unknown number called. “Ms. Vance, your husband and a friend have had a disagreement. Please come to the police station as soon as possible.” Chloe was impulsive, but I hadn’t expected her to act so quickly. I quickly hailed a taxi and went there. As I arrived at the entrance, the noisy commotion was still ongoing. “Ethan Vance! How could you do this to Aria? She’s only four months pregnant, and you couldn’t resist going out and cheating! And you openly took your mistress shopping, tying her shoelace! Why don’t you just drop dead!” “Our Aria was so good to you, loved you so much…” “Wasn’t she practically throwing herself at me?” Ethan Vance interrupted her, his face cold. I froze in place. Ethan Vance’s voice continued: “Did I ask her to be good to me? Did I ask her to love me? Wasn’t she the one who was desperate, who practically climbed into my bed, who married me at the flick of my wrist? So, what’s her kindness got to do with me? I don’t love her, why should I respond to her? Now that she’s pregnant, do I have to stay loyal to her forever?”

Chloe was furious; if the officers hadn’t held her back, she would have lunged at him. “Ethan Vance! Do you have any conscience?! If it wasn’t for Aria back then, you’d be behind bars by now…” “Chloe!” I cut her off, walking in and looking at the police officer. “I’m taking her.” Before the officer could speak, Ethan Vance said in a deep voice: “Are they just going to leave after hitting my person?” I looked at the woman next to him, eyes red, covering her face and leaning into him, then finally at Ethan. “What do you want?” Ethan Vance’s eyes were cold and narrowed. “Your friend slapped Megan, now I want her to return it.” Chloe looked like she’d heard a joke. “Let her hit me, you think…” “Who said I want you to return it?” Ethan Vance cut Chloe off, his gaze fixed on my face. “Aria, your friend made a mistake for you, so you should be the one to pay the price.” “You son of a bi—” Chloe trembled with rage, rushing forward to tear apart those two scumbags. The next second, I spoke. “Okay.” Chloe whipped her head around: “Aria, are you crazy? He cheated! He wronged you!” I ignored her and walked up to Ethan Vance and Megan. “Do it.” Megan’s eyes were red, and she said softly: “Mr. Vance, please don’t make your wife uncomfortable, I…” *Slap!* Before she could finish, Ethan Vance grabbed her hand and harshly swung it across my face. A burning, stinging pain instantly spread. After the slap, I turned to leave. “Did I say you could leave?” Ethan Vance’s tone was icy cold: “She slapped Megan once. I want you to return it ten times over.” He pulled Megan forward. Before I could react, slaps rained down, one after another. *Slap! Slap! Slap…* Nine slaps, each one heavier, each one crueler than the last. With each blow, what little love remained in my heart dissipated a little more. After the final slap, I felt nothing at all. A warm liquid flowed from the corner of my mouth, and my mouth was filled with the taste of rust. None of the nearby officers dared to interfere. Because the one doing the hitting was Ethan Vance, who practically ran the city. After hitting me, Ethan Vance rubbed Megan’s hand. He warned me coldly: “Keep your friend in check. Next time, don’t let her bark like a mad dog and scare my person.” With that, he pulled Megan, ready to leave. “Ethan.” I called out to him, taking out the divorce papers: “Let’s get a divorce.” Ethan Vance looked incredulous: “You want to divorce me?” I nodded: “Yes.” He stared at me for a full ten seconds, then laughed. “Aria, I haven’t even settled the score with you for aborting our baby behind my back. Now you’re coming at me with divorce, playing hard to get?” I forced a smile: “You’re overthinking it.” Ethan Vance’s face instantly darkened. He snatched the divorce papers, quickly signed his name, and then harshly slapped them back onto my face. “Aria, a friendly reminder: without me, you’re nothing.” “And when you come crawling back to me crying for forgiveness, I won’t even spare you a glance.” At the hospital, Chloe cried while applying medicine to my face. “How dare he hit you? What right does he have to hit you? If it wasn’t for you back then, that Ethan Vance would be behind bars, and he wouldn’t be here throwing his weight around and bullying you!” “That asshole! I’m definitely going to find a way to get revenge! I want him dead, I want to avenge you!” I chuckled a little, “I’ve already told Marcus to pull the funding.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “418993”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

When I fell into the ocean, my childhood sweetheart, Ethan, swam towards my cousin, leaving me to be swept away by the waves. My family thought I was dead. Ethan married my cousin, Tiffany. Three years later, I returned home, and my parents’ first reaction wasn’t joy. Instead, they were worried about upsetting Tiffany and causing her to have a miscarriage. My mom’s eyes darted away, and my dad’s face held a warning. After Tiffany moved in, my family forbade me from arguing with her, including over Ethan, whom I loved. But they didn’t know I’d lost my memory after falling into the sea. I now had a fiancé who loved me and a new family. It was the third year since I fell into the ocean. My mom, eyes swollen, took my hand. “Elara, don’t blame them. No one expected you to come back.” I pulled my hand back, feeling a little awkward. My dad slammed his hand on the table. “The search teams went out multiple times and found nothing. It’s your own bad luck; who else is there to blame?” “Tiffany married Ethan and she’s pregnant. When they get here, don’t say anything to upset her.” I looked at the fork that had fallen to the floor. A little lost. Ethan? It sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t recall much. After drifting at sea for three days and three nights, Liam Hayes saved me. He said I hit a reef and lost my memory. It wasn’t until recently that I recalled I might have a family. I hadn’t planned on coming back. But Liam’s family was so loving. They didn’t believe their own parents would abandon a child, unless by accident. Watching my mom guiltily turn her head away and my dad’s unwelcoming expression, I instinctively felt that my subconscious had been right. But, it didn’t matter. I’d already died once. I’ll love those who love me, and ignore those who don’t. I said calmly, “Okay, I won’t say anything out of line.” My dad choked on his words. My mom put some food on my plate, sighing. “Elara, these past three years haven’t been easy for anyone.” “Tiffany was with us all this time, and Ethan felt so guilty about not saving you.” “You don’t know how much they suffered. Ethan lost over twenty pounds, and Tiffany forced a smile to reassure us.” I picked out the cilantro I didn’t like. Suddenly, I missed the meals Liam’s mom used to make. Half an hour later, the guests finally arrived. Tiffany Thompson touched her slightly bulging stomach, her face filled with guilt. “Mom, Dad, it’s all my fault.” “My stomach hurt a bit before we left, and Ethan was too worried. He insisted we go to the hospital to get it checked.” Seeing her pale face, my mom quickly asked Ethan, “What did the doctor say? Is everything okay?” I glanced over inadvertently. Ethan’s eyes were a little red, and he quickly avoided my gaze. How strange. I said I didn’t remember Ethan. My mom thought I was just being stubborn. She said we used to be inseparable, like two peas in a pod, even sharing a bed when we were kids. “Elara, let’s talk things out nicely and part amicably. It’s better for everyone.” She said “good” so many times. But she never once asked: “You were missing for three years; how have you been out there?” When I was rescued, my phone and wallet weren’t with me. Did I have money? What did I eat, what did I wear, how did I live? I wasn’t complaining. There was no disappointment. The Hayes family had been so good to me. So good that I had come to believe I had always belonged to their family. I was just curious. How could parents be so cold to their own child? From the moment she entered, Tiffany kept looking my way, noticing my glance at Ethan. Her expression grew agitated, mixed with a hint of sorrow. “Elara, I’m so sorry.” “It was an accident when I pulled you into the water. I thought Ethan would save you first.” Ethan’s eyes completely panicked, afraid to look at me. My dad interrupted. “Tiffany, you don’t need to apologize to her!” “Elara must have pushed you first, and you lost your balance, pulling her down with you.” “It was only right for Ethan to save you first.” My mom gently stroked Tiffany’s head. “Silly girl, Elara and you are good sisters; she won’t hold it against you.” “Rest easy and take care of your pregnancy. Your uncle Richard and I will handle everything.” Oh, my God. I knew I was terrified of water. Why would I even go to the beach? Turns out, someone pulled me into the water! Seeing that I didn’t speak, Tiffany’s face turned stark white, as if she had genuinely done something terribly wrong to me. But, if she truly wanted to apologize. How was it that every time she spoke, my family blamed me for being difficult? I didn’t remember what she did. But the feeling was incredibly uncomfortable. My dad’s voice grew even angrier. “You’re back now, so let’s turn the page on this. No one is allowed to bring it up again.” “Okay!” My dad was terrifying. He had none of Robert Hayes’ gentle demeanor. My mom was biased too. I, the victim, hadn’t even spoken, and she’d already easily forgiven them on my behalf. Whatever! Anyway, I didn’t remember anything. Perhaps, thanks to her pulling me, I completely forgot about my parents.

I got up and went into the kitchen. Ethan followed me in. Our eyes met, and I felt incredibly awkward. “Elara, how have you been these past three years?” “Pretty good.” “You weren’t dead. Why didn’t you ever come back? Was it because I didn’t save you?” I forced myself to answer. “Something like that!” “Mainly, I had amnesia and completely forgot I even had relatives.” Ethan’s face instantly froze. He wanted to speak again. Tiffany burst in. Seeing us talking, she called out intimately, “Honey, I want shrimp. Can you peel them for me?” Ethan followed her out. I glanced at the stove. I remembered Liam’s mom saying that steamed egg custard shouldn’t be left on the stove too long, or it’ll get rubbery. So, I took it out. My mom saw what I was holding and looked anxious. “Tiffany is pregnant; this bowl of sea cucumber and egg custard is specially for her.” Tiffany’s eyes lowered, showing a hint of forbearance. “Elara suffered a lot out there. I don’t need it.” My dad reacted as if he had some kind of post-traumatic stress. “She chose not to come back herself; what does that have to do with you? Don’t give it to her.” He was so fierce. I felt a little angry. But Liam’s mom said that when you’re doing well, it’s easy to be generous and not dwell on trivial matters. These past three years, they had given me so much care and love, making me gentle-tempered. I smiled slightly. “I wasn’t going to eat it. I just saw it was done steaming and helped take it out.” Ethan looked at me and mumbled instinctively, “Elara, you’ve changed so much.” I blurted out, “Have I?” My dad took a small sip of wine, saying contentedly, “Before, you always competed with your cousin for everything. Looks like suffering out there taught you some manners.” I was speechless. This neighborhood isn’t cheap! How can they act like a bowl of sea cucumber is such a big deal, making such a fuss about who gets to eat it? I yearned for Liam’s mom’s cooking again. Silverwood was near the ocean, and she often made big seafood feasts. Steamed grouper, vermicelli scallops with garlic, salt-baked mantis shrimp, spicy blue crabs. Seeing how much I loved them, the whole family would compete to put food on my plate. Tiffany had a prenatal class appointment, so she grabbed Ethan and left in a hurry. My mom praised him for being thoughtful, like a good father-to-be. Ethan gave me a complicated look. I pretended not to see it. Looking at my dark, cramped room, I figured I wouldn’t be back often, so I turned on the light and started clearing out things I didn’t want. My mom looked surprised. “Elara, isn’t this your favorite dress? Why is it on the floor?” She seemed to be reminiscing. “At first, I only bought one for Tiffany, and you were so mad you didn’t eat dinner for two days.” Was I really that childish? Liam’s younger brother, Caleb, would definitely tease me if he knew. I casually picked it up and said indifferently, “I don’t remember! That style is so outdated. If you don’t want to waste it, just use it as a rag!” My mom looked hurt. In her eyes, even if I never won against my cousin, I still showed an expectation for my parents, hoping they could be fair, at least buying each of us one. Yet now, she saw no ripple of emotion in my eyes. I packed a large bag of old things, ready to call someone to pick them up. Passing Tiffany’s room, it was beautifully decorated. Even though she had moved out, everything was neat and tidy, the duvet smelling of sunshine. Unlike my room, which was small, cramped, and dusty enough to make you choke. My mom’s expression was awkward, and she eagerly explained, “Tiffany loves cleanliness, so I tidied her room whenever I had time.” “Tomorrow I’ll find a cleaner. I’ll buy you the bedding you used to like, sweetie.” “No need.” I came back to Fairview to finalize my official records and change my registered address. Liam’s family had initially hoped I would get married with my parents present, so I wouldn’t have any regrets. But it seemed utterly unnecessary now. My phone chimed. The contact was labeled “My clingy puppy fiancé.” He sent several messages in a row: “Babe, are you happy seeing your parents?” “Why haven’t you given me my goodnight kiss yet? Has anyone bothered you?” “I bought your mom a jade necklace, and I heard your dad likes off-road vehicles, so I ordered one around two hundred thousand.” “Do you think the gifts are generous enough? My parents also want to send a carload of stuff.” I thought for a moment, then rapidly typed. I only replied with seven words. Liam was so startled he immediately called.

“Babe, what do you mean, ‘I don’t think they deserve it’?” “Has someone been bothering you?” Liam was terrified I’d suffer even the slightest grievance. I told him the truth. The staff’s words echoed in my ears: “Your parents had your registration officially cancelled.” “Generally, if someone is missing for four years, you can apply. But since you fell into the sea, considered an accident, your family could apply to the court in as little as two years.” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. A trace of doubt surfaced in my mind. Why was my dad so eager to declare me dead after only two years of my disappearance? On the other end of the phone, Liam gritted his teeth. “That’s outrageous! How could they do that to you?” He sounded a hundred times angrier than me. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t be there for you.” Liam’s branch office was in the next city. He wanted to come home with me but had an important client meeting. I told him to focus on his work. “Babe, are you sad?” Not really. It just felt strange to be inexplicably declared dead. I didn’t know how to explain it. I wasn’t particularly bothered. But there was a dull ache. I went to the courthouse to revoke the death decree. On the way, I ran into Ethan. He stared at me intently, his eyes swirling with an unreadable emotion. “Elara, after your uncle Richard cancelled your registration, I went to the beach to lay flowers whenever I had time.” I nodded, feeling incredibly awkward. “I wasn’t dead. Did I make you waste money?” He quickly shook his head, then added, as if explaining, “Tiffany and I only got together after your registration was canceled.” “By then, we were both barely holding on, and thankfully we became each other’s support.” “That’s good. You two look like a great match.” Ethan’s eyes turned red. “Elara, I know you loved me most. But Tiffany and I are married; I can’t betray her.” “Please don’t take it out on Tiffany; she’s fragile and pregnant with my child. She can’t handle any stress.” I looked at him, bewildered. “I’m not doing anything!” Ethan’s expression stiffened slightly. “That’s good! When the baby is born, Tiffany hopes you and Mom can help take care of it.” He seemed to be testing my reaction. I shook my head. “No, I’ll be leaving Fairview soon.” Ethan’s face instantly paled, and he grabbed my hand. “Say that again?” “I finally waited for you to come back; why are you leaving again?” I pulled my hand away with force. “My fiancé is in Silverwood. Isn’t it normal for me to leave with him?” Ethan’s voice was strained, trembling slightly. “Impossible. You said you’d marry me when we grew up… How could you choose someone else?” I looked at him, at a loss for words. “Uh, your name is Ethan, right?” “To me, you’re no different from a stranger now.” “You married my cousin, so don’t say such strange things.” “My fiancé is a jealous type. If he beats you up, it’s not his responsibility.” Ethan’s body trembled as he looked at me, his eyes reddening inch by inch. Is something wrong with this guy? Is he going crazy? I quickly walked away.

I don’t know if Ethan was bad luck. Soon after, I bumped into someone else. When she finally saw my face, She looked like she’d seen a ghost, screaming loudly. “Elara, I’m sorry. Even though we’re rivals, it’s only professionally. Please don’t come looking for me in broad daylight!” “I’m terrified of ghosts. I’ll go to the temple tomorrow to burn incense for you.” Me: … After all that fuss, it was just a misunderstanding. Seeing that I had a shadow while standing in the sun, Chloe Foster finally calmed down, patting her chest. “It’s not just me overreacting; everyone at the TV station thought you were dead.” “Your dad showed up at the director’s office with your death certificate and black-and-white photo, causing a huge scene.” “He claimed you fell into the sea by accident while interviewing fishermen and insisted that Tiffany take over your job, threatening to cause trouble every day if not.” To prove I wasn’t a ghost, Chloe dragged me to the station. I hadn’t worked there long. But I had a good education and strong work ethic, so my colleagues liked me. Everyone was complaining about Tiffany. “She can’t even edit a script in a day. When she messes up, all she does is cry, adding so much to our workload.” “If it weren’t for your sake, and the fact that her fiancé brought in advertising, she would have been fired long ago.” I couldn’t help but laugh wryly, buying my colleagues bubble tea. My mood on the way home suddenly felt like I was going to a funeral. As soon as I entered the house, a cup was suddenly thrown towards the doorway. I narrowly dodged it. Then I saw my dad, without even asking what happened, yelling at me. “Elara, look at what you’ve done. You just had to go to the TV station and embarrass your cousin.” My mom looked at me with displeasure, her tone full of disapproval and blame. “Tiffany is pregnant and often takes time off, so her colleagues are already jealous. Now that they know you’re not dead, but she’s taken your position, the boss will definitely make things difficult for her.” Tiffany’s eyes were red, looking so wronged she was about to cry. “Elara, I didn’t mean to take over your job.” “Uncle Richard said it’s best to keep opportunities within the family, and that a radio job is hard to get and brings Ethan prestige, so I agreed.” My dad rushed to cancel my registration to clear the way for Tiffany. I thought for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh. “Tiffany, your grades were so bad, how could you possibly handle it? Be careful not to take on a role you’re not qualified for. You might just bring trouble upon yourself.” She looked anxious. “How do you know my grades were bad? Did you remember something?” “No! I saw your old test papers while packing. Your essays were always miles off-topic, and you couldn’t even get the basic literature questions right.” My dad noticed her discomfort and was about to scold me again. Tiffany, afraid I’d reveal more, quickly tried to appease him. “Uncle Richard, Elara misunderstood; that’s all in the past.” “Mr. Hayes from Zenith Corp rarely makes appearances; he’s a finance mogul the station has long wanted to interview.” “Thanks to Ethan collaborating with him, we got in touch. I actually contacted him directly a few days ago.” Her voice suddenly rose, and she glanced at me. “I will prove to all of you that I won’t do any worse than anyone else.” My dad looked relieved, and my mom was proud of her. I listened, utterly bewildered. Zenith Corp? It sounded like a branch company under the Hayes Group. Was the Mr. Hayes she spoke of Liam, or his distant cousin, Daniel, who was dealing with embezzlement issues?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “418992”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

The Don who killed seven of my exes just to have me — yet stood by and let his side piece flaunt a positive pregnancy test in my face. When I dated, he kidnapped my boyfriend. When I got engaged, he chopped off my fiancé’s hands. So I drugged him, took three hundred sixty-five filthy photos of his sleeping body, and leaked every single one online. He woke up, wrapped a hand around my throat, and kissed me laughing. “That’s my girl. The rose I raised myself. We were always meant to bleed together.” I laughed too. God help me, I agreed. That was eight years ago. Eight years of blood, bullets, and a bed neither of us ever left empty. Nothing on earth could pry us apart. Until her. Sienna Moretti. Soft hands. Soft eyes. No blood under her nails. I’m at the black-market clinic for my tenth round of fertility treatment when she walks in, cradling a swollen belly like a prize. “You must be Christian’s sister,” she purrs. “I hear you kill people for sport. No wonder your womb won’t take.” I just nod. I don’t even blink. She knows what I am. She walked in here anyway. That’s not courage. That’s an invitation. I have her strapped to the operating table within minutes. The doctor doesn’t ask questions. He never does. I snap a picture of the bloody little thing they pull out of her and text it to Christian. Got your gift. I love it. Ten minutes later, every soul in the building has been cleared out by his men. He storms in with a Glock in his hand and fresh blood still drying on his collar. “Have you lost your mind?” “Wasn’t this your gift to me? I opened it. You’re not happy?” His jaw locks. His eyes—those cold dead eyes I’ve watched empty a hundred men—turn red as he stares at the operating room door. “Elena. She’s just a girl. You didn’t need to go this far.” “Just a girl?” I light a cigarette, let the smoke curl between us. “She knew I get off on killing. I figured you sent her over so I could blow off some steam.” I lean in close. “Tell me, big brother. Did I read it wrong? She wasn’t a present. She was your new mistress.” The fury drains out of him. Something worse replaces it. Guilt. He shoves past me into the operating room. The girl is already awake and screaming, clawing at her empty, bleeding stomach. “Christian! She killed our baby! Kill her, kill her!” He scoops her up like she’s made of glass and presses his gun against my forehead. “Elena. You went too far.” I laugh. I actually laugh. I push the barrel aside with one finger and blow smoke into his face. “So what now? You gonna put one in me to avenge that little bastard?” I trail my fingers down Sienna’s bloody thigh and slide the blade from my garter. “Or do you want to gut me too? Even the score for your lamb?” The knife is already moving. Sliding into her fresh wound, twisting just enough. She goes quiet. Out cold. “Sorry, brother. There’s nothing in mine to take.” His men swarm me, guns drawn from every angle. But Christian just stares at me. And then he smiles. He waves them off. “Out. All of you. I didn’t call you here.” “Elena. Well played.” “Right back at you, brother. You taught me everything I know.” Eight years. Ten dead boyfriends. That’s how long it took him to turn me into this. The night he made me his, he wrapped my hand around the hilt of his knife and drove it through my fiancé’s heart together. He whispered against my ear, “Once you become me, no one else will ever be good enough.” He pulled me down off my white pedestal and into the dirt. The white roses turned red. The stain never washed out. And now he wants something clean? That’s a joke. “What, brother? Disappointed I accepted your gift? You’re right, I should’ve gone further. You always say a real Vance leaves nothing standing. I’ll do better next time.” He stares at me for a long moment. Then he carries her out. “Elena. Remember this. We’re not done.” The consequences come faster than I expected.

That same night, my doctor calls. The one who’s done all ten rounds of IVF on me. Christian has shut down every treatment. He’s moving the doctor to the estate to take care of Sienna. He’s even confiscated my psychiatric meds. The fragile little lamb needs them more, apparently. When his men leave, I’m staring at the ceramic pieces in the display case. The ones Christian and I made by hand when we were young and stupid and in love. Marco is shaking with rage as he packs them into a box. “Miss Elena, the Don’s lost his mind. Turning on you for some outsider? If it weren’t for you, he’d be rotting in a ditch a dozen times over.” “He’s playing with a new toy,” I tell him, smiling. “Let him play. When he’s done, I’ll bury what’s left of her.” “Throw those out. And bring me his wine collection.” I sit in the moonlight with a glass of red and look at Christian’s prized bottles. Vintage Bordeaux. Sixty-thousand-dollar Burgundies. A whole cellar of them. Pretty things are always so easy to break. I pick up a hammer. One. Two. Three. In ten minutes, two million dollars worth of wine is a sticky red lake on the marble floor. Marco rushes over. “Watch your feet, Miss Elena. Don’t cut yourself on this junk. It’s not worth it.” I snap a picture and send it to Christian. Not loud enough. Buy me more. He doesn’t text back. He video calls. Sienna’s smug little face fills the screen. “What, disappointed it’s me?” “I should thank you, really. If you hadn’t done what you did, I’d never have moved into Christian’s penthouse. He didn’t leave me after the miscarriage. He’s actually softer with me now. Guilt does wonderful things to a man.” She fakes a yawn, tugging her collar down so I can see the fresh kiss marks he left across her chest. “Sorry, can’t chat. Christian wants to make it up to me again tonight.” “You really are as filthy as they say, Elena. No wonder he can’t stand you.” I smile. “Is that right? Sweetheart, clean things don’t live long around the Vances.” Marco’s face goes black with fury. “Let me handle her, Miss Elena. Quiet. Clean.” I wave him off, swinging on the porch swing. “She’s just a girl. I’ve already wrapped a present for her.” If she’s smart, she’ll understand who she’s playing with. If she’s not, I’ll teach her. A month passes. Christian doesn’t come home once. I know my husband. He collects things. Wine. Art. Women. So I buy a ticket to the biggest underground auction of the season. He’s there. Of course he is. Sienna is glued to his arm. “Elena. What a coincidence. What brings you?” “Did someone tell you there’d be a gift for you tonight?” I lean back in my chair. “Tell me, sweetheart. Pregnant again? Already?” Her smile cracks. Her eyes go wet. Christian gives me a warning look. “Elena. Watch yourself. You’re scaring her.” That’s funny. I once gutted twelve men in our foyer five months pregnant, and he kissed the blood off my face and called me his good girl. “Just here to restock, brother?” I murmur. “Makes sense. Your cellar’s looking awfully empty.” His jaw tightens. He looks at Sienna. She mumbles something about the photos I sent—she deleted them because she didn’t think they mattered. “Don’t make decisions for me again,” he says coldly. Then he sees how upset she looks, and his voice goes soft. “It’s fine. Just don’t do it again.” A dozen lots come and go. Then the headline piece. The lights dim. Three hundred sixty-five photos of Sienna fill the screen. Every position. Every angle. Every filthy little secret she thought was private. Her scream tears through the ballroom. “What is this! How did you—” Christian kicks the door of my booth open. “Elena. Pull them down. Now.” I nod at the auctioneer. He clears his throat. “My apologies, Don Vance. These are tonight’s featured lot. Starting bid: two million.” I tap my fingers against the table and watch his face. Rage. Disbelief. Hatred. But not a single drop of guilt. “You’ve gone too far.” “She’s just a girl!” I smile, wide and innocent. “So what do you want me to do, brother? The bidding’s already open. My opening offer is ten million. Care to match?” “Otherwise, who knows where these end up.” He slams the door behind him. A minute later, the booth next door bids back. Every time I raise, he adds a hundred grand. Eighty million dollars later, I let him win. I lean back, satisfied. Bleeding him was only step one. A text buzzes on my phone. Unknown number. Watch your back, Elena. You’re next.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260624iurB7qEX2n 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni134024”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

The pregnant woman next to me holds up a lipstick and asks the room if her husband is cheating. I recognize it. It’s mine. “Found this in his coat pocket last night,” she says, holding it up between two fingers. “Be honest with me, ladies. Is he cheating on me?” My eyes lock on the tube. The casing is scuffed and worn, and there—right on the side—is the Hello Kitty sticker I pressed on five years ago. That’s my lipstick. Before I can breathe, another woman laughs and points at the lock screen of her phone—a wedding photo. “Mrs. Chase, stop it. You and Sterling have been married almost three years. He treats you like you’re made of glass. There’s no way he’s cheating.” I follow her finger to the screen. The groom in the photo is my husband. My delivery-driver husband. The man I’ve been married to for five years. Sterling Chase. The room goes underwater. Their voices sound miles away. The pregnant woman catches my elbow. “Hey—you okay?” I nod. I can’t speak. My eyes drop to her left hand, and the diamond on her ring finger nearly blinds me. She catches me looking and smiles, holding her hand out a little farther. “Pretty, isn’t it? My husband flew it in from overseas. There’s not another one like it in the country.” “Of course it’s pretty,” another woman chimes in, voice thick with envy. “An six-million-dollar piece. You said you liked it, and Sterling bought it on the spot. He is obsessed with you.” Six million. I don’t even dream about it. Because I argue with cashiers over two bucks of vegetables. This is the man who couldn’t make rent? The man I’ve been married to for five years? “Obsessed? That’s an understatement,” another mom-to-be says. “Their wedding three years ago cost two million. The day they signed the papers, he transferred every asset he owned into her name.” “And since she got pregnant? Forget it. He’s got nurseries set up in three rooms—boys’ clothes, girls’ clothes, bottles, toys, you name it. Through age ten. The man is dying to be a dad.” The whole room laughs. I’m freezing. My fingertips are shaking. For five years, Sterling has refused to give me a baby. He said we couldn’t afford it. He said he didn’t want me or the child to suffer. He said wait, just wait a little longer. Three years ago, when I got pregnant the first time, he begged me for three nights straight. I cried the whole way to the clinic. Alone. I thought he was scared of the cost. I thought maybe he just didn’t like kids. Turns out he has money. Turns out he loves kids. He just doesn’t want them with me. My nose burns. I tip my head down before the tears come and pull out my phone. I text the only friend I have at the courthouse. [Can you check something? Is my marriage to Sterling Chase legally on file?] The reply comes quickly: [Yes. It’s real.] I should feel relieved. Instead my chest caves in. So what if it’s real? This woman in front of me—even if her marriage to him is the fake one—she has everything I don’t. The Mrs. Chase title. The six-million-dollar ring. The two-million-dollar wedding. The man who treats her like glass. And me? I have nothing. My phone buzzes in my hand. Incoming call: Star I stare at the screen. I can’t make my thumb move. And then, beside me, her voice goes sharp. “Star?” She’s looking right at my screen. “Your husband’s name is Star too?”

My fingers tremble around the phone. Before I can answer, the ringing dies. Three rings. Cut off. A second later, another phone rings. Hers. She swipes to answer on speaker without thinking, and his voice pours into the room. “Hey, baby. Class done?” I stop breathing. “There’s a storm coming. Don’t move. I’m coming to get you.” She giggles, scolding him. “Babe, no. You have that big meeting today. I’ll just grab a cab.” “Not a chance,” Sterling says. His voice is warm, possessive, the way it used to be in my kitchen at midnight. “No meeting matters more than you. I’m not letting you go home alone in this.” The call ends. The other women start teasing her about how lucky she is. I sit very still. Year one of our marriage, I worked a night shift on top of my day job. No matter how late I got off, Sterling would be waiting outside. I’d tell him to sleep, that I felt awful dragging him out of bed. He’d pull me into his chest and laugh. “Sleep? Not a chance. I don’t care how tired I am. I’m not letting you go home alone.” Back then, I thought I’d marry this man a hundred times over. Now he’s saying the same words, in the same voice, to someone else. My vision blurs, then sharpens. My phone buzzes. [Star: Babe, last-minute overtime. Can’t make it home tonight. I’ll come next time.] [Star: Drive safe in the rain. Take care of yourself.] Three years ago, he took a delivery route in another city. Said he could earn more there. Said once he saved enough for a down payment, he’d come home and buy us a real house. A real life. I believed him. I waited. We saw each other a few times a month, if that. I held onto every promise like it was sacred. Working overtime. He’s used that line so many times I lost count. And every time, I forgave him. Sometimes I cried for him. For how hard he was working. For us. Five years of waiting. Five years of saving up hope. And what was waiting on the other end? Another wife. Another house. Another life. He built me a fairy tale he never planned to make real. He’s never going to tell me who he actually is. Because in his real life, there’s no room for me. My eyes drift down to her bump. “How… how far along are you?” She rubs her stomach, and her whole face softens. “Just past five months.” She tilts her head. “I don’t think we’ve met. Are you new? I’m Evelyn Lockwood. Call me Evie.” Evie. Late-night phone calls. Evie in his contacts. He told me she was a pushy boss. I never questioned it. Someone elbows me. “She asked your name, hon. You with us?” I lift my chin. “Aria.” Evelyn’s eyebrows twitch a little. “Aria? Pretty.” A woman squints at the lipstick still in Evelyn’s lap, then sucks in a breath. “Wait—look at the bottom of the lipstick. Is that… an A engraved there?” The room goes quiet. Every single eye lands on me.

The silence stretches. “Wow, what are the odds,” the woman says slowly. “Same letter and everything. This wouldn’t happen to be yours, would it, Aria?” My face goes stiff. Every breath is heavy. Then she bursts out laughing at her own joke. “Listen to me. What am I even saying? Like she’d know Mr. Chase. Girl probably doesn’t even know what he looks like.” Right. Of course. A woman like me—worn jeans, gray T-shirt, pilled socks—couldn’t possibly cross paths with Sterling Chase. I see Evelyn’s shoulders relax. The little crease between her brows smooths out. But she’s not done with me. Her smile turns sweet in that careful, practiced way rich women have. “Ladies, leave Aria alone. She seems like a good girl. She’d never do something that nasty.” Then, louder, for the room. “Whoever the lipstick belongs to—she’s just some cheap mistress. Trash. She’s not making waves.” Evelyn picks up the lipstick, glances at it once, and tosses it into the trash can like it’s a used tissue. I watch it land. Something in my chest tears wide open. Sterling gave me that lipstick on our wedding day. A five-dollar drugstore tube. I kept it like it was a diamond. Five years. I’d panic if it scratched. And there it sits in the trash. Right next to my marriage. Both of them garbage. Both of them are jokes. Evelyn’s eyes drift over me—slow, neutral, the way you’d look at something at a yard sale. In a room full of designer maternity wear, I stick out like a stain. I tuck my feet under me without thinking. She catches it. Of course she does. The corner of her mouth lifts. Calm. Untouchable. “Aria, I have a closet full of clothes I haven’t even worn. If you’d like, come by and grab whatever fits. My husband buys me a whole new wardrobe every season. I can’t get through it. It just ends up in donation bags anyway. Better it goes to someone who needs it.” Then her eyes drop to my stomach. “How far along are you, sweetie?” My nails dig into my palm. “A little over three months.” The whole circle turns. Stares. A few jaws actually drop. “Three months? Are you serious? You can’t even tell.” My hand drifts to my belly. My fingers won’t stop shaking. No. You can’t tell. I work two jobs so Sterling won’t have to stretch his paycheck. I haven’t bought meat in months. I’ve been losing weight for years. Five-foot-eight, barely ninety pounds. My stomach is flat. There’s nothing there for them to see. In a room of glowing pregnant women, I look like a dried-up weed. Something close to pity flickers across Evelyn’s face. Her voice goes soft. Gentle. “Honey, you’re not eating enough. That’s not okay for the baby. After class, let me send you home with some prenatal stuff. Vitamins, protein powder, whatever you need.” I shake my head on instinct. She waves me off. “Don’t be silly. Do me the favor. Honestly, ever since I got pregnant, my husband’s been trying to feed me the entire store. I can’t keep up. I’m sick of looking at it.” I glance at the black plastic bag near the wall. Inside: the day-old shrimp I grabbed from the market this morning, half of them already gray. That’s what I’m bringing home to my baby tonight.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260624hVofxCcJtL 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni676555”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

My husband filed a PTO request for his wedding. And the bride isn’t me. Good thing I joined his company as HR behind his back. Or I never would’ve found out about this sweet little surprise. I click to see the details. Applicant: Henry Mitchell. Co-applicant: Vivian Brooks. I pull up Vivian’s employee file. Sweet face. Twenty-four. Job title: Henry’s personal secretary. I find her on Instagram. Her account is public. Her most recent post, from yesterday, is a wedding photo. Henry in a white suit, his arm wrapped around her waist, smiling like he means it. My finger hovers over the “Approve” button on the request. Click. Enjoy your wedding, Henry. I signed off on it myself. … A message pops up in the company group chat. It’s Vivian. She’s posted a digital wedding invitation. Below it — the same photo she put on her Instagram yesterday. The chat explodes. I scroll through them with a blank face. Each message hits me like a slap. My chest gets tighter and tighter. Then the HR door swings open. Vivian walks in carrying a tray of wrapped chocolates, beaming. “Ladies, come celebrate with me!” Her voice is sugar-sweet. The happiness on her face isn’t something you can fake. Everyone crowds around her, laughing, grabbing handfuls of chocolates. She works her way down the row and stops at my desk last. I don’t reach for any. So she sets a handful of chocolates down on my keyboard herself. Like there’s no question whether I’ll take it. “Avery, you have to come. Promise me.” I look up at her glowing face. “Congratulations.” I pick up a chocolate, peel back the foil, and pop it in my mouth. Sweet. “Vivian, that bracelet is stunning. Did Henry get it for you??” One of the girls points at her wrist. Vivian laughs, embarrassed, touching the diamond bracelet. “Yeah. He says my skin’s too pale not to wear something that sparkles.” I stare at the bracelet. The chocolate in my mouth turns bitter. That bracelet was Henry’s first-anniversary gift to me. Three months ago, Henry told me he was going on a business trip. When he came back, he said the bracelet had slipped off somewhere. He felt awful about it. Promised me he’d replace it with something better. The bracelet wasn’t lost. He gave it to her. Vivian lifts her hand higher. The diamond on her ring finger catches the light. “Henry designed the ring himself. Look, see how the petals curl? Isn’t it the most unique thing?” The girls gasp. “Henry is so romantic!” “A man like that? You don’t find them anymore!” I once told Henry I wanted a one-of-a-kind ring. But he said, “We’re already married. What’s with all that cheesy stuff?” Vivian’s cheeks flush pink. She keeps going. “Henry’s so busy, but he still remembers to pick up cinnamon rolls from my favorite bakery. Always fresh out of the oven.” That bakery is downstairs from our apartment. I asked Henry a hundred times to grab some on his way home. He always snapped at me. “That’s so far. Why would I go all the way over there?” The bakery is in the opposite direction from where Vivian lives. He wasn’t avoiding the detour. He was avoiding doing it for me. “Henry says once we’re married, he’s putting me in charge of all the finances. Every cent.” Three days into my marriage, I handed over my paycheck. Henry said a man should manage the money. That’s what keeps a household stable. I look at this glowing girl in front of me. The sweeter she sounds, the harder I breathe. “Avery? You’re so quiet.” I force my lips into a smile. “He really loves you. You two are going to be so happy.”

When I get home, Henry is in the kitchen wearing an apron. He hears the door and pokes his head out, smiling. “You’re home! Go wash up, dinner’s almost ready.” He walks out carrying a steaming plate of shrimp pasta. “Made your favorite tonight. Try it.” I drop my bag and head to the bathroom. I twist the faucet on full blast. The rush of water drowns out the sound of me almost throwing up. Back at the table, Henry has already filled my plate. “How’s the job hunt going?” He asks me this every single day. It used to feel like he cared. Now it feels like surveillance. I push rice around my plate. “Still looking. No rush.” “No rush at all. Take your time. I can support both of us.” I almost laugh out loud. Sure he can. After all, he gives me a $300 monthly allowance. That diamond bracelet on Vivian’s wrist? I couldn’t afford it if I starved myself for two years straight. Henry sets down his fork. “By the way, something came up. I have to fly out to Miami tomorrow. Big project. About two weeks.” I look up. “That long?” “Yeah. They need me on-site.” He lies smoothly. Not a single crack. “When do you leave?” “Tomorrow morning.” I nod. “All packed? Need help?” “I’ve got it.” He drops a piece of shrimp onto my plate. “Eat more. You’ve gotten so thin.” My stomach lurches. It’s Vivian’s favorite dish. I’m allergic to shellfish. I set down my fork. Henry’s brow furrows. The warm look on his face cools instantly. “What now? Food’s not good enough?” I shake my head. “Just tired today.” “Tired?” He scoffs. “You sit at home all day and you’re tired? I work twelve-hour shifts and still come home to cook for you. Do you ever hear me complain?” I look at him. For a second, he feels like a stranger. Is this really the man I married? The man who used to run out at midnight to get me Midol when I had cramps. The man who carried me across flooded streets in the rain. When did he become this? “Henry, when’s the last time we actually talked?” He blinks. Then waves his hand, irritated. “What do you call this? I’m talking to you right now.” “I’ve got a million things on my plate at work, and I come home to wait on you. What more do you want from me, Avery?” “Don’t be ungrateful.” I don’t say anything else.

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260624nZrDiYNfhq 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni654856”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

Every bridal boutique in New York prays I’ll walk through their door, because I pay in full and never use the service. That’s because on every single shoot day, my fiancé finds a brand-new excuse not to show up. This is the 33rd time Ethan Caldwell has left me standing alone in a bridal shop because of Tiffany Sinclair. I call him. His voice is flat, distracted. “Tiff just wanted some fresh coconut water, babe. Go easy on her.” “I already flew down to Malibu with her. I really can’t get back. Let’s reschedule the shoot in a week.” Then Tiffany snatches the phone. “Oh my God, you’re really calling about this? You should be used to canceling these shoots by now.” In the background, Ethan laughs — soft, doting. A tone I’ve never heard him use with me. I hang up. The boutique attendant gives me that practiced, sympathetic smile. “Miss Lawson, you can cancel the shoot, but the deposit is non-refundable.” This time, I don’t take off the dress and walk out. I smile, and dial a number. Within minutes, Ethan’s best friend, Hunter Brooks, is standing in the boutique doorway. Under a dozen stunned stares, I slip my arm through his—his hand is shaking with excitement—and turn to the attendant. “Okay. We can start now.” … It’s evening by the time we finish. I change out of the gown, sink into the lounge sofa, and casually leave a five-star review for the boutique on my phone. The review goes live. Ten seconds later, Ethan’s name flashes on my screen. But it’s Tiffany’s syrupy voice that comes through. “Chloe, you’re really shooting wedding photos alone and writing reviews about it? Doesn’t it feel a little pathetic?” I lean back into the sofa. “Not as pathetic as you.” “My review went live ten seconds ago and you’re already calling. Watching my every post like some creepy little stalker — who’s the pathetic one here?” She loses it. “I wasn’t stalking you! It just showed up on my screen, okay?!” I’m not done with her. “Malibu is across the country. Do I look three years old to you?” She scrambles. “I — I just forgot to turn off my location! What’s it to you?!” I hang up. Seconds later, Ethan’s text lights up my screen, dripping with blame. [Chloe, do you have ANY idea how hard it is to calm Tiff down?] [She called you because she cares. Why would you snap at her? Now I have to fix what you broke. Happy?] I don’t reply. Instead, I open Instagram and post the digital wedding invite the boutique sent me. Caption short and sweet: Friends — see you all this weekend at the wedding. The comments explode. [OMG CHLOE!! You and Ethan are FINALLY tying the knot?? Congrats babe!!] [Wait — I thought you two broke up?? You’re really getting married?? I’ll be there!!] I’m about to start replying when Ethan’s comment shoots straight to the top — colder than his text, in front of everyone. [Chloe, are you out of your mind? I’m in Malibu with Tiff. I’m NOT flying back this weekend. Stop being so delusional.] [For the record—clear this up. Tell everyone you made the wedding up.] The thread goes silent for a beat. Then more notifications flood in. I just repost the invite. Same caption. Friends — see you all this weekend at the wedding

What I didn’t expect, Ethan booked the next red-eye home. What I really didn’t expect, Tiffany flew back with him. It’s two in the morning when he slams the front door open. Tiffany’s eyes are puffy and red. The second she sees me, she breaks. “Chloe, you must be loving this. E and I just took a little trip together and you had to fake a wedding to drag us back in the middle of the night.” “You ruined my entire island trip!” I glance at Ethan. Then at her. “Nobody told you to fly back.” Ethan’s voice is sharp. “Chloe. Take down that post.” “No.” He inhales hard. “Chloe, how long are you going to keep this up?” “Family, friends — everyone is watching. You’re literally trying to force me into marriage!” Tiffany sniffs. “She’s just jealous because we are close. E, she wants you to crawl back to her.” “E and I are just friends, Chloe. Take it down already!” I ignore her. Eyes back on Ethan. Same word. “No.” He laughs with bitter and furious. “Fine. Send out a thousand invites. Without a groom on the day, you’re the joke. Not me.” I smile. “You can show up or not. It doesn’t matter. You’ve already been missing from my life for a long time. Haven’t you?” His face goes cold. Tiffany feels the silence and grabs his arm, shaking it like a child. “E, don’t listen to her, she’s guilt-tripping you!” “Nobody dies without somebody else, okay? The world keeps spinning!” But Ethan softens his tone. “Chloe, I get it. You’re using this little game to lock me down.” “But I really hate seeing you like this. You used to be so easygoing, so reasonable. Why are you making everything ugly now?” He adds, like it explains everything, “You know how much friendship means to me.” I look at their fingers, laced together, tight, and let out a laugh. “Friendship? Ethan. You call that level of intimacy friendship?” He frowns. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I say it slowly, making every word clear, “I’m saying. You. Have. No. Boundaries.” Tears pour down Tiffany’s face on cue. “Chloe, ENOUGH! E and I have known each other for twenty years!” “Just because you don’t have any guy friends doesn’t mean other people can’t! Why are you so controlling?!” Ethan pulls her into his shoulder, stroking her hair. “Chloe. Apologize. Right now.” I almost laugh. “Apologize for what?” He explodes. “You made Tiff cry! You owe her an apology!” That’s when the doorbell rings. Hunter walks in. Ethan blinks. “Bro — what are you doing at my place at 2 a.m.?” Hunter’s eyes flick at me. He answers, weight in every word. “I’m here to help Chloe move out.” Ethan stares for a second — then exhales, relieved. “Thanks, man. But it’s not that serious. Chloe and I are just having a couples’ fight.” His tone turns smug, knowing. “You’re a real one, bro. One Instagram post and you saw right through her drama.” “Help me talk some sense into her, yeah? Women need to know their place. Stop embarrassing themselves.” “I gotta take Tiff to a hotel. She’s wrecked from the flight. I’m gonna rub her feet.” Hunter looks down. He smiles slowly and strangely. He pauses. Says nothing to Ethan about what’s really going on. “Sure, bro. I’ll take it from here.”

I move out that same night. When Ethan figures it out, he switches to text bombing me. [I know you’re mad, but you can’t push me like this. Marriage is a big deal. You can’t just announce a wedding this weekend. I’m not mentally ready.] [Chloe, it’s not that I don’t want to marry you. It’s just bad timing. Tiff’s been in a rough place. She needs me. Can’t you just wait?] [I’m being real with you. I’m not ready to get married. The more you push me, the less I want to marry you.] I don’t reply. Not one message. … All the way until the night before the wedding. That’s when Tiffany sends me a video. The lighting is dim—clearly a suite at that boutique hotel in Malibu. Then her call comes through. “You saw the video, right? If even that doesn’t make you cancel… Wow! You really are something.” My voice stays flat. “I saw it. I’m not canceling.” She hangs up on me. A few seconds later, a photo lands in my inbox. Soft hotel light. Ethan and Tiffany were kissing. I look at it. Type three words back. [Not. Canceling. It.] … Wedding day. I stand at the hotel lobby in my gown, greeting guests. Ethan walks wearing gym clothes. His eyes catch on me — and for half a second, I see real shock there. Real awe. “That dress you picked alone… It actually looks good.” Then Tiffany—in a full evening gown—slides her arm through his. The whole room goes silent. A groom in sweatpants, arm-locked with another woman. The bride standing alone across the room in white. Ethan ignores the stares and starts babbling. “Look, I need to be straight with you. There’s nothing going on between me and Tiff.” “That photo and video you saw? Camera angles. We staged it. We just wanted you to cancel the wedding. We didn’t think you’d take it this far.” Tiffany nods beside him, voice sugar-sweet. “It’s true, Chlo. It was all my idea. I just wanted to test how much you really care about E.” “You sat through that video and those photos without breaking. Honestly? I’m impressed by your love.” I look at the two of them. I smile. “Even if you two are sleeping together, I don’t care.” Ethan’s face shifts. He notices my tone changes right away. “I’m telling you the truth. She’s literally just a friend. You know Hunter? Same exact thing.” Tiffany jumps in. “Right, we’re just friends!” Ethan launches into the same speech again. “You know how much my friends mean to me. I’d never ditch a friend just because I’m dating someone.” I look at him standing there, righteous as ever, and I can’t help it. “Ethan. You keep preaching about how much your friends mean to you.” “So how come you haven’t noticed you’re already missing one?”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/202606241W9oqkL2l4 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni005405”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix