On my eighteenth birthday, I discovered that James Carter, the Alpha’s son I had been crushing on for two years, was my Fated Mate. That same day, he rejected me. And told me. “You’re too weak, and you spend all your time hanging around those pups. The thought of you liking me makes me sick.” “I need a stronger wolf to be my mate, to become the Pack’s future Luna. That person could never be you.” In the pouring rain, I decided to leave the Pack and go to college in London. But I never expected I would meet my Second Chance Mate there, a powerful Alpha. And when I returned to my Pack, James had become a Rogue. Stella Stone POV On my eighteenth birthday, I found out that James Carter, the Alpha’s son I had been crushing on for two years, was my Fated Mate. That same day, he rejected me and told me. “You’re too weak, and you spend all your time hanging around the younger wolves. The thought of you liking me makes me sick.” “I need a stronger wolf to be my mate, to become the Pack’s future Luna. That person could never be you.” In the pouring rain, I decided to leave the Pack and go to college in London. But I never expected to meet my Second Chance Mate there, a powerful Alpha. And when I returned to my Pack, James had become a Rogue. “I’ll grow up!” He laughed and said casually: “Sure. When you turn eighteen, if you can awaken your wolf, I’ll give you an answer.” For that answer, I chased after him for two years. My entire youth was written with his name. Today, I finally turned eighteen. I successfully awakened my wolf and went to get that answer that was two years overdue. But just as I reached the Council Hall entrance, I heard voices from inside. I froze. The men’s teasing voices came through clearly. “James, that’s brutal, man.” One guy was laughing. “Straight up choosing Grace as your mate. What if Stella really is your fated mate?” James’s voice rang out with its usual lazy drawl and a hint of impatience. “Even if she really is my fated mate, I wouldn’t choose her. Worst case, I’ll just reject her. She’s too weak, and she’s always clinging to me. It’s annoying.” Another voice chimed in. “True. That girl’s like a sticker, you can’t shake her off. But why Grace?” James chuckled lightly, his tone dripping with arrogant certainty. “Grace has a powerful bloodline. Her grandfather was an Alpha. Marking her will help boost my strength. Plus, this way Stella will finally understand she’s not good enough for me.” “So you’re choosing Stella’s birthday to give her this surprise?” “Killing two birds with one stone.” James’s voice was ice-cold. “I’ll make Stella give up for good, and let Grace know my intentions. I already had someone send her the ceremony notice. Today I’m just giving her a heads-up.” “Damn, James! If Stella actually shows up and makes a scene at the mate ceremony, that’ll be one hell of a show!” “She wouldn’t dare.” Those two words from James hit my ears like stones. So this was it. The answer I’d been waiting for with such hope was a carefully orchestrated humiliation. I was nothing but a weak, ordinary wolf who didn’t deserve his status. The homemade cake I’d been holding dropped to the ground, a pathetic mess. The voices inside stopped abruptly. The door flew open. James stood in the doorway. When he saw me, there wasn’t a trace of surprise in his eyes. I looked at him, this man I had loved for two years. At the same time, I felt the call echoing in my mind: Mine… fated mate… “Bad timing.” His tone was flat. I didn’t say anything, just looked at him. “So you really are… Well, that saves me the trouble.” James pulled something from his pocket and put it away. “I’m going to become mates with Grace. So, Stella, as the Alpha’s son of Silverstream Pack, I reject you as my mate.” I bit my lip, fighting through the pain as I nodded. Then I turned and ran into the rain. I didn’t cry. I didn’t even look back once. The icy rain poured down on me. My mind felt clearer than ever before. So that was all I was to him, a weak wolf he looked down on. My two years of pursuit and devotion were nothing but a clown’s performance. I rushed home. Brian wasn’t there. I grabbed my phone and called him. On the other end, Brian’s voice was full of concern. “Stella? What’s wrong?” I took a deep breath. “Brian, I have made up my mind.” “About what?” “What you mentioned before, about me going abroad for college. I agree.” Silence on the other end for a few seconds, then Brian’s excited voice came through. “Really? That’s great. You finally came around.” “Also…” I looked at the blurry moonlight in the distance. “That friend you wanted to introduce me to last time. Set it up. I want to meet new people.” “No problem! Stella, whatever you do, I support you!” After hanging up, I let out a long breath. I’d given him two years. That was enough. I stripped off my soaked clothes and walked into the bathroom. Hot water poured down from above, washing over my body. My phone dinged. A message from James. “Next month on the eighteenth. Don’t forget to come to my mate ceremony.” I stared at that message for a long time. Then I typed two words and hit send. “Okay.” After doing all this, I stood up and dragged a heavy box out from under my bed. Inside was everything I’d collected related to James over the past two years. Wristbands he had used. I had secretly picked them up and washed them clean. A wooden carving he had casually tossed to me. I had treasured it all this time. Our only photo together, where I stood in a corner of the crowd while he was front and center. I took everything out piece by piece and threw it into a large black garbage bag. Finally, I picked up the photo frame. The boy in the picture was full of spirit and radiance. I had naively thought that if I just tried hard enough, I could get a little closer to that light. Now I understood. Some people are just born to live in the shadows. I let go. The frame dropped into the garbage bag with a dull thud. I knew my two-year crush ended here.

James POV I received her reply while drinking at a bar with friends. Looking at the simple “Okay” on my phone screen, I couldn’t help but frown. She was too calm. Too calm for the Stella who would wait five hours in the snow just to see me. “James, what are you looking at?” A friend leaned over to check, then snorted with laughter. “Yo, Stella replied? What’s her angle? Giving up?” Another friend analyzed: “No way. You know this girl. She’s got a scheming mind. She definitely heard everything!” “Makes sense! She’s probably playing innocent and obedient to make us lower our guard, then she’ll pull something big at the ceremony!” Everyone chattered away, quickly finding a reasonable explanation for Stella’s behavior. I set down my drink and smiled. Of course. I knew Stella wouldn’t give up that easily. Fine. I’d play along. I wanted to see what tricks she could pull. I tossed my phone on the table and told everyone: “Forget about her. Everything goes according to plan.” Everyone laughed knowingly. Just then, the bar’s private room door swung open. Brian walked in, his face stormy. “James, get out here. We need to talk.” Brian’s voice was seething with suppressed fury. I leisurely poured myself another drink without looking at him. “Talk about what? Your sister?” “You know I’m not joking!” “Neither am I.” I swirled my glass. “Brian, control your sister. Stop letting her disgust me.” Brian’s fists clenched instantly, veins bulging on the backs of his hands. I didn’t even bother looking at him again. I grabbed my jacket and stood up. “I have plans with Grace. No time for this.” I walked right past Brian, deliberately slamming my shoulder into his. Leaving Brian standing there alone, trembling with rage. Brian POV Today was the Pack’s assembly day. The Pack’s adult members gathered in the Council Hall to hear the Alpha or the Alpha’s son announce upcoming arrangements. Stella had promised to come, but she still hadn’t shown up. I was worried, constantly glancing toward the Council Hall entrance. The atmosphere among the wolves was lively. Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door. James had arrived. He wore a leather jacket with Grace in a long dress beside him. Grace gently held his arm. The image immediately drew everyone’s attention. James POV I ignored everyone’s stares and walked straight toward a figure in the corner. Stella had arrived at some point. She wore worn jeans and a blue tank top, no makeup, quiet as an outsider. She’d lost weight. Her chin was so sharp it tugged at something in my chest. A strange feeling flashed through me, quickly replaced by disgust. Playing these pathetic games again. We walked over to her. Grace spoke softly. “Stella, I know you’re hurting, but you can’t force feelings. I’ve decided to become mates with James. You should let go.” Stella POV James’s friends immediately surrounded me, chiming in one after another. “Exactly, Stella. You’ve been chasing him for two years. Haven’t you faced reality yet?” “It was one thing when he was single, but now he’s decided to be with Grace. If you keep clinging, you’re just embarrassing yourself.” “You need to know your place. Unless you’re James’s fated mate, you have no right to become the future Luna.” Apparently James hadn’t told them that I was. That damned fated mate. And on the very day I discovered this fact, my mate rejected me. Maybe he thought being connected to me was shameful. Or maybe he just didn’t want people knowing he’d rejected his own fated mate. Usually werewolves didn’t do such things. I didn’t break down or cry like I used to. I just looked up at them. I looked at Grace with her smile, then at James’s friends. Finally, at James’s cold face. I smiled. “Is that so?” “Then I wish you both happiness.” With that, I turned and walked to a cushioned seat on the other side. James’s smile froze. Grace looked stunned. The surrounding friends exchanged glances. No one spoke again.

James POV An indescribable irritation surged up inside me. I hated this feeling of losing control. Stella shouldn’t have reacted this way. She should cry, make a scene, demand to know why I was treating her like this. Then I could smoothly throw all my cutting words in her face and make her leave my world for good. But she didn’t. She just calmly offered her blessing and walked away. “James, this…” The people around me were at a loss. Grace gently tugged my sleeve. “James, did I say something wrong? Stella seems really upset.” I suppressed that strange feeling and snorted coldly. “Upset? She’s faking.” Even as I said this, I couldn’t help watching her. Stella sat in the corner. Brian walked over, his face full of worry as he spoke to her in a low voice. Stella shook her head, even wearing a reassuring smile. That smile made me angry. Brian suddenly looked up, glaring at me furiously. He moved Stella behind him protectively and strode over. “James!” Brian’s voice crackled with towering rage. “What do you mean, saying all that in front of everyone?” I looked at him. “I’m just showing everyone my choice. What’s the problem?” “Cut the act!” Brian was so angry he could barely speak. “The things you have done to Stella, don’t think I don’t know. Are you even human?” “What did I do?” I couldn’t help raising an eyebrow. “I’m just having my mate meet everyone early, so certain people stop clinging to fantasies they shouldn’t have. I’m helping your sister face reality sooner.” “You.” Brian raised his fist to swing at me. “Brian!” …… Stella POV I rushed over and grabbed his arm. Looking at my brother Brian, I gently shook my head. Attacking the Alpha’s son in the Pack wasn’t a smart move. I was leaving the Pack, but I didn’t want my brother to betray it. Seeing this, Grace quickly hugged James’s arm and said softly to Brian: “Brian, don’t be angry. It’s all a misunderstanding. James didn’t mean any harm.” As she spoke, she seemed to lose her balance, her body tilting. The coffee cup in her hand slipped, and the entire contents spilled perfectly onto my clothes. “Ah!” Grace gasped and immediately grabbed a cloth to wipe the stain on my chest. “I’m so sorry, Stella! I didn’t mean to. Please don’t be mad.” I felt her hand seemingly wiping but actually pulling hard at my clothes. My shirt got dirtier with each wipe. I swatted Grace’s hand away. “Don’t touch me.” Grace stumbled back a step. Her eyes instantly reddened as she looked at James with a pitiful expression. “James, I…” James’s anger flared. He pulled Grace protectively behind him and snapped at me. “Stella, what’s your problem! Grace apologized. What more do you want?” I looked at him and found it laughable. Without saying anything, I pushed open the Council Hall door to leave. I saw a dark shadow charging toward the pups playing outside! A rogue! I whipped my head around and shouted at James. “James! Rogue attack! The pups! Go protect them!” You’re the Alpha’s son. You should protect them. But he looked toward the rogue’s direction, then glanced at Grace beside him. Then I saw him move. His action had a clear target. Protecting Grace first. Those pups didn’t matter to him as much as a single hair on Grace’s head. I didn’t have time to think. I lunged straight for the nearest little one. The poor thing was curled up in a trembling ball. The rogue’s claws were already swinging down. Forgive me. I had no combat experience and hadn’t gotten familiar with my wolf yet. All I could do was turn my back toward the attack. “Stella!” Brian’s heart-wrenching shout was drowned out by the massive impact. Searing pain exploded from my back. I was thrown into the air and slammed hard into the ground. The pup in my arms was completely unharmed, lying obediently against me. My consciousness began to blur. The last thing I saw was James, having dealt with the rogue, looking down tenderly and anxiously comforting Grace. I felt a kind of sorrow. Not just for James’s neglect of me. But because, as the Alpha’s son, he was so indifferent to the Pack’s pups. Would someone like him become a better Alpha than his father?

Stella POV When I woke up, I was lying in the Pack’s infirmary. My left arm was covered in thick ointment. “Stella, you’re awake!” Brian’s haggard face appeared before me. “Brian…” As soon as I spoke, I realized how painfully dry my throat was. Brian quickly helped me sit up and handed me a glass of warm water. “The healer said your arm wound is very deep, you have a broken bone, and there’s residual toxin. You’ll need treatment for a while.” His voice was hoarse, full of self-blame. “It’s all my fault. If I’d been faster…” “It’s not your fault.” I interrupted him. I remembered very clearly. This was James’s choice. That was the real source of my injury. In the face of danger, as the Pack’s Alpha heir, he hadn’t prioritized saving those pups. What a failure. “Are the pups okay?” I asked. Brian’s expression instantly darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. “Don’t even mention it!” I immediately tensed. “Were they hurt?” I loved the pups. Being with them made me feel relaxed. Actually, the Pack’s pups should be cared for by the Luna. But the current Alpha was a madman. After his mate died, he refused to let anyone take that position. Fortunately, I had some experience caring for the little ones. He ground his teeth. “No, they’re all fine. I mean James. You protected those pups. You should be praised. But that bastard didn’t even look at you and took Grace back to her place first. He didn’t say a single word to the Alpha about what you did.” I fought hard to keep my tears from falling. Fine. The more cruel he was, the cleaner my break would be. I stayed in the infirmary for three days. James never showed up once. It wasn’t until the fourth afternoon that the door finally opened. James walked in. “You’re awake?” His tone was as casual as if greeting an ordinary friend. I ignored him. He didn’t care and continued on his own. “Grace has been terrified these past few days. She kept asking about you. She’s not feeling well, so she asked me to come check on you.” So it wasn’t that he wanted to come. Grace told him to. “Let me take you outside for a walk. Get some fresh air.” James said this while directly helping me up. I didn’t resist. I wanted to see just how heartless this man could be. Behind the infirmary was a long slope. James walked with me, chatting about things from our childhood. I didn’t say a word. He suddenly stopped and looked down at me arrogantly. “Stella, what game are you playing now? Acting pitiful for sympathy?” Just then, a gentle female voice came from nearby. “James.” Grace had arrived. She wore a long dress, her face somewhat pale, looking quite pitiful. James’s eyes lit up instantly. All his attention was drawn to that figure. He pushed me aside and walked toward her. “Grace, what are you doing here? I told you to rest at home.” His voice held a tenderness I’d never heard before. But he’d forgotten something. We were standing at the top of the slope. That push made me lose my balance instantly, and I fell sideways. “James!” I cried out in alarm. However, James’s eyes and heart were completely focused on Grace. He didn’t hear my shout at all. I could only curl up my body as much as possible to reduce the impact. But when I tumbled into a clump of grass, something suddenly bit into my arm. “Ah!” The piercing pain made my vision go black. I looked closely. It was a silver spike. This seemed to be some kind of specially arranged trap. The commotion finally got their attention. James turned around. Seeing me on the ground in a pathetic state, his brows furrowed tightly. Grace covered her mouth, gasping. “Oh my God, Stella, are you okay? How did you end up here?” She hurried over, crouching down to help me with a concerned expression. “After the Pack was attacked by rogues the other day, they set up these traps around the territory. Didn’t anyone tell you? James, quick, pick Stella up and take her to get bandaged!” James stood there without moving. He looked down at me on the ground, his gaze cold. “I won’t touch any woman besides you.” I lay on the cold ground, hearing those words, and suddenly I laughed. I laughed until my whole body shook, tears streaming from my eyes. I’d loved him for two whole years. In the end, in his eyes, I was just another woman, one who would dirty his hands if he touched me.

Stella POV “James, how can you say that? Stella’s injured.” She crouched beside me, trying to help me up. “Stella, don’t blame James. He just cares about me too much.” I braced myself with my good right hand and slowly climbed up from the ground, pulling out the silver spike from my left arm. The previously healed wound tore open again, starting to burn with pain. I didn’t acknowledge Grace’s outstretched hand and didn’t spare James a single glance. I kept my head down and limped toward the infirmary on my own. As I passed him, I left him with just one sentence. “Putting dangerous things like this in places like that could easily hurt Pack members!” James was furious. “Look at her!” He said coldly to Grace. “Always like this, acting like the whole world owes her something. It was her own carelessness, and she still has to blame me?” Grace sighed softly, leaning into his embrace, her voice weak and aggrieved. “Don’t say that. It’s all my fault. She must hate me now.” James held her tighter, his chin resting on top of her head. “It has nothing to do with you. She’s the one with twisted thoughts. She deserves it.” I hadn’t gone far. Their conversation drifted into my ears, every single word. I didn’t stop walking. I just smiled. They really were a perfect match. One stupid, one cruel. When I got back to the infirmary, Brian saw my disheveled state and exploded. “What happened? Where’s James?” I calmly told him what happened. Brian’s eyes went red with rage. He was about to shift and charge out. “I’m going to kill him today!” “Brian.” I stopped him. “There’s no point.” “Fine. We won’t deal with him.” Brian took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. “Stella, I’ve finished the paperwork for going abroad. The flight is on the eighteenth of next month. Once your arm’s a bit better, we’re leaving. We’re going to Paris, far away from these terrible people.” The eighteenth of next month. I remembered. That was exactly the date of James’s ceremony. I nodded. “Okay.” For the next few days, I focused on healing. James never came again. Grace, however, kept sending food over every few days. I didn’t even look at it. Threw it all away. A week later, the wound on my arm finally healed completely, and I went home. The Pack’s pups came specifically to see me. So I took them to play in the forest. But Grace tracked me down. “Stella, I’m so glad to see you’ve recovered well. That puts my mind at ease.” I couldn’t be bothered with her. Grace didn’t mind and kept talking. “You know what? For our mate ceremony, James had tons of roses flown in. He said he wants to give me the most spectacular ceremony the Pack has ever seen.” I still didn’t respond. I knew about those roses. They cost a fortune. I guessed James had diverted some funds from the Pack’s accounts. This would mess up the Pack’s cash flow, but no one cared. The Alpha didn’t care. James didn’t care either. Grace was losing her patience. She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice. “Stella, stop pretending. I know you’re not willing to accept this. You followed him around for two years, and in the end, the future Luna position is mine. I’d go crazy too if I were you.” I glanced at her. “Are you done? Then get lost.” Grace’s smile vanished completely. “You!” She bit her lip, then smiled again. “Stella, do you think you’re so noble? You think your love is some precious thing? Let me tell you. In James’s eyes, your two years of pestering disgust him more than wolf shit on the side of the road.” She stood up, looking down at me from above, her eyes full of a victor’s smugness and contempt. “You’ll never win against me. Because you’re too weak. James could never love you.” With that, she turned around, swaying her hips as she prepared to leave. The place where we were playing had a pond. In summer, I’d bring the kids here to swim. Well, they swam. I couldn’t swim at all and could never learn. I was hopeless in water. Grace walked to the pond’s edge and gave me a strange smile. Then her body tilted backward, and she fell straight into the pond behind her. “Help! Stella, why did you push me!” Grace flailed in the water, screaming for help. I didn’t react in time. “I didn’t…” Just then, a tall figure rushed out.

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Three years after my death, my sister Daisy was finally marrying my boyfriend, Jason. My mom, for Daisy’s sake, had kept my death a secret from Jason for three long years. The day before the wedding. Jason received a commission for an estate clearing service. Daisy reminded him to come back early. But she didn’t know, this order, it was placed by me, three years ago. “Jason, does this wedding dress look good?” Jason, sitting on the couch, gazed at the wedding dress, lost in thought. He unconsciously murmured, “Anne?” Daisy froze for a moment, then asked, “What did you say?” Jason snapped back to reality, giving her a faint smile. “Yeah, it looks good.” Daisy turned away, her expression immediately turning sinister. She clutched the brand-new wedding dress, wrinkling it. “Anne, even after three years, he still can’t forget you. You really had a knack for it.” My mom stepped forward and patted her shoulder, signaling her to mind her image. She yanked the dressing room curtain shut and whispered, “She’s dead, why do you care about any of that? Anyway, Jason’s marrying “you” now.” I stood behind them, imagining myself in a wedding dress. This wedding, it should have been mine.

Daisy and I were half-sisters, sharing a mother but having different fathers. My mom hated my dad, and that hatred extended to me. When I found out I was sick, I once begged my mom to lend me money for treatment. But what did my mom say? “If you’re going to die, go die far away. Don’t be an eyesore.” “I wish you’d just drop dead already, you’re as shameless as your father.” She claimed she had no money for my medical care, yet Daisy just had to pout a little, and my mom immediately bought her an expensive piano that very night. When she learned I was dead, she wouldn’t even claim my body. She hired a courier to scatter my ashes in the river. Jason thought I’d run off because I didn’t want to get married, so he hated me too. “Jason, we’re getting married in a few days. Don’t you want to tell Anne?” Jason frowned, a hint of impatience on his face. “She left three years ago and never came back. Why bother looking for her?” I tried to wave at him, “No, no, Jason, I’ve always been right here beside you, always.” But he couldn’t hear me. Daisy leaned her head on Jason’s shoulder, one hand stroking her stomach, happiness radiating from her. “Thank you, Jason. I love the wedding dress, and the baby does too.” She was pregnant, and the baby was Jason’s. A wave of sadness I couldn’t suppress washed over me. He loved kids, I always knew that. He used to say he wanted me to give him a strong little man, so they could both spoil me. But now he had a child, and the one he spoiled, wasn’t me. Jason’s phone rang. He let out a sigh, gently pushed Daisy away, and answered. It was a commission for an estate clearing service. The customer service agent said the order had been placed three years ago. Jason just mumbled “Oh” and hung up. It wasn’t unusual for clients to pre-order an estate clearing for themselves. I once asked Jason why he, a computer science whiz kid, chose this profession. He said that when his mother died as a child, while organizing her belongings, he discovered those items could reveal things the eye couldn’t see. He said that an estate clearer helps the departed mark their final chapter in this world. So Jason, I chose for you to write my final period on this world too. “What’s wrong, Jason? Is it an order?” Daisy asked softly, coming closer. Jason nodded. “Yeah, a last-minute job. I can’t go to the rehearsal with you. You go ahead, I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.” Daisy was understanding. She put her purse in Jason’s hand, then kissed him lightly on the corner of his lips. “Okay, then come back early.” She didn’t know, this order, I had placed it for myself three years ago.

The unique nature of his profession meant Jason had few friends. He took only one assistant to the address for the estate clearing. He offered a silent homage at the door, put on his mask and gloves, and entered the house. I looked at the messy room, my soul trembling. Three years had passed, but the pain seemed to have not lessened at all. The assistant noticed the scratches on the door and was surprised. “Jason, these scratches on the door…” Jason knelt down to examine them. “These scratches are so deep. The deceased must have suffered inhumane treatment before death.” “Never mind. Let’s just clear out the stuff. That’s not our business.” His assistant nodded and began working. Jason looked around, found a box, opened it, and picked up a card. It read: “Happy Birthday to Myself.” I hadn’t been back here in a long time. I floated over to him and looked. When was this from? Probably when I was twelve. My parents’ divorce turned into a messy legal battle. I stood in the large courtroom, and the judge asked me, “Who do you want to live with?” My dad turned away, refusing to look at me, and my mom glared, threatening me not to choose her. I was so scared I cried. I ran over and cautiously pulled at my mom’s skirt, asking, “Mom, can I stay with you?” Ultimately, the judge honored my wish and awarded custody to my mom. She rushed off to buy Daisy a cake, leaving me alone at the courthouse entrance. That day, it was pouring rain. When I got home, my mom was softly cooing Daisy to sleep because she was afraid of thunder. But she forgot, that day was also my birthday. I picked up the cake card, licked off the leftover frosting, and wished myself “Happy Birthday” in the mirror. Such a distant memory. So distant it made my head ache to recall. Jason caressed the card, then picked up another small plushie. Underneath it was a torn diary page. Seeing that plushie, I instinctively recoiled, screaming at Jason. Don’t touch it! Don’t touch it! I stared at the plushie, my soul forced to relive that terrifying memory. I got first place in my exam, I was so happy! Mom had said whoever got first place could make one wish. I’d wanted that little plushie at the supermarket entrance for a long time. When I smiled and said I wanted it, she crumpled my test paper and threw it in the trash. My mom’s eyes were icy: “Daisy improved a lot this test. That one’s already bought for her. Maybe next time.” I turned to see Daisy smugly twirling the plushie at me. For the first time, I couldn’t hold it in and ran outside. My mom’s furious voice followed me: “Get out and don’t come back!” I cried my heart out. Lance, the supermarket owner, asked me what was wrong. He told me to go to the back room and pick one. Oh God! The back room of that store was a devil’s lair. He pinned me down and brutally violated me. I cried and screamed, but he wouldn’t let go. When I finally managed to run out, I tore that plushie to shreds. Do you believe that a soul can cry? I stood before Jason, watching him frown as he read that diary page. Tears streamed down, passing through the diary page and landing on Jason’s hand. “Phew—” Milo heard Jason sigh and turned to ask him, “Jason, what’s wrong?” Jason thought for a moment, then spoke, disbelievingly, “She… she seems… to have been assaulted.” Jason continued to pick up the remaining diary pages. “My sister brought many people to beat me. I was so scared. She said I deserved it.” “My sister told Mom I was messing around instead of studying. Mom called me shameless, but that was actually her boyfriend.” “Mom got a new boyfriend. I was taking a nap when he came in and touched me inappropriately, but Mom called me a slut and said I was trying to seduce men at such a young age.” Jason’s hands trembled as he held the diary. Several times, he had to take deep breaths to suppress his emotions. He continued to go through my past, despite his discomfort. When he picked up the next item, he couldn’t hold back anymore.

A diagnosis for severe depression, with my name on it. The moment Jason saw my name, his eyes widened in shock. His hand trembled uncontrollably, failing to pick it up several times. “Milo, come here, look. Am I… seeing things?” His assistant, Milo, heard him and put down what he was holding, coming over. “Anne? How could it be…?” He was equally disbelieving. Jason quickly pulled out his phone and asked his office for the order’s contact number. Only when they read out a number he knew like the back of his hand did he confirm that the person was me. Jason, you finally found out. I didn’t abandon you and run. I didn’t not want to marry you. I just, died! Jason looked as if all the strength had been drained from him. He slumped to the floor, squatting. Milo tried to help him up, but he refused. He murmured, “Milo, you can go. I’ll finish the rest.” “Jason…” “Go!” Milo had no choice but to leave. I sat beside Jason, suddenly remembering that summer we sat like this on the school field. I was quiet, and so was Jason. When two reserved people were together, most of the time was spent lost in thought and silence. Our teacher said we were a perfect match, always in sync. That was the first time Jason ever smiled at me. “You’re amazing!” I replied, “You are too.” There were no epic romances between us, but in all our important moments, we chose to be by each other’s side. Jason buried his head between his knees, and I began to hear choked sobs. “Why? Why? Why did this happen?” I floated beside him and gently stroked his head. “Jason, don’t cry. It breaks my heart.” Jason’s profession wasn’t very popular, so his studio had always struggled. When I found out I was sick, I placed an order for myself. It wouldn’t do much, but I still wanted to boost his business a bit. I had never seen Jason cry like this before. Half an hour later, he composed himself, stood up, and continued to look through the items. Jason locked himself in the house for two full days. He spent those two days coming to terms with the fact that I was dead. Jason, pale-faced, was curled up on the floor when his phone buzzed. “Hello? Jason, where are you?” Hearing Daisy’s anxious voice on the phone, Jason’s eyes suddenly cleared. He pushed himself up from the floor, his voice icy. “I’m coming now. Wait for me.” Jason left the rental with my pile of belongings. He held the box with one hand, constantly stroking it with the other, mumbling as he walked, “Anne, they owe you, and I’ll make sure they pay.” I sighed, trailing behind Jason. I was already dead, what was there left to settle? You were the only one I couldn’t let go of, Jason. Perhaps, that’s why I always lingered by his side. Tomorrow was Jason’s wedding. Daisy wrapped her arms around Jason’s neck, trying to kiss him. “Jason, I’m so happy, so incredibly blessed.” Whether intentional or not, Jason avoided her kiss. He gently pushed her away, using the excuse that he had a busy day tomorrow, and went to bed. Daisy frowned, thinking he was just tired, so she didn’t dwell on it. It was true they had to get up early tomorrow, so she lay down on her side and went to sleep. The wedding proceeded as scheduled. Jason wore his custom-made suit. I floated in front of him, gushing about how handsome he looked. When I was alive, I didn’t realize how precious it was to be able to speak. Now that I was dead, I found myself talking more. Jason picked a bracelet from my box and put it on. He said, “Anne, this way, it’s like we’re married, okay?” I turned my face away. “Who wants to marry you, Jason? You haven’t even proposed to me yet!” But why did my face feel warm? Daisy wore a loose-fitting wedding dress; she looked beautiful. My mom escorted her to the altar. Jason lingered, and the officiant started to look anxious before he finally forced a smile and stepped forward to take Daisy’s hand. Daisy was so nervous she almost shed tears. The officiant asked, “Do you take this woman, Daisy, to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Jason suddenly looked in my direction. He slowly said, “I don’t.” The entire venue fell silent instantly. Even I was startled. Daisy’s hand, gripping Jason’s, began to tremble. “Jason… you…” But Jason suddenly smirked. “Just kidding. I do.” He said “I do,” but for some reason, I saw coldness in his smile. After the wedding, Jason got completely drunk. On their wedding night, Daisy slept alone. Not only that, the next day, rumors even spread that Jason had slept with one of the bridesmaids. I was always with Jason, so I knew best: he was just drunk and slept at a hotel for the night. But Daisy didn’t believe it. She angrily confronted her bridesmaid and, without a word, slapped her. “I made you my bridesmaid, and you? You tried to seduce my husband, didn’t you?” Her friend was stunned by the slap. “I didn’t! What are you talking about?” Daisy didn’t want to hear her explanations. She took another step forward, about to slap her again, but this time, someone grabbed her arm. Daisy looked at Jason in disbelief. Her husband, who should have been home, was here, helping another woman. “What in the world are you doing, going crazy here?” Daisy saw the coldness in Jason’s eyes; she couldn’t quite believe it. “Jason, where were you last night? Were you with this slut?” Jason flung Daisy’s arm away, nearly sending her to the ground. “Don’t act like a lunatic here. Go home.” Before Daisy could react, Jason turned and walked away. It was the first time Daisy had ever been abandoned like that. That day, just like the day I was abandoned, it was pouring rain. I sat in Jason’s passenger seat, watching him with a strange amusement. “Thank you, Jason. I know you’re getting revenge for me.” Jason suddenly turned his head in my direction, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Anne, are you feeling a little better now?” I was stunned. Could he see me? I waved my hand in front of him, but he just slowly rolled up the car window. Oh, he was just looking outside. You scared me! From that day on, Jason was no longer gentle with Daisy. He started drinking heavily, smoking, giving Daisy the silent treatment, and sometimes even hitting her. He wanted Daisy to experience my pain, but Jason, you shouldn’t be like this. You shouldn’t fall apart because of me. At first, Daisy thought she had upset Jason in some way, so she tried to please him, enduring everything. But gradually, she sensed something was wrong. It wasn’t until Jason, once drunk, called out my name in his sleep that she finally understood. Jason still couldn’t let me go. She saw Jason constantly staring at that box. While he was asleep, she opened it. As she looked at the contents, Jason stood behind her, staring at her with an eerie intensity. “Put those things down!” Daisy was startled, and with a clatter, the items fell to the floor, scattering everywhere.

“Jason, how did you wake up?” Jason looked at the scattered items on the floor, his fists clenching. “Who told you to touch those things?” Daisy suddenly panicked. She rushed to hug Jason. “Jason, listen to me…” Jason, his eyes red, violently pushed Daisy to the ground. Daisy’s stomach hit the corner of the table. It took her a while to recover, a thin layer of sweat breaking out on her forehead. Jason had lost all reason. I wanted to stop him, but I couldn’t. I could only watch helplessly. Jason advanced, grabbing Daisy by the throat, and snarled, “Why? Why did you all hide it from me? She’s been dead for three years, three years! I thought… I thought…” Daisy was being choked, her eyes starting to roll back. Beneath her white nightgown, a crimson stain began to spread. I floated up and down frantically. “Ring, ring!” Daisy’s phone ringing brought Jason back to his senses. But he just calmly walked away, picking up a towel to wipe his hands. Daisy crawled to her phone and called 911. When my mom arrived, Daisy was already unconscious. She had lost the baby. My mom slapped Jason. “How could you let this happen to Daisy? She’s so afraid of pain! What did you do to her?” My heart ached for the red half of Jason’s face where she’d hit him. My mom had a heavy hand, I knew that. My face would often be swollen and red for hours after she hit me. Jason didn’t turn around. He let out a soft laugh. “Your slaps, they really hurt.” My mom frowned at him. “Jason, look at me. I’m your mother. Are you cursed? You’ve been acting so strange lately.” “The ones who are cursed, that would be you.” Jason said, seemingly out of nowhere. Jason didn’t want to stay there any longer. He turned and strode away. I wanted to follow him, but for some reason, I wanted to see if my mom would feel heartbroken for her eldest daughter. Daisy woke up, and my mom brought her a glass of water, gently moistening her lips little by little. I suddenly wanted to laugh. So, she knew to give water to someone who’s thirsty. Daisy always had milk to drink; I never did. One year, I had a fever of 104 degrees, and my lips were so dry they felt like they were on fire. I saw less than half a glass of milk left on the table and couldn’t resist secretly taking a sip. My mom came out, saw me, and started violently kicking me. “Who told you to drink that? What will Daisy drink if you finish it? So young and already stealing things, you ungrateful brat.” Stealing? Mom, I never understood. Just a sip of milk. How much did you truly hate me? “Mom, my baby, my baby!” Daisy cried out, throwing herself into my mom’s arms in pain. My mom patted her back, just like she used to comfort her when she was scared as a child. Daisy sobbed, “Mom, Jason… he seems to know Anne is dead. What do we do? Will he never want to come home again?” My mom’s hand, holding the water, paused. She seemed a little nervous. “He just knows she’s dead? What about the other things?” Daisy shook her head. “He doesn’t seem to have discovered anything else.” My mom sighed in relief. “That’s good, that’s good.” What “other things” was Daisy referring to? I imagine, it must be the truth about my death. “It’s all that slut’s fault, even dead, she still comes back to ruin my family!” Daisy gnashed her teeth, cursing me, wishing she could pulverize me to dust. My mom said she’d hire a spiritual master another day to suppress my spirit, so I wouldn’t haunt them. But I hadn’t done anything, had I? I couldn’t stand to watch their mother-daughter bonding, so I turned and floated away. If you didn’t love me, why did you give birth to me?

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After my sister came back from her fiancé’s place, we went out for a steak dinner. She wasn’t just devouring arugula, something she’d never dared to touch before, but she was also dipping her food into a generous bowl of cashew cream sauce. But she’s severely allergic to cashews; one bite and she could go into anaphylactic shock and end up in the emergency room! I forced down the rising panic in my chest and cautiously clinked my beer glass against hers, tapping the bottom twice with my finger. She didn’t react at all, just smiled and chugged her beer. In that moment, an icy dread washed over me. The woman sitting across from me, wearing my sister’s face, wasn’t Eleanor at all! So, where was the real Eleanor? The sizzling steak platter steamed, its white smoke blurring the view of the person across from me. This old-school steakhouse was our absolute favorite. It had been days since I’d seen my sister, Eleanor, as she’d been at her fiancé Ethan’s house for the past week, discussing their wedding plans. Today, the moment she returned, I couldn’t wait to drag her here for a treat. “Lily, what are you spacing out for? The steak’s getting cold.” The woman across from me chided playfully, expertly using a fork to cut a piece of steak and dip it into her sauce bowl. My gaze was fixed on her dipping sauce bowl, my brain freezing for a split second, all the blood in my veins turning to ice. Her dipping sauce bowl had a thick layer of arugula, generously drizzled with rich cashew cream sauce. She picked up that piece of steak, coated in cashew cream and arugula, and without a moment’s hesitation, popped it into her mouth, chewing heartily, a satisfied expression on her face. “This place still tastes so authentic,” she mumbled. My hand, resting under the table, began to tremble uncontrollably. Eleanor had always detested the smell of arugula since she was a kid, saying it smelled like soap. Even more critically, she was severely allergic to cashews! Once, when she was little, she accidentally ate a cookie with cashew crumbs, and within five minutes, she broke out in hives, struggled to breathe, and nearly went into shock. She spent an entire night fighting for her life in the emergency room that time. Ever since, the word “cashew” had been an absolute taboo in our family. But now, this “Eleanor” sitting across from me wasn’t just eating arugula, but a huge mouthful of cashew cream sauce too! And she wasn’t showing any allergic reaction. No hives, no wheezing; her face was rosy, and she was laughing and chatting animatedly. “Ellie…” I heard my voice come out raspy, like sandpaper. “You… you can’t eat cashews, can you?” The hand holding her fork paused briefly, a flicker of almost imperceptible panic in her eyes, but it was quickly masked by a perfect smile. “Oh, did you forget? I went to see that doctor, remember? He gave me some treatments to balance my system. A few days ago, at Ethan’s place, his mom didn’t know about my allergy and made cashew brittle. I tried a bite and realized I was fine. Guess I got desensitized.” As she spoke, she picked up another piece of steak with her fork. “Besides, arugula used to taste awful, but now it suddenly smells quite good. People’s tastes change, you know.” Desensitized? Such a severe, life-threatening allergy, cured by a few treatments? That’s a complete farce! I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to flip the table, took a deep breath, and picked up my beer glass. “Oh, I see. That’s fantastic! Now we can eat so many more things together. Come on, Ellie, let’s toast.” I held out my glass. She smiled, picked up her glass, and clinked it against mine. Clink. A crisp sound. I stared intently at her hand. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Eleanor and I had a secret ritual we’d had since we were kids. Because we grew up together in the orphanage, whenever we got a delicious bowl of soup, we would always gently tap the bottom of our bowls twice with our fingers when we clinked them. This habit continued to this day. Whenever it was just the two of us toasting, whether with water or alcohol, we’d always tap the bottom of our glasses twice. It was our private code, known only to us, not even to Robert, Sarah, or Ethan. But just now, she had simply clinked her glass normally, then tilted her head back and took a big gulp. I gripped the cold glass, my knuckles turning white from the force. My heart hammered so fast it felt like it would burst through my chest. The exact same appearance, the exact same voice, even the same style of dress and tone of speaking. But, she wasn’t Eleanor. Absolutely not! So where was the real Eleanor? And who was this monster wearing my sister’s skin?

That steak dinner tasted like ash in my mouth. I fought desperately to suppress my inner fear and nausea, pretending to chat with her as if nothing was wrong. I couldn’t alert her to my suspicions. If she wasn’t Eleanor, then Eleanor’s situation must be extremely dangerous, perhaps even… I didn’t dare to imagine. We finished dinner and got home; it was already nine in the evening. Pushing open the door, the living room was filled with warm light. My adoptive father, Robert Davis, sat on the sofa watching the news, and my adoptive mother, Sarah Davis, was in the kitchen cutting fruit. Twenty years ago, they adopted Eleanor and me together from the orphanage. They had no children of their own, and over the years, they treated us like their own, supported our education, bought us pretty clothes, and gave us a complete home. In my heart, they were my real parents. “Hey, we’re home.” I changed my shoes, trying to make my voice sound normal. “You’re back? Was the steak good? You smell like it, go wash up quickly.” Sarah Davis came out with a fruit platter, smiling kindly. The “Eleanor” naturally walked over, linked her arm through Sarah Davis’s, and cooed, “I’m stuffed! Lily just had to order so much steak.” “You silly girl, you’re about to wear a wedding dress, yet you still can’t control yourself,” Sarah Davis said, dotingly tapping her forehead. Robert Davis also put down the remote control, smiling as he looked at us. The scene was so warm, so normal. But I felt a chill run down my spine. I took a deep breath and walked over to sit on the sofa. “Something really strange happened,” I began, feigning casualness. “Today at dinner, Ellie actually ate cashew cream, and she was totally fine.” The air in the living room seemed to freeze instantly. Only the news anchor’s voice echoed from the TV. I stared intently at Robert and Sarah’s faces, not missing a single subtle change in their expressions. Sarah Davis’s hand, cutting an apple, paused for a moment, the knife blade clinking against the glass plate. Robert Davis’s smile also stiffened for a second. But soon, Sarah Davis regained her composure. She popped a piece of apple into “Eleanor’s” mouth, then turned to me, smiling. “Oh, that’s what you’re fussing about. Didn’t your sister take those treatments a while back? That doctor I took her to see was amazing; he said he could cure allergies. Looks like it really worked.” Robert Davis nodded in agreement. “That’s right, Lily, you’re just making a big deal out of nothing. Your sister is getting married soon, it’s good that her health is better.” My heart plummeted into a bottomless pit. They were lying. Eleanor had never gone to see any doctor! Her allergy was caused by a genetic defect and was fundamentally incurable; top specialists at the hospital said so years ago, and Robert and Sarah were there! Why were they helping this imposter cover up the lie? Could it be… A chilling thought exploded in my mind, making my scalp tingle. Could Robert and Sarah also know she isn’t Eleanor? And worse, what if they’re in on it?! Suddenly, this home I’d lived in for twenty years felt utterly strange and terrifying. The air around me felt like thick, viscous swamp water, choking me. “Maybe I’m overthinking it. I’ll just go wash up.” I abruptly stood up, lowered my head, and quickly walked to my bedroom. I closed the door and locked it. Leaning against the door, my legs gave out, and I slid straight to the floor. Cold sweat drenched my back. I was completely alone. In this house, everyone but me was a monster. Where was the real Eleanor? Had she already… No, she couldn’t be! Eleanor is so smart; if she sensed danger, she would definitely leave me a clue! I had to calm down. I couldn’t panic; Eleanor was waiting for me to save her.

I got up from the floor, not even daring to turn on the light. Using the moonlight from the window, I frantically searched my room. Eleanor and I had separate rooms, but we shared many things. If she wanted to leave me a message, where would she put it? Her phone? Impossible; the imposter must have control of it already. A diary? Too obvious. My eyes landed on an old metal box tucked away on the bottom shelf of the bookcase. It was the sketchbook we used together in high school. I’m a freelance illustrator, and although Eleanor didn’t pursue that path, she used to love doodling all over my sketchbooks. We had made a pact that if one day either of us encountered a problem we couldn’t voice, we would draw a distress signal on the last page of the sketchbook. My hands trembling, I pulled out the metal box and opened it. Inside, the faded, yellowed sketchbook lay quietly. I flipped to the last page. In the faint moonlight, I saw a simple drawing made with a black carbon pencil. It was drawn hastily, the lines a bit messy. It was a huge Ferris wheel, and beneath the Ferris wheel, a crooked cross was drawn. A Ferris wheel… My mind raced. There was only one place in our city with a Ferris wheel: the abandoned amusement park on the outskirts! And right next to that amusement park was Sunnyvale Orphanage, where we were adopted! The orphanage had been demolished years ago; now it was just a patch of overgrown land, usually deserted. A cross… did it mean death, or something buried? Eleanor wanted me to go there! She had left a clue, or herself, there! I checked the time on my phone: 11:30 PM. Going out now was too dangerous. If I alerted those three outside, I might not even make it out the door. I needed help. I opened Snapchat and found Ethan’s profile. Ethan was Eleanor’s fiancé; they had known each other since college, and their relationship had always been strong. If there was anyone else in this world who cared about Eleanor as much as I did, it was him. But I dared not be too explicit in my message; what if his phone was being monitored too? I deliberated, then sent a message: [Ethan, Ellie ate cashew cream at dinner today and didn’t react at all. I think she’s been acting weird lately. Please keep an eye on her.] After sending the message, I put my phone on silent, lay down in bed with my clothes on, staring at the ceiling, and didn’t sleep a wink all night. The next morning, I heard the sound of the front door closing. Robert and Sarah Davis had gone to the morning market to buy groceries. The imposter said she was going to try on wedding dresses and also left. This was my chance! I immediately jumped out of bed, threw on a jacket, grabbed my backpack, and rushed out the door. In the taxi, I received a reply from Ethan. Just a few short words, but they brought tears to my eyes. [I think she’s acting strange too. Where are you?] I immediately sent him the address of the abandoned amusement park, adding: [Don’t tell anyone. Come alone.] The taxi stopped in front of the overgrown land on the outskirts of the city. The amusement park, once filled with laughter, was now just a pile of rusted scrap metal. The giant Ferris wheel stood silently among the weeds, like a dead steel beast. I took a deep breath and trudged towards the Ferris wheel, pushing through knee-high dried grass. A deathly silence hung in the air, broken only by the rustling of the wind through the tall grass. I reached the base of the Ferris wheel and began searching the surrounding area for the “cross” mark. After about fifteen minutes of searching, at the bottom of a thick, rusted iron pillar, I saw a patch of earth that looked like it had been recently disturbed. On the soil, two tree branches were crossed, forming a cross shape. This was it! I knelt on the ground, disregarding the dirt, and frantically began to dig with my bare hands. The soil was very loose, clearly having been buried recently. After digging about six inches deep, my fingers brushed against something hard. It was a sealed plastic bag. I yanked it out, hastily wiping off the dirt. Inside the bag were a USB drive and an old black and white photograph. My hands trembling, I took out the photo. It showed a young couple holding a little girl, perhaps a year old. Although it was an old photo, I recognized at a glance that the couple was none other than a younger Robert and Sarah Davis! And the little girl’s eyes and features were identical to Eleanor’s — or rather, to the imposter’s! On the back of the photo, written in blue ink, was a single line: [Vivian’s First Birthday.] Vivian? Vivian Davis? My mind buzzed, as if a bolt of lightning had suddenly cleared all the fog. Robert and Sarah Davis actually had a biological daughter! And this biological daughter looked exactly like Eleanor! No, that’s not right. Eleanor looked like her! When they went to the orphanage to adopt children, it wasn’t out of kindness at all, but because Eleanor resembled their lost biological daughter! So the imposter in our house now… was Vivian! She was back! She had replaced Eleanor! Just as I was reeling in disbelief, I heard an extremely faint rustling of footsteps behind me. “Rustle… rustle…” The sound of dry grass being trampled was amplified infinitely in the dead silence of the wilderness. I spun around. Robert Davis stood less than five yards behind me, holding a rusted shovel, his face expressionless. His eyes were as cold as if he was looking at a corpse.

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Just as I finalized the three-hundred-million-dollar M&A deal, I heard Charlotte tell her assistant, Sarah, from outside my office: “Tomorrow’s presentation? Change the lead for the M&A project to Michael.” My hand, poised to open the door, froze. Sarah hesitated, “But Richard has been crunching data all night for the past two weeks, and clients are specifically coming for him…” Charlotte didn’t miss a beat, her tone dismissive: “Michael just graduated; he needs to build his network and establish himself in the industry. Richard is already the boss; what’s the use of these empty titles?” “Once this commission comes through, I’ll buy him that race car. It’ll be his compensation.” The next day, at the big meeting, Charlotte pressed my hand, explaining, “Let Michael take credit for this one. I’ll privately transfer your compensation later.” I pulled my hand away, listening in silence through the entire presentation. Seven years of marriage, and all I got was her using my hard work and dedication to pave someone else’s way. That race car and the boss’s position? Whoever wants them can have them. I’m done with this.

The presentation had just ended. Mr. Stevenson, the partner’s representative, looked at the slightly green Michael on stage, a slight frown on his face. “Ms. Charlotte, Mr. Richard has been our primary contact for the past two weeks. Why has the lead for this proposal changed to… this gentleman today?” Charlotte didn’t bat an eye, explaining with a polite smile: “Michael certainly did create this proposal. He’s just graduated, but he’s full of fresh ideas.” “Of course, Richard supervised the entire process, ensuring everything was perfect, which is why he was your initial contact.” “As long as you’re satisfied with the proposal, who gets the credit shouldn’t really affect our deep partnership.” Mr. Stevenson listened, his confusion only partially resolved, but he nodded approvingly: “I see. Young talent indeed has potential. The proposal is very solid; we are extremely satisfied.” The contract was signed smoothly. People in the conference room gradually dispersed, leaving only Charlotte and me. I stopped what I was doing, asking in a calm voice, “Why didn’t you discuss any of that with me beforehand?” For this three-hundred-million-dollar deal, I’d slept only three hours a night for fifteen consecutive days. Those model codes, I refined them countless times to ensure there were no errors. Now, all that credit went to a newbie who hadn’t done a single thing. Charlotte rubbed her temples, seemingly annoyed by my questioning. “Richard, Michael just graduated. He needs a high-profile start to build his network and get a foothold in the industry.” “In that situation, we couldn’t exactly correct him in front of everyone and make the partner suspicious, could we? We had no choice but to play along.” It was the same old excuse. I looked at her matter-of-fact expression and didn’t argue further. I had only wanted to see her attitude, and now I knew. Seeing my silence, Charlotte noticed my uncharacteristic quietness. She softened her voice: “Alright, don’t be mad. Once this commission comes through, I’ll buy you that race car you’ve been talking about for ages.” “Consider it compensation, okay?” I glanced at her, silently gathered my files, and turned back to my desk. She watched my retreating back, seemingly convinced that the race car had successfully appeased me. Soon after I sat down, Michael approached my desk with a cup of coffee. He put on an innocent, wronged expression, “Richard, I’m so sorry… I honestly didn’t know admin would mess up the name.” “I was so nervous earlier. Should I go explain everything to Mr. Stevenson? I can’t take your credit…” I stared at my computer screen, not sparing him a single glance. Seeing me ignore him, Michael bit his lip, his voice suddenly a little louder, tinged with a sniffle: “Richard, are you mad at me…?” The commotion was perfectly audible to Charlotte, who had just walked out of her office. She strode over quickly, her brows furrowed as she looked at me. “Richard, Michael has apologized to you. Why are you still scowling?” “As a senior, it’s only right for you to pave the way for a junior. Don’t be so petty. Anyway, I’ll give you the full commission from this deal.” Watching her defend another man so fiercely, I found it laughable. For the past seven years, no matter how difficult the opponent, she had always stood by me. We were partners, fully invested, with everything to gain or lose together, and a loving married couple. But now, for Michael, she judged me as “petty” and “narrow-minded.” Since she had said so, there was no need for me to argue anymore.

I looked up and calmly spoke, echoing Charlotte’s words: “Fine, I forgive him.” Charlotte’s expression softened, and she led Michael back to her office. After work, I went straight to HR and handed in my resignation. The HR Director was stunned: “Mr. Richard, what are you doing?” “Just process it,” I said calmly. “But your position is so crucial! Handoff will take at least three days, and Ms. Charlotte needs to be notified first!” “Charlotte already knows about this. There’s no need to inform her again. Someone will take over my position in three days.” With that, I turned and left. I held absolute controlling power in this company. If I said someone would take over in three days, then someone certainly would. Leaving the company, I drove to the racetrack in the hills. My chest felt tight and heavy; I desperately needed a high-speed thrill to vent my emotions. Because I loved racing, Charlotte had invested a lot of the company’s money into this track back then, and I was a VIP here. As I entered the lobby, the receptionist saw me, and her composure visibly faltered. She stammered, blocking my path, “Mr. Richard, I’m so sorry, but the track is undergoing maintenance today and isn’t open to the public…” I saw her evasive eyes and had a hunch. I probed, “Is Charlotte inside?” The receptionist’s eyes widened suddenly, and she blurted out in surprise, “You… you knew?” Sure enough, I ignored her attempts to stop me and walked directly into the inner track area. As soon as I pushed open the door, the roar of engines reached me. A red Aston Martin was parked at the starting line, its window rolled down. I stood not far away, clearly seeing Charlotte in the passenger seat. Half her body was leaned over, her hands guiding Michael’s hands, teaching him how to use the clutch, how to turn the steering wheel, and where to place his feet. They were very close, their posture intimately casual. Watching this scene, memories suddenly stung my nerves. I used to be obsessed with racing. Back then, Charlotte was still very young, and she’d wait for me at the finish line with a bouquet of sunflowers after every race. At the time, I didn’t want to hold her back and refused her many times. But she persisted; she was at almost every one of my races. Until one time, I had an accident on the winding track, and the car rolled and caught fire. I was trapped in the deformed driver’s seat. It was Charlotte who tore at the car door with her bare hands. When I was rescued, I saw her hands covered in blood and scalding blisters. Later, we got together. With her, I found a desire for a normal life and the motivation to make money. Even though my family had more money than we could ever spend, I chose to strike out on my own. Back then, I was the one in the passenger seat, holding her hand and slowly teaching her how to race. Now, she was doing the opposite, teaching another man in the exact same intimate way. It was like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over me; I suddenly lost all desire for racing. Charlotte heard the movement and turned around. The moment she saw me, a clear flicker of panic crossed her eyes. But Michael, sitting in the driver’s seat, had an undisguised look of triumph in his eyes. I took one look, then turned and walked away.

Charlotte hastily pushed open the car door and chased after me, grabbing my arm. “Richard, don’t misunderstand! Didn’t I say I was going to buy you a race car? I came specifically to test drive it today, to try out the feel!” Before I could speak, Michael also walked over, smiling innocently: “Richard, I heard Charlotte talking about buying a car, and I’m really interested in racing, so I wanted to learn a bit.” “Charlotte thought I had some credit in this contract too, so she planned to buy me one as well, and teach me while she was at it.” I looked at them and couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh. “What does this contract have to do with you? What exactly is your credit?” I didn’t hold back. Michael’s face paled, and he looked at Charlotte, wronged. I couldn’t stand to watch their charade, so I shook off Charlotte’s hand and continued to walk out. Charlotte panicked, just about to chase me again, when Michael’s pained voice came from behind her: “Charlotte, I think I sprained my ankle, it hurts so bad…” Charlotte’s steps stopped abruptly. When I got home, the house was dark. After showering, I lay in bed and casually scrolled through Twitter. The first post was a recent update from Michael. The caption: [Thanks to the boss for the reward of a race car, hands-on lessons, even the wind tastes sweet.] Below it was a picture, a selfie of the two of them in racing suits, sitting in the car. After muting Twitter, I opened my phone and sent the drafted divorce agreement to Charlotte. Half an hour passed. No reply. It seemed my messages had completely lost their value to her. This seven-year marriage, through her silent treatment and outright disregard, had completely lost the need for communication. I put down my phone, turned off the light, and went to sleep. The next morning, I was woken by an urgent phone call. I answered, and Sarah’s voice was anxious: “Richard, you need to get to the office right away, something’s happened!” The call disconnected, and I threw off the covers. My gaze swept over the spot beside me; the bed was neatly made and cold, with no sign of being slept in. Meaning, Charlotte hadn’t come home all night. Even in the dull period of our marriage, when we occasionally worked late on different projects, we would silently avoid disturbing each other’s sleep when we came home at night. But we both knew the other had returned home. Now, she wasn’t even coming home. I didn’t dwell on it for long. I got dressed and headed straight for the company. When I arrived at the office, I found out it was an old client I had been managing, who came to discuss a follow-up partnership. Michael had handled the negotiation privately and messed up the deal. Now the client was furious and demanded we fix it immediately. Hearing this news, my head pounded. Drawing on my deep understanding of the project, I immediately organized the work, and we went back and forth on the details during a video conference with the client. Only after finally getting the client to relent and resolving the first crisis did I have a moment to spare. I walked to the office area, looking at Michael sitting at his desk, and asked in a cold voice: “Who gave you permission to privately handle my client?”

Michael flinched, stood up, his eyes red and brimming with tears, utterly wronged. “I’m so sorry, Richard… I just wanted to do more for the company. I really didn’t mean to…” Seeing a man in his twenties respond to a crisis by simply whimpering and crying, I couldn’t stand it. Charlotte’s taste had apparently deteriorated to this extent. Charlotte, having heard the news, rushed over and immediately came to his defense: “Richard, don’t blame Michael. I gave him permission to take on this task.” “He needs experience, and I gave him the client to practice with. Do you really need to scold him in front of so many people?” At that, a bitter laugh escaped me, and I reprimanded her mercilessly: “Charlotte, do you completely disregard my clients, and the company’s reputation as well?” Charlotte froze for a moment. Normally at the company, I gave her all the decision-making power. No matter how outlandish her decisions, I would always cover for her privately and ensured she maintained her authority as CEO publicly. She hadn’t expected me to blame her so mercilessly in front of so many employees. “Richard, watch your tone! I’m the CEO!” she warned in a low voice. “You know about ‘tone’?” I retorted, my voice exceptionally clear in the quiet office area. “With everyone in the company watching, you’re openly favoring him?” Charlotte was instantly speechless, her face turning green then pale. I didn’t stop, staring into her eyes and continuing: “You put his name on the proposal I stayed up all night to create, claiming he did it.” “You’re taking the client relationships I worked so hard to build and letting him practice, just to ruin them.” “Are you planning to train him to be the next company boss, or the next husband?” At that, colleagues bowed their heads, not daring to breathe. Charlotte’s eyes widened: “Richard! How can you say that?!” Seeing her composure crumbling, and our seven years of relationship reaching this point, I couldn’t even bother to feel angry anymore. All my disappointment had been spent; only clarity and indifference remained. I adjusted my cuff, my voice returning to complete calm. “That’s enough. We’re getting a divorce. I sent you the divorce agreement last night.” “Since you don’t like checking messages, I’ll tell you clearly to your face today.” Charlotte stood rigid, her face filled with disbelief. I glanced at Michael, then calmly added the last sentence: “Oh, and someone will be taking over this company tomorrow. You and he should both prepare to pack your things and leave.”

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Ten years ago, in a terrible car accident, I donated my corneas to save my brother, leaving me completely blind. Ethan knelt by my hospital bed, vowing to be my eyes forever, to protect me my entire life. But when he achieved success and married the heiress of a prominent family, he stood by and watched as his fiancée snapped my cane — my lifeline — and then threw me, dressed in only a thin shirt, into a blizzard with temperatures dropping to twenty below zero. “A blind girl like you is just bad luck. Die out there, and good riddance!” Later, I truly “died” in that blizzard. Yet, my brother went insane. He gouged out his own eyes and knelt before my tombstone, banging his head until it bled. But he never knew that I had long since changed my name, walking hand-in-hand with Lucas Thorne, the scion of the city’s most powerful family, watching Ethan coldly as he begged like a dog. The shattering sound of a champagne tower toppling was jarringly loud in the luxurious ballroom. A powerful force shoved me to the ground. My knees slammed hard against the marble floor, and shards of glass instantly pierced my dress, digging into my flesh. The excruciating pain made me gasp. Before I could even grope my way up, a sharp, aggrieved female voice exploded above me: “Elara! Are you insane? No matter how much you resent me, you can’t deliberately push me at my engagement party with Ethan!” It was Briar Stone, my brother Ethan’s fiancée, the heiress of the powerful Stone family. The previously noisy chatter in the room instantly died down. Countless contemptuous gazes seemed to solidify, pinning me, the blind girl, to the spot. “I didn’t…” I shook my head frantically, my hands fumbling on the glass-strewn floor. “Briar, I was just standing in the corner. You’re the one who suddenly walked into me…” “Are you implying I’d fake an accident in a multi-million dollar designer gown just to frame a blind person like you?” Briar sneered, her high heel grinding down hard on the back of my fumbling hand, pressing with all her weight. I cried out in pain, cold sweat instantly soaking my back. “Briar, what’s wrong?” A familiar, deep male voice cut through the crowd. Hearing that voice, I felt like I’d found a lifeline. Enduring the searing pain in my hand, I looked up towards the sound and called out, “Ethan! Ethan, I didn’t push Briar, I really didn’t…” Ethan’s footsteps stopped in front of me. The air was eerily silent. After a long while, I didn’t receive the embrace of the brother who used to shield me from all harm and malice. Instead, I only heard Ethan tenderly pulling Briar into his arms, his voice dripping with affection: “Briar, are you hurt anywhere?” “Ethan, my wrist hurts so much, and my dress is ruined,” Briar whimpered, feigning tears. “I know Elara doesn’t like me, that she feels I stole you away. But today is our engagement, how could she humiliate me in front of so many guests…” “Elara.” Ethan’s voice turned cold, carrying an unfamiliar disgust and distance. “Apologize to Briar.” My body stiffened, and I stared wide-eyed with my unfocused gaze, unable to believe it. “Ethan, you’d rather believe her than me?” My voice trembled. “I can’t see. I can’t even tell directions. How could I have pushed her?” “Enough!” Ethan cut me off sharply. “Haven’t you made enough of a scene? Briar comes from a distinguished family; if you hadn’t deliberately caused trouble, why would she fall? You’ve always been willful since childhood, have you forgotten even your basic manners now?” The word “manners” struck my heart like two sharp knives. Ten years ago, to drag him out of the mangled car, I missed the critical rescue time and lost my sight. Later, to save his eyes from festering, I secretly donated my corneas to him. The day he regained his sight, he held me, crying hysterically, swearing that even if he had to beg on the streets for food, he would treat me like a princess for the rest of his life. But now, this man, who was seeing the world through *my* eyes, was trampling my dignity underfoot, in front of everyone, all for another woman. “Ethan, let it go. After all, she’s disabled. People who don’t know might think I, a normal person, am bullying her.” Briar feigned generosity with a sigh, but her tone was full of condescension. “No, mistakes must be punished.” Ethan looked at me coldly. “Elara, kneel down and apologize to Briar. Otherwise, you won’t leave this door today.” Whispers of mockery spread among the guests. “That blind girl is so ungrateful. Mr. Hayes has supported her for so many years, and she still dares to cause trouble at the engagement party.” “Exactly, she’s just a dead weight, does she really think she’s the Hayes family heiress?” I knelt on the floor covered in glass shards. Blood flowed from my knees and the back of my hand, staining my cheap white dress. My eyes burned with a raw ache, but I bit my lip hard, refusing to let the tears fall. Because Ethan once told me he hated it when I cried, saying it was like I was using my disability to manipulate him. I fumbled, slowly bending down, pressing my forehead against the cold, biting marble floor. “I’m sorry, Briar. It was my fault.” Every word, laced with blood and tears, shattered my decade of sacrifice and illusion into a million pieces. I heard Briar’s triumphant chuckle. And Ethan, he just coldly dismissed me with a single line: “Someone, take her back to her room and lock her up. Don’t let her embarrass us again.” Two security guards roughly grabbed my arms, dragging me out of the ballroom like a sack of potatoes. The moment the doors closed, I heard the cheerful music resume inside, along with Ethan’s gentle toasting voice. The brother who used to hold me all night, singing to me when I had nightmares, was truly dead on this glamorous, perfumed night. The Ethan now was the high and mighty CEO of Hayes Industries, a rising star who needed the Stone family’s investment to solidify his position. And I was merely the ugliest blemish on his perfect life.

The next morning, I was woken by a furious argument. Even through the soundproof walls of the master bedroom, Briar’s sharp voice pierced through the door, stinging my eardrums. “Ethan! What do you mean by this? Yesterday at the engagement party, even though you made her kneel, look what the media is writing? They’re saying I, Briar Stone, am cruel and abusive, tormenting my disabled sister-in-law!” “Briar, don’t be angry, the media just loves to sensationalize…” Ethan’s voice was tired and placating. “I don’t care! Ethan, I’m telling you right now: this house isn’t big enough for both of us! It’s either her or me!” Briar’s voice suddenly rose, followed by the sound of something being violently smashed. “If you want to marry me, you have to get rid of that blind girl! Do you know, every time I see her vacant eyes, I feel sick, disgusted! My friends are all laughing behind my back, saying that if I marry into the Hayes family, I’ll also be signing up for a lifelong caretaker position!” “Briar, Elara is my sister…” “So what if she’s your sister? She’s blind! She’s a useless burden who might even make a mess when she goes to the bathroom! Are you seriously going to support her for life? Are you going to make me live with a disabled person forever?” “If you don’t get rid of her today, then tomorrow, I’ll tell my father to withdraw all investments from Hayes Industries! Then, with the company’s funding cut off, you can look forward to bankruptcy and going back to the slums!” The air fell into a deathly silence. I huddled in the cold covers, my hands clamped over my ears, trembling uncontrollably. So, my existence had become so unbearable for him? After an unknown amount of time, heavy footsteps sounded outside the door. With a click, my bedroom door opened. Ethan walked in, bringing with him a heavy scent of cigarette smoke. He never used to smoke, saying it bothered me. He sat on the edge of my bed, the mattress sinking slightly. I kept my eyes closed, pretending to sleep, but I felt his gaze, like a cold snake, crawling across my face. “Elara, are you awake?” I slowly opened my lifeless eyes, forcing a smile that was uglier than a cry. “Good morning, Ethan.” Ethan was silent for a long time, so long that the muscles in my face started to ache. “Elara, the company has encountered some serious difficulties recently, and we need the Stone family’s help.” His voice was dry, with a hint of undetectable guilt. “I’m too busy, and I really don’t have the energy to take care of you. There’s a new specialized care facility on the outskirts of the city. The environment there is good, and there are many people like you. You can make friends.” “I’ll help you pack a few things. This afternoon… you can move there for a while. Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll come pick you up, okay?” My hands, hidden beneath the covers, clenched tightly, my nails digging deep into my flesh, yet I felt no pain. A specialized care facility. That was just a nicer way of putting it. I knew that place. It was an institution specifically for abandoned severely disabled individuals. I’d heard the caretakers there were abusive, and they didn’t even bother to turn on the heat in winter. He wasn’t sending me for care; he was abandoning me completely. “Okay.” I heard my voice, frighteningly calm. “As long as you’re well, Ethan, I’ll go anywhere.” Ethan seemed to sigh in relief. He reached out as if to pat my head, but his hand froze in mid-air, finally settling for a stiff pat on my shoulder. “Elara is the most understanding. Don’t worry, I’ll pay your fees on time.” He stood up and fled the room as if escaping. I sat in the darkness, tears finally silently overflowing. Ethan, you forgot. Ten years ago, when you lay in that hospital bed, despairing and attempting self-harm because of the possibility of blindness, it was I who held your hand and said, “Ethan, don’t be afraid. I’ll give you my eyes.” Then, you cried and said that if you ever scorned me, may lightning strike you down, and may you never find peace. Turns out, vows really do have an expiration date. When the stakes of profit are high enough, family bonds become thinner than paper.

In the afternoon, Ethan didn’t return. He sent a text message, saying he had an emergency company meeting and asked Briar to arrange a driver for me. Briar didn’t even call a driver. She walked into my room wearing a luxurious fur coat, pinching her nose in disgust. “Stop dawdling, grab your junk and get out! This air is already polluted by you!” I fumbled for the old canvas bag I had already packed, which contained only a few changes of clothes and a family photo of us. I picked up the cane leaning against the wall and walked out step by step. “Wait.” Briar suddenly stuck out her foot and tripped me hard. I stumbled and fell, my cane flying from my hand and sliding away. “Oh dear, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you.” She smiled insincerely, then walked over and stepped on my cane. With a sharp crack, the cane that had accompanied me for years was forcibly snapped into two pieces by her. “A useless person like you, what do you need a cane for anyway? You’re just going to lie in a bed waiting to die in that kind of place.” Briar kicked the broken cane away, looking down at me from her superior height. “Elara, don’t blame me for being heartless. Blame yourself for being blind, for being a burden. Your brother was tired of you a long time ago; he just couldn’t bring himself to kick you out. I’m just doing him a favor.” I lay on the ground, fumbling to pick up the two broken pieces of my cane, hugging them tightly. “Briar, I’m leaving. I wish you both… a long and happy life together.” I gritted my teeth, struggling to stand. Without the guidance of my cane, I was like a headless chicken, my hands groping wildly in the air, stumbling out the villa’s front door. Outside, a historic blizzard raged. Gale-force winds whipped stinging ice shards, cutting at my face and body like blades. I was only wearing a thin, old sweater, one Ethan had bought me three years ago, its cuffs already frayed. Cold. Bone-chilling cold. The cold seeped up from my feet directly into my heart, as if my blood itself was about to freeze. I didn’t know where to go. The care facility was miles away, on the outskirts of the city. I had no money, no phone, no cane. I had been abandoned by the entire world. I walked aimlessly through the snow, falling, getting up, falling again. The wounds on my knees reopened, blood staining the snow, only to be quickly covered by ice. I don’t know how long I walked until the distant car horns faded, replaced by the howling wind and the sound of river water crashing against the banks. I had reached the edge of the bridge that spanned the river. My stomach was cramping in spasms, my energy completely depleted. I leaned against the icy bridge railing, slowly sliding down to sit in the snow. From a pocket close to my body, I pulled out a voice recorder. This was the gift I had planned to give Ethan on his wedding day, containing my thoughts from the past month. My frozen fingers fumbled to press the record button, and facing the howling wind and snow, I left my last message. “Ethan, it’s so cold out here.” “I can’t find the way to the specialized care facility. Briar broke my cane.” “You used to say that if I ever got lost, if I just stayed put, you would always come find me. But this time, I know you won’t.” “Ethan, getting the cornea transplant back then, it really hurt. But I didn’t cry, because I wanted you to see this beautiful world.” “Now, I’m tired. Your world is too crowded, there’s no room for me anymore.” “Keep these eyes. Use them to look at your new bride. I don’t want them anymore. I don’t want anything anymore.” I turned off the recorder, tucked it into my canvas bag, and then took off my worn sweater, covering the bag with it. Wearing only my thin shirt, I leaned on the railing and slowly stood up. The river wind was like a giant hand, pushing my swaying body. “Ethan, if there’s a next life, I never want to be your sister again.” I closed my eyes and jumped. The moment the sensation of falling hit me, I thought I would plunge into the icy river, finally ending this miserable life. However, just as my body dropped, a strong hand firmly gripped my wrist. “If you’re going to kill yourself, find somewhere that’s not in my way!” A cold, deep voice, tinged with a hint of violence, sounded above me. Immediately after, I was violently pulled back by a powerful force, landing hard against a broad, warm chest. The familiar scent of cedar and a faint hint of tobacco wafted towards me, but it wasn’t Ethan’s scent. I was shivering from the cold, and my consciousness began to blur. Before I completely fell into darkness, I only heard the man coldly ordering his bodyguard: “Get her in the car. And throw her stuff into the river. Make it look like a suicide jump.” “Yes, Mr. Thorne.”

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My fiancé and best friend drugged me with banned hallucinogens, planning to send me to Alpha Alaric of the Sunridge Pack in exchange for development rights to the entire Red Pine Forest. They stood outside the door, laughing arrogantly: “An orphan with no parents—she should be grateful Alpha Alaric even looked at her!” “Once we get the development rights, we’ll get married and let her spend her life as Alpha Alaric’s plaything!” What they didn’t know: the Alpha Alaric they were desperately trying to please is my father. I’m the precious daughter he’s been searching for these past three years. Tonight, they personally delivered their prey into the wolf king’s den. Tomorrow, every werewolf in North America will know the price of crossing me, Lyra Voss. 0The drug spread through my bloodstream to every limb, making my bones ache. Even my ability to shift was completely suppressed. I forced my eyes open, my vision landing on the silver moon and white wolf emblem carved into the headboard. Outside the door, my fiancé Caleb’s voice dripped with greed: “Lila, is the information reliable? Will Alpha Alaric really come to this suite tonight?” My omega best friend Lila’s voice was syrupy sweet with excitement: “I paid five thousand dollars for insider information—he’ll be here at eleven sharp. Think about it: his mate died years ago, and he’s remained faithful to her memory ever since. If he opens the door to find a woman who resembles his late wife…” She laughed coldly. “Why would he refuse meat delivered to his mouth? Once he’s pleased, those development rights for the northern Red Pine Forest will be ours!” Listening to their scheming whispers outside, I bit down hard on my tongue, barely suppressing the waves of dizziness. I’d spent three months developing proposals for Caleb’s failing pack project. I’d treated Lila as my only friend, even lending her the silver jewelry my mother left me. In return, they had sex in my rented apartment. And now they were using me as a bargaining chip, pricing me out to another Alpha’s bed. My stomach cramped. My nails dug deep into my palms, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the ice spreading through my heart. But they didn’t know—Alaric Voss is my father. His dead “white moonlight” was my mother. Three years ago, I mistakenly believed my mother’s death was connected to his affairs. In rage, I ran away from home and cut all contact. He never forced me to come back these three years, but someone kept secretly depositing money into my account. Even the apartment I rented belonged to Sunridge Pack. Caleb and Lila thought I was just an ordinary werewolf orphan living off a meager inheritance. That’s why they dared to be so reckless. But they forgot—Alaric Voss is famously protective. Years ago, when some noble family’s son publicly mocked me for having impure bloodlines, he was expelled from his pack the next day. His entire family ended up at the border. If Alaric sees his precious daughter drugged, stripped naked, and delivered to his bed as a gift by these scumbags… I could already envision their fate—unable to live, unable to die. “Oh!” Lila deliberately raised her voice. “Once we secure the forest project, we should finally have our wedding. Let’s get those silver wolf rings Lyra wanted but couldn’t afford as our wedding bands.” Caleb laughed indulgently. “Sure, we’ll use the money from selling her to buy you the best.” I stared at the silver moon carving on the headboard, my eyes cold as ice. The information was correct—my father would come tonight. Because today was his wedding anniversary with my mother. My mother died in this very hotel suite. Every year on this day, he spent the entire night here alone. Every year, ambitious packs sent women to his room. But this year’s “gift” was especially absurd. The next second, the door burst open. Caleb strode over, grabbed my hair, and yanked me up from the couch. My scalp screamed with tearing pain. “Lyra, don’t blame me. Blame yourself for having no background, no pack. You deserve to be a stepping stone. Even if you’re tortured to death tonight, you’d better keep Alpha Alaric happy!” No background? No pack? I looked at his smug face and smiled faintly. “Caleb, you’d better pray that after tonight, you can die with some dignity.” 0

“Still talking back!” Lila stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. My ears rang instantly. “Get her changed! Alpha Alaric will be here any minute!” She smiled viciously as she tore off my jacket and forced me into a black nightgown with barely any fabric. “You really look like a cheap whore.” Lila patted my face with satisfaction. I lay against the cold marble surface, enduring the ultimate humiliation, but my fingers slowly clenched into fists. They’d stripped the Sunridge Pack Alpha’s own daughter naked and sent her to her father’s bed. I would settle this account with interest. Caleb and Lila dragged me out of the room toward the master bedroom at the end of the hall. A dozen black-suited guards lined both sides of the corridor—all Sunridge Pack enforcers. The man leading them strode forward, tall and broad with a faint scar on his face. I squinted and recognized him—Rowan. Three years ago, he was just an outer guard who needed advance clearance to enter my home. Now he’d become Sunridge Pack’s head of security in Chicago. Caleb and Lila’s arrogance instantly evaporated. They bent nearly double, faces full of flattering smiles: “Rowan, we’ve brought the girl for you.” Rowan glanced down at them with eyes like ice-dipped blades, finally settling coldly on me. “You know Alpha Alaric’s rules? Anyone sent here must be completely clean, no ulterior motives.” Caleb nodded frantically. “Yes, yes! Absolutely clean, absolutely obedient!” Rowan snorted coldly, looking me up and down: “Alpha Alaric is in a foul mood tonight. He needs something to take his mind off things. If you don’t serve him well, you two will share the consequences.” Caleb shuddered and shoved me forward. “Are you mute? Answer Rowan!” I steadied myself and laughed coldly. “You’re all really asking for death.” Caleb flew into a rage and raised his hand to slap me again. I dodged. His slap met air and he nearly lost his balance. Rowan watched this farce coldly, his gaze pausing on my face with a flash of confusion. He felt like he’d seen this face before but couldn’t remember where. “You’ve got nerve,” he said slowly. “Other women would be weak in the knees hearing about consequences.” He scanned me again, his tone playful: “Alpha Alaric’s temper is running hot tonight. He needs someone with a hard spine to grind down. Your fearless attitude might just be what he likes. If you can make Alpha Alaric happy, there’ll be rewards for you all.” Caleb’s eyes lit up at these words. Thinking my half-dead appearance had actually impressed them, he grew bolder, grabbing my hair and forcing my head back. “Look, Rowan! This face, this body—guaranteed to satisfy Alpha Alaric!” His eyes darted, and he lowered his voice to build connections: “Rowan, if I may ask—why is Alpha Alaric in a bad mood tonight? Give us a hint so we know what we’re dealing with.” Before he finished, Rowan’s eyes sharpened, looking at him like a corpse. “Alpha Alaric’s private affairs are something a minor branch character like you can ask about?” Caleb’s face turned liver-colored as he apologized repeatedly: “Yes, yes, it’s my fault! I talked too much!” To cover his fear, he took all his anger out on me, kicking me hard in the stomach. “Bitch! Get in there and serve him! Once you’re inside, even if you have to wag your tail like a dog, you’d better make Alpha Alaric comfortable!” The kick sent me stumbling forward, my abdomen churning with pain. I supported myself against the cold doorframe and slowly straightened. Caleb just asked why Alaric was in a bad mood? I laughed silently to myself. Probably because his dead wife’s anniversary was approaching and his only daughter had been missing for three years. Who wouldn’t be in a bad mood? And to cheer him up, they were sending in his own daughter as a gift. Alaric—I really want to see your expression when that door opens. 0

I pushed open the heavy wooden door. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, a full North American gray wolf pelt carpeted the floor, and the air carried the scent of cedar—luxurious yet solemn. Caleb’s eyes went wide. “Fuck… how many land shares is that oil painting on the wall worth?” Lila’s eyes filled with greed. “Just one silver ornament would be enough to buy us half a small pack!” Caleb laughed lewdly: “Once this bitch serves Alpha Alaric well, maybe he’ll reward us with some hunting grounds to play with!” I leaned against the door, expressionless. My gaze swept over the giant oil painting on the center wall. The woman in it stood in a cedar forest, her eyes gentle—my mother. On the black ebony table beside it sat a family photo. The little girl in the picture rode on her father’s shoulders, smiling brilliantly. Seeing me stare at the painting, Rowan frowned and warned coldly: “Keep your inappropriate thoughts to yourself. Your type only gets through this door because you somewhat resemble Luna Lilwen.” When I showed no reaction to his mockery, he lost patience and grabbed my wrist, his eyes brazenly scanning the thin nightgown I wore. “If Alpha Alaric weren’t such a clean freak, I’d teach you the rules right now myself.” I smiled mockingly: “Is this how Sunridge Pack manages its subordinates? Looks like you really should be exiled to the northern border.” Rowan exploded with rage and raised his hand to strike. Just then, a sharp female voice rang out from behind: “Stop!” A woman in a red dress walked in on high heels, her makeup immaculate, her aura haughty. It was Serena, Sunridge Pack’s Beta. She’d made advances to Alaric multiple times, only to be coldly rejected, but she never gave up. Her gaze landed on my face, instantly filling with the poison of jealousy. “That face…” She walked over and gripped my chin with her fingertips, so hard it felt like she wanted to crush my bones. “A lowly plaything dares to have a face similar to Luna Lilwen’s? Kneel!” I yanked her hand away, my eyes cold as ice: “Take your filthy hands off me. What makes you think you can make me kneel? Before you touch me, you’d better think carefully whether Alaric will throw you to the wild wolves in the forest.” Serena laughed in fury, her face twisting. “Courting death!” She swung her hand to slap me hard. I jerked my head aside. Her slap met air and she stumbled awkwardly. “Who do you think you are?!” Serena shrieked hysterically. I smiled faintly. “What if I told you I’m the one person Alaric wants most in this life but can’t have? Would you believe me?” After all, he’d sent countless people to find me these past three years, and I never appeared once. So technically, I was indeed unattainable. As my words fell, the room went dead silent. Serena froze for a moment, then her malice exploded completely: “Let’s see—after I carve up your face, how you’ll keep up this act! Hold her down!” Caleb immediately lunged forward, pinning me to the cold floor. “Beta Serena, please calm down! This bitch just doesn’t know her place! She’s got cheap bones—do whatever you want with her. Even if you cripple her, it’s on me!” Lila quickly followed, stomping hard on my hand pressed against the floor. The pain shot through my fingers straight to my heart. Cold sweat instantly soaked my back. Serena smiled coldly as she picked up a silver letter opener from the table, slowly crouching down and using the cold blade to lift my chin. “‘Unattainable’—you’re just relying on that face to seduce.” The blade’s edge slid along my skin, bringing the tremor of death. A drop of crimson blood slid slowly down the silver blade and splattered on the gray wolf pelt carpet. “If I carve the word ‘whore’ into your face, do you think Alpha Alaric will even look at you?” Serena raised the letter opener high, about to stab down viciously. As extreme danger closed in, I jerked my head back and screamed that name with all my strength: “Alaric Voss! Get out here! If anything happens to me, you’ll never see me again for the rest of your life!” 0

My words were followed by eerie silence. Then Serena burst into shrill laughter: “What a lunatic! You dare call Alpha Alaric by his full name! You must be tired of living!” Her eyes grew more vicious, the blade’s tip pressing deeper into my face. Searing pain exploded like an electric current. “Hold her down! Hold her tight!” Caleb didn’t hesitate, increasing the pressure and grinding my entire face into the cold floor. My finger bones made a sickening crack. The pain made my vision go black. Cold sweat instantly soaked my back. The man I’d poured my heart into helping was now personally holding me on the chopping block, serving as the executioner’s most loyal accomplice. A burning line of blood spread from the corner of my eye to my temple. Blood instantly blurred my vision. Serena let out a sick laugh. “Once I ruin this face, let’s see what you have left to be arrogant about!” Caleb flattered her: “Beta Serena is right! If you’re still not satisfied, carve the word and take some nude photos. Let’s see how she shows her face in the werewolf community after this!” Lila mocked: “Just scarring her face is too easy on her. Why not strip her naked and throw her in the snow outside the hotel entrance? Let everyone see what happens when you offend Beta Serena!” I listened to their celebration, a coppery sweetness rising in my throat. Every wound they left on me would become an epitaph carved on their pack’s tombstone. My father’s methods would teach them what it means to be unable to live, unable to die. The next second, Caleb reached out toward the neckline of my nightgown. I struggled violently, the remnants of my wolf strength exploding in this moment. But his knee ground more viciously into my spine. My bones made a dull sound. “Stop struggling. You’re just a piece of rotten meat for the slaughter.” Ultimate humiliation swallowed me whole. Serena laughed even more cruelly, grabbing the last bit of fabric on me and yanking hard. Her other hand pulled out her phone, quickly opening a private werewolf forum, about to start a livestream. “Throwing her out isn’t enough. I want the entire werewolf community to see just how cheap this bitch really is!” At this critical moment! With an deafening crash, that hundred-pound solid wood door was kicked open from outside. A towering figure wrapped in monstrous rage walked in against the light. “Who gave you permission to run wild in my territory!” The madness on Serena’s face instantly transformed to delight. She held up her phone, her voice cloying: “Alpha Alaric! Perfect timing! I was just disciplining a new toy who doesn’t know her place!” Caleb quickly looked up, wagging his tail like a lap dog: “Alpha Alaric! We specifically found you a woman who looks exactly like Luna Lilwen, absolutely clean! We only ask that in recognition of our sincerity, you grant us development rights to the northern forest!” The man’s footsteps stopped abruptly. His gaze pierced through the crowd, landing hard on me lying in a pool of blood. Seeing my blood-covered face clearly. Seeing my torn clothing clearly. Seeing the defiance and mockery in my eyes clearly. His commanding Alpha presence crumbled instantly.

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I was born with stunning beauty. When I was born, doctors and nurses were instantly speechless. Every day, long lines formed outside the nursery, with people craning their necks to catch a glimpse. The media reported on it for three days straight, and I trended online for a month. In preschool, kids would fight over the spot next to me during naptime. My parents, frustrated, moved me from one school to another. Until I turned five, and my inner foodie awakened. In just a few years, I ate myself into a little ball. Looking at my chubby face, my parents smiled with relief. “A little chubby is fine, as long as Summer is happy.” From then on, my life was peaceful and calm. Until a class dinner after the SATs, when Scarlett Lane, the prettiest girl in class, chuckled: “They say every chubby person is a diamond in the rough. Summer Reed would probably be gorgeous if she lost weight.” One of the boys even chimed in: “If Summer loses weight and is half as pretty as Scarlett, I’ll ask her out!” “Oh, just losing weight won’t be enough, Summer would have to go under the knife…” Their words didn’t stir a single emotion in me. I just looked down, bothered by a message from my mom. [The doctor said being overweight isn’t good for your health, Summer. You have to start dieting today! Otherwise, Mom’s taking away all your dolls!] I sighed. For the sake of my precious dolls, this weight had to go.

Snickers kept ringing out in the restaurant. Everyone saw me with my head down, not speaking, and assumed I’d been hit where it hurt, too ashamed to utter a sound. A few classmates exchanged glances, a playful look flashing across their faces, and continued: “I heard Scarlett and Summer both got into NYU’s Fine Arts department, right? So you’ll be classmates in college too.” “NYU is lucky; it’s about to welcome a super beauty. Scarlett’s definitely going to be the school queen for the next four years.” “Summer, don’t you dare say you were high school classmates with Scarlett when college starts, you’ll embarrass her.” Scarlett was sitting across from me, a smug smirk on her lips, but she said humbly: “Oh, don’t say that, guys. NYU’s Fine Arts department is known for its beautiful students, and who knows, maybe Summer will be even prettier than me when she slims down.” As soon as she finished speaking, the table erupted in a chorus of snickers. Maya Green, my deskmate and friend, couldn’t take it anymore and nudged my arm under the table. I finally pulled my attention away from my phone, looking blankly at everyone. “Huh? What’s up?” Just then, the waiter pushed the door open. I sniffed, my eyes lighting up. “Steak! My favorite!” As soon as the dish was on the table, I couldn’t wait to grab a large piece and happily started munching. The dining table fell silent for a moment, then everyone burst into laughter. “Scarlett, you overestimated her. Summer? She’ll never lose weight in her life!” “And that whole ‘every chubby person is a diamond in the rough’ thing? It’s just a load of crap. An ugly duckling is just an ugly duckling, no matter how much weight they lose.” “Summer, maybe eat a little less. You might never find a boyfriend, you know.” Maya fumed, clenching her fists, about to retort on my behalf. I grabbed her hand and put a piece of rib in her bowl. “Maya, try this. It’s super delicious!” Seeing my calm face, completely unfazed by their words, a flicker of resentment flashed in Scarlett’s eyes. Her gaze landed on a certain face, and she smiled as if by accident. “Summer won’t be looking for a boyfriend, otherwise, Dylan will get mad.” I looked at her strangely. What does my dating life have to do with Dylan Hayes? But as soon as she said that, a few classmates instantly caught on and started cheering loudly: “Oh yeah, didn’t Dylan often discuss problems with Summer?” “Summer’s not good at math, and Dylan even tutored her.” “I heard they’re neighbors! Aren’t they practically childhood sweethearts!” “Hehe, is our class about to have a new couple?” Mocking glances fell on Dylan, who was seated diagonally from me. He lowered his head, his fair face turning a little red. Everyone kept cheering, asking if he was shy. I frowned slightly. After moving to this city in middle school, Dylan became our neighbor. Dylan’s parents were busy with work and no one cooked at home. So my parents would often invite him over for dinner. He was very grateful to us, and when he learned I wasn’t good at math, he offered to tutor me. But all that was just out of neighborly and classmate kindness. How did it sound so trashy coming out of their mouths? I was about to protest when Dylan suddenly slammed his fork down, his face flushing with furious embarrassment. “I just felt sorry for her! Who would ever like that pig, Summer!” As his words hung in the air, the entire private room fell into a dead silence. The words I was about to say to explain for him caught in my throat, and I silently swallowed them back down.

The silence lasted for about ten seconds. Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Suddenly, someone snickered. “We were just kidding, Dylan. Don’t take it seriously.” They said it was a joke, but their faces showed a satisfied expression. “Yeah, our Dylan is so handsome, he can get any girlfriend he wants. Why would he ever be with Summer?” Someone even pretended to comfort me, patting my shoulder. “Don’t be sad, Summer.” Scarlett concealed the satisfaction in her eyes, feigning annoyance at Dylan for a few words. Then she picked up a piece of fried chicken and put it in my bowl. “Summer, don’t worry about it so much. Eat more.” But I put down my fork and started wiping my mouth. “I’m done. You guys carry on. I’m leaving.” Actually, I was only five-parts full. But due to my mother’s threat, I had to painfully give it up. As I walked towards the door, I passed Dylan’s seat. Brushing past him, I said flatly: “Dylan, you’re pretty spineless.” His face instantly went pale. He wanted to distance himself from me. I understood. After all, in this class, anyone who was friends with me would be maliciously targeted by Scarlett and her clique. But what truly angered me was that not long before college entrance exams, he had sworn to me. He hated Scarlett’s crew. He would firmly stand by me and would never do anything to hurt a classmate like them. But in that moment, I realized how much he hated being associated with me. Forget it. Just consider it seeing a friend’s true colors. As soon as I left the private room, my friend Maya Green ran after me. She hooked her arm through mine and said: “I don’t want to eat with them either. You didn’t get enough to eat, did you, Summer? Come on, let’s go to the food truck park!” “I heard some new food trucks opened, and their loaded fries are to die for!” I wiped away the drool that was about to escape, and reluctantly refused: “No more eating! I’m starting my diet.” Maya’s eyes widened. This was the first time I’d ever refused her food invitation. She thought of something and said anxiously: “Summer, don’t listen to them. I really always thought you were beautiful, you…” I smiled and cut her off, explaining that my mother had issued the threat. When she learned it was my own decision, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, patting my shoulder and saying: “Go for it! I’ll be supporting you from the sidelines!” I’m 5’7″, and my current weight is 170 pounds. According to international BMI, if I lose weight down to around 120-130 pounds, I’ll be in the healthy range. I spent a day creating a diet plan. Mom reviewed it and nodded in satisfaction. “Don’t worry, Summer. Mom will strictly follow the meal plan and make your diet food!” Dad, however, looked pained. “Just a few vegetable leaves, will that be enough to eat? Summer, maybe we shouldn’t lose weight after all…” Unfortunately, he didn’t finish before Mom pinched his arm. “Did you forget what the doctor said? Summer is already mildly obese. It’ll affect her health if this continues!” Dad, however, looked worried. “Did you forget about Summer when she was little? What if she really loses weight and then…” Mom recalled those days. She had to leave an hour early every day to pick me up from preschool. Otherwise, I might very well be taken home by other parents. Our phone was set to block unknown numbers. Otherwise, from morning till night, it would be ringing off the hook with strangers trying to get close to our family. But I was still too young back then to remember much. My parents exchanged glances, and finally, they both agreed to let me lose weight first. They say girls change a lot as they grow up. What if she grows up… not beautiful? They just hoped I could live a normal life. The next morning at five, I went for a run. An hour later, I reached a park and was about to stop and rest. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice, filled with disbelief. “Summer?”

Walking towards me was Scarlett, dressed in a workout outfit, her hair slightly damp, clearly having just finished a run herself. She looked me up and down, suspiciously asking, “You’re not on a diet, are you?” I ignored her. After resting for a few minutes, I started running again. She stared at my retreating back, a dark current swirling in her eyes. A few days later. Someone in the high school SnapChat group suddenly posted a video. In the clip, I was running by the river. Sweat drenched my top, and the fat on my body jiggled slightly with each stride. I was so tired my lips were pale, and my bangs stuck to my forehead, looking quite disheveled. Soon, someone turned the video into a GIF, and then someone else made it into a meme. [What is Summer doing?!] [Isn’t it obvious? Summer’s obviously dieting!] [OMG, I never saw her diet for three years in high school. Now that college entrance exams are over, she’s dieting? Did our words get to her?] [Summer, sorry! We really didn’t mean to say you were fat!] After sending that message, the person followed it with another meme of me, captioned, “I truly regret it.” Then, the screen was filled with “hahahahas.” Suddenly, someone posted: [What else could she be dieting for at this crucial moment? To find a boyfriend in college, duh.] [I thought Summer only cared about food! Turns out she actually listened to our advice!] I knew immediately that Scarlett had told everyone about my morning run. And then a bunch of bored guys came to stake me out. No wonder I felt like someone was watching me this morning. I was unaffected by their mockery. Instead, I felt a little grateful for the motivation they gave me to keep going. Although I didn’t know what I would look like when I lost weight. But based on what my parents occasionally said about my childhood, I thought I was… not ugly. For a while after that, whenever I passed that park during my morning runs, I would always see a few classmates. They would shout at me: “Go, Summer! Believe in yourself, you’re a diamond in the rough!” If you ignored the mockery in their eyes, you might actually think they were cheering me on. But their interest came and went quickly; they were soon distracted by other things and stopped appearing. After consistently doing this for a month, I successfully lost ten pounds. Although my face was still chubby, my features and contours looked much smoother than before. My body also felt lighter. Sometimes, my parents would stare at my face, a worried expression inexplicably appearing. I scratched my head. Were they worried I was taking diet pills? In mid-July, I got a gym membership. I would go there to work out for three hours every day. One day, as I left the house, I unexpectedly ran into Dylan, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. He was just coming out to take out the trash, and he paused when he saw me, blurting out: “Summer, you’ve lost some weight.” I gave him a distant nod. And walked towards the bus stop. He hesitated, then followed me. “Summer, I’ve been wanting to apologize to you about that day. I’m sorry… I really wasn’t thinking.” I hummed in acknowledgment. His words hadn’t actually hurt me much. I had just used them to see someone’s true colors. He continued to follow me. “My school is right next to NYU. We can still hang out during college, right?” Seeing his face full of guilt and his sincere attitude, I suddenly remembered what my mom had told me. Dylan’s family situation wasn’t just that his parents were busy with work. His parents had divorced a long time ago, and neither of them really wanted to take care of him. He had an aloof personality and few friends; I was one of the few people he could talk to. I sighed and didn’t stop him from continuing to follow me. He followed me to the gym and watched me expertly turn on the treadmill, surprised. “Summer, it looks like you’re really determined.” Then he also turned on the treadmill next to mine and smiled. “I’ve been wanting to work out lately too. I’ll join you.” I didn’t refuse. He paid for his own membership, so it wasn’t my business. After that, he chatted with me intermittently. I occasionally responded with a few bland words. I had only been working out for a while when I heard several “click-click” sounds nearby. I turned my head and saw a few familiar faces – Scarlett’s crew.

Scarlett stood nearby, watching us with a sweet smile. The person taking photos teased: “Look what I caught! Dylan and Summer! Are you guys on a date?” Dylan fell silent. He got off the treadmill and walked towards the group. I thought he was going to grab their phones. But to my surprise, he walked straight up to Scarlett, saying helplessly yet dotingly: “Didn’t you tell me to get close to her first? Why are you here?” Scarlett wrapped her arms around his arm and smirked: “Because I was jealous! Who could stand seeing their boyfriend working out with another girl?” The others burst into laughter, seeing my stunned expression. “How did you get exposed so quickly? We wanted to watch the show for a bit longer.” “Yeah, don’t just shatter Summer’s beautiful fantasy like that! She probably just thought Dylan liked her.” Dylan looked at me coldly and said: “Summer, don’t misunderstand. The person I like is Scarlett. I hope you don’t harbor any unrealistic ideas about me.” My mouth twitched. I started to wonder if they were missing a few brain cells. Not wanting to deal with them, I decided to leave. Scarlett suddenly walked over and grabbed my hand, saying guiltily: “Summer, I’m so sorry! We didn’t mean to!” I pulled my hand away. The next second, she wailed and fell to the ground. Her eyes reddened as she said, “It hurts so much…” Dylan angrily rushed forward and pushed me away. “Summer, what are you doing?!” Everyone in the gym stopped, looking over in surprise. When they saw the pretty girl on the floor, seemingly pushed by me, a chorus of indignant voices rose: “Ugly people always cause trouble. She’s just jealous that Scarlett’s prettier than her.” “She’s trying to lose weight, but she won’t ever be half as pretty as Scarlett.” Scarlett was helped up, looking at me with a mocking smirk. I stared at her expressionlessly. “Scarlett, is this fun?” Scarlett leaned closer, whispering in my ear with a smile: “Oh, it’s a blast. You didn’t know? Being pretty means you can get away with anything.” “Too bad you’ll never get to experience it.” With that, she walked away triumphantly, surrounded by her adoring group. She had once led the class in isolating a freckled girl, even bullying her in the girls’ restroom. I had stopped her. After that girl transferred, Scarlett turned her animosity towards me. There were still over two months until school started. Scarlett would definitely find ways to cause me trouble. I was afraid I’d eventually lose my temper and actually get into a fight with her. I thought, maybe I should suggest to Mom that we go live at Grandma’s in the countryside. There was no gym there. But there were natural lakes that could be used as swimming pools. And all sorts of winding mountain paths for exercise. The food was fresh fruits and vegetables Grandma picked from the garden, with no additives. Nutritious and healthy. For the next two months, I began intensive training. The fat on my body shed at a visible rate. Almost every so often, Grandma and Grandpa would stare at my face in a daze. When I reached 140 pounds, Grandma held my hand, sounding a little panicked: “Summer, that’s enough. Any more and it’ll be dangerous.” But I was already enjoying it, smiling, “Don’t worry, Grandma, I won’t get too thin. My goal is 125 pounds!” Grandma sighed. She wasn’t worried about me being too thin. In a flash, it was enrollment day. Scarlett confidently walked through the school gates, pulling her suitcase and flipping her hair. As soon as she appeared, many upperclassmen eagerly rushed over to help her with her luggage. She handed all her bags to them, idly scrolling through her phone. Suddenly, a message popped up in the high school SnapChat group. [OMG! Is this even Summer anymore?!] Then someone posted a photo. The moment she saw the picture, Scarlett froze.

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Eight months pregnant, I went into premature labor. As they wheeled me into the delivery room, I frantically called my husband, Owen. The call connected, and I heard the loud, thumping music of a bar in the background. His new colleague, Eve, answered the phone. “Karen, Owen’s had too much to drink. I’m taking care of him, so don’t worry.” Before I could even speak, Owen’s voice drifted over, clearly unaware the call was connected. “Text my wife back. Tell her I’m working late on a project tonight and she shouldn’t wait up.” Eve chuckled, her hand over the phone. “Got it, Owen.” I spent an agonizing, heart-wrenching night alone in the delivery room. After our baby was born, Owen sent a message: “Project’s finally wrapped up. I’ll be back tomorrow to be with you.” I stared at the words for a long time. At 4 AM, I replied: “Owen, don’t bother coming.” “Stop looking at your phone. If he really wanted to come, he would’ve been here by now.” My mom, Brenda, sat by my hospital bed, her eyes red-rimmed from exhaustion. She held a cup of warm water, moistening my chapped lips with a cotton swab, bit by bit. The anesthesia was just wearing off, and sharp pains shot through my abdominal incision. I stared at the fluorescent light on the ceiling, my vision still a little blurry. A nurse pushed a medication cart in and checked the name tag above my bed. “The patient’s awake? How are you feeling?” I parted my lips slightly. “The baby?” The nurse took my blood pressure, her voice softening. “The baby was premature and underweight. We sent them straight to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit right after birth.” “They’re currently in an incubator for observation. You’re not strong enough to hold them yet.” Brenda turned her back, secretly wiping away tears. When she turned back around, her voice was still trembling. “You had a massive hemorrhage last night. When the doctors handed me the critical condition waiver, my hands were shaking so bad I could barely sign it.” “I called him over a dozen times, but he hung up every single one.” I didn’t speak, just slowly shifted my gaze to the phone on my pillow. The screen was lit, showing a few unread messages on Ins. All from Owen. “Still mad? Last night really was a client dinner for the project.” “The client added another round at the last minute, and I couldn’t say no. The whole team was depending on that deal.” “Eve said you called. Don’t get the wrong idea, she’s just a fresh grad who was kind enough to answer when I was too drunk.” “You’re pregnant, don’t be so paranoid. It’s not good for the baby.” I stared at that last sentence, a heavy feeling in my chest. Yesterday afternoon, at my prenatal check-up, the doctor said the baby’s heartbeat was abnormal and recommended immediate hospitalization. I called him, but he said he was in a meeting. That night, my stomach pains were so bad I couldn’t stand straight. My water broke right there on the living room floor. Brenda helped me wait for the ambulance, and I dialed his number with trembling hands. But it was Eve who answered. Her lighthearted voice mingled with the music from the private room. And then Owen’s casual words: “Use my phone, you know the password.” A nurse approached my bed with a stack of papers. “Karen, here are the baby’s admission forms and your visitor wristband. Please review the information and sign.” Brenda reached for them, but the nurse pointed to one line. “Here, the father’s information section is blank. No contact number either.” “If there’s any emergency with the baby, we need to be able to contact both parents immediately.”

Brenda froze, then turned to look at me. I braced myself on the bed rail, trying to sit up a little. The pulling pain from my incision made me gasp. “No need to fill in his name.” I took the pen and signed my name under ‘Mother.’ “Leave the father’s section blank. My mom is the only emergency contact.” The nurse looked at me hesitantly. “But hospital policy states that only immediate family members registered on the visitor list can enter the NICU. If the father isn’t registered, he won’t be allowed in.” “He doesn’t need to go in.” I handed the pen back to the nurse, my voice so calm it surprised even myself. “He won’t come anyway.” The nurse didn’t ask anything else, gathered the forms, and left. My phone vibrated again. A voice message from Owen popped up. “I have an investor meeting this morning, then I’m heading back to the office this afternoon.” “You stay home and rest, I’ll bring home those western desserts you love tonight.” “Don’t be mad anymore. Once the baby’s born, you’ll be too tired to cause trouble.” He didn’t even know I wasn’t home. He had no idea that the child he thought “still had two months to go” was currently lying in an incubator, hooked up to tubes. I didn’t reply, simply turned off the screen. Brenda tied the visitor wristband on my wrist. It read: “Karen’s Baby.” In my early pregnancy, when Owen first heard the baby’s heartbeat, his eyes were red-rimmed. He held my hand, pressing it against his face. He said, “Karen, from now on, you and our child are the most important people to me.” He even bought a thick “New Dad’s Guidebook” and solemnly wrote “Baby Countdown” on the cover. But now, the countdown had ended early. And the man who vowed to be the first to hold our child had given his private password and time to another woman. I closed my eyes, but no tears fell. I only had one instruction for the nurse. “Please set my room number to private. Don’t tell anyone.” “The baby can’t be held yet, Mama can only look for five minutes.” The nurse pushed my wheelchair, stopping me outside the NICU’s glass window. The corridor reeked of disinfectant, and the cold air seeped through my oversized hospital gown, chilling me to the bone. I gripped the armrests of the wheelchair, trying to straighten up and peer inside. In the incubator, a tiny body was curled up. Its skin was reddish-purple, and a thin IV was taped to its arm. So small, even breathing seemed incredibly strenuous. A transparent identification band was tied to its wrist. It clearly read in black marker: “Karen’s Baby”. The father’s section remained blank. I reached out through the glass, my fingertips pressed against the cold surface, as if I could feel its warmth. My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. I pulled my hand back and took out the phone. It was a voice message from Eve. “Karen, Owen’s got a bad headache today. He fell asleep in the office.” “I gave him a hangover pill. Don’t blame him, the client was really difficult last night.” “He’s just trying to earn money for your baby’s formula, you know.” In the background, Owen’s slightly hoarse mumble could be heard. “Eve, get me some water.” “Coming right up, Owen.” The voice message ended abruptly there. I stared at the green bar on the screen, feeling a wave of nausea. I had just fought my way back from the brink of death, and I couldn’t even turn over without Brenda’s help.

My baby was in an incubator, hooked up to tubes, too weak to even cry. And my husband was sleeping soundly, being cared for by another woman. He even tacitly allowed her to update me on his whereabouts, in the tone of a partial mistress. The nurse came over and handed me a sheet. “Karen, this is the bill for the baby’s first two days in the NICU.” “Premature babies in incubators are quite expensive. You’ll need to go to the cashier to pay an additional deposit.” I nodded and took the sheet. The amount on the bill was substantial. I opened my mobile banking app and efficiently transferred money from my account to the hospital’s. Before, during prenatal check-ups, Owen always insisted on paying. He accompanied me for the 4D ultrasound, staring intently at the baby’s fuzzy outline on the screen. “Look at his tiny hands, so strong.” “When he’s born, I’m going to buy him the best crib, use the best of everything.” Those words still echoed in my ears. But now, when it was time to truly bear responsibility, he was completely absent. No sooner had I paid than another message from Owen popped up. “Honey, I’m awake.” “Still a bit dizzy. I might be back late tonight.” “Eat dinner by yourself, don’t wait for me.” He was still calling me “honey.” The term now felt like a joke. He thought I was still at home, that I was just sulking because he hadn’t answered my call. He had no idea that I no longer planned to wait for him. I put my phone on silent and slipped it back into my pocket. “Nurse, please take me back to my room.” As the wheelchair turned around, the urgent beeping of instruments suddenly rang out from the NICU. A doctor in a sterile gown hurried out, holding a document. “Karen’s family present?” Brenda rushed forward. “Yes, I’m the patient’s mother.” The doctor’s expression was grave. “The baby just experienced a brief respiratory arrest and a drop in heart rate. We’re performing emergency interventions.” “This is the emergency treatment consent form. Family needs to sign immediately.” Brenda’s face went ashen, her hands shaking so much she couldn’t hold the pen. I struggled to lean forward from the wheelchair and snatched the pen. “I’ll sign it.” The pen scraped across the paper with an awful sound. I signed my name, putting all my strength into each stroke. Just as I handed the consent form to the doctor, my screen lit up. Owen had sent a photo. It was a cake with candles. The caption read: “It’s Eve’s birthday tonight, team dinner. I’ll be back late.” “Respiratory arrest is common in premature babies, but we can’t take any chances each time.” The doctor held the signed consent form, his tone serious. “The baby’s lungs are not fully developed yet. The next 24 hours are critical.” “The family should be prepared. Resuscitation might be needed again at any time.” I leaned back against the wheelchair, my nails digging deep into my palms. “I understand. Please do your best.” The red light on the emergency room door glowed, blindingly bright. The corridor was so quiet I could only hear the hum of the ventilation fan. Brenda sat on a nearby bench, hands clasped, muttering prayers. I looked down at my phone screen. Owen’s cake photo was still at the bottom of our chat. An exquisite fondant cake, with “Happy Birthday, Eve” written on it. I didn’t reply. A few minutes later, his call came through.

The screen showed “My Husband.” I pressed the answer button but didn’t speak immediately. Loud cheers and clinking glasses came from the other end. Owen’s voice held a hint of impatience. “Karen, how long are you going to keep this up?” “You don’t reply to my messages, and you won’t answer my calls.” “It’s Eve’s birthday, the whole project team is here. Is it appropriate for me not to show up?” He paused, his tone softening slightly, adopting his usual coaxing manner. “I know it was wrong of me not to answer your call last night.” “But you’re an adult. Don’t always act like a little girl, being passive-aggressive.” “How about this? Tomorrow, I’ll cancel my morning meeting and specifically go to your prenatal check-up with you, okay?” Listening to his matter-of-fact arrangements, I found it absurd. “Tomorrow, he’ll accompany me to my prenatal check-up.” He had no idea that the child he thought still needed prenatal check-ups was currently fighting for its life in the emergency room just through that wall. I looked at the closed emergency room door, my voice very soft. “Owen.” “What if something really happened to me last night?” The other end of the line went silent for a moment. The background noise seemed to fade a little; he must have stepped outside the private room. “What are you talking about?” His tone was clearly reproachful. “You’re pregnant, can you stop trying to scare me with talk like that?” “So I didn’t answer your call? Do you really have to bring yourself into it?” “The baby still has two months until birth, we have time to prepare everything.” “You’re being so sensitive and paranoid right now, it’s really giving me a headache.” Suddenly, I felt incredibly tired. I didn’t even have the energy to argue back. He attributed all his screw-ups and absences to my “pregnancy sensitivity.” He used his supposed logic to shut down my pleas for help completely. “Okay.” I responded calmly. “I’m not going to cause trouble anymore.” Owen seemed to let out a sigh of relief. “That’s right. You stay home and get some good rest.” “I’ll bring dessert back later.” The call disconnected. I tapped his profile picture and went into settings. I changed his contact name from “My Husband” to “Owen.” Then I opened the hospital app and, on the emergency contact page for the delivery room, I completely deleted his name. Brenda watched my actions, hesitant to speak. “Karen, are you really not going to tell him?” “He is the baby’s biological father, after all.” I looked at Eve’s latest SnapChat story. She had posted a photo of herself holding a cake, with Owen’s profile partially visible in the background. The caption read: “Thanks, Owen! Wish granted.” I closed SnapChat, opened my contacts, and dialed a number. “John, my lawyer, it’s me.” “Please draft a divorce settlement agreement for me.” “As quickly as possible.” “You’re pregnant, running off to the hospital without telling me?” Owen’s voice echoed down the outpatient clinic hallway. I was leaning against the wall, about to go to the front desk to pay the past two days’ hospital fees. The oversized hospital gown made me look pale and weak. I stopped and turned to the source of the voice. Owen, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, looked at me with a frown. His right arm was tightly linked with Eve’s. Eve was standing on one foot, leaning most of her weight against him. She was wearing a white dress today, the hem just reaching her knees, revealing a small red and swollen area on her ankle. “Karen, why are you at the hospital?”

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My boyfriend, Eduardo, suddenly changed direction halfway through our drive. We’d been together for five years. “We’re not seeing my parents today.” I looked at him, confused. We’d been planning this meeting for ages. He grabbed a beautifully wrapped teddy bear from the back seat and handed it to me. “It’s my son’s first birthday party later. As my girlfriend, it wouldn’t be right for you to show up empty-handed.” My mind went blank. “Your… son?” “Yeah, a mistake I made a year ago. His mom has a bad temper, and I couldn’t let my son grow up without a complete family.” He spoke as if discussing the weather. “You always wanted to move to this city, right? Now you’re here; it’s like your dream has come true.” I clutched the resignation letter I’d written for him, my nails digging into my palms. Yes, I was here. But it seemed like I was completely superfluous. Eduardo didn’t seem to notice my frozen posture. He simply started the car. He even smiled, ruffling my hair. “Ellis, I know you’re upset, but Susan is just a straight shooter; she doesn’t mean any harm.” “You know, it’s not easy for a single mom raising a child. I have to take responsibility.” “She and I are just co-parenting for Ronald. You’re the only one I truly love.” I looked at him, my throat feeling like it was stuffed with cotton. Susan, that was the name he’d saved as “Client S” on his phone. For the past year, that name always lit up his screen late at night. He always said it was a demanding client, and for our future, he had to tolerate them. I believed him. Only now did I realize it wasn’t a client. It was his other family. I looked at the teddy bear he’d given me, with cute cartoon characters printed on the wrapping paper. The irony hit me like a physical slap. “So, for this past year, while you were planning a future with me, you were also playing husband and father to another woman?” My voice trembled uncontrollably. He frowned, a hint of impatience in his tone. “What are you talking about? We’re not legally married.” “If she hadn’t threatened me with Ronald, I wouldn’t have bothered with her at all.” “Ellis, you’ve always been so sensible, and you understood the hardships of my startup. Don’t throw a tantrum over this.” “Our five years together, can it really be less significant than an accident?” I stared at him. Five years ago, we were crammed into a tiny rented apartment. He held my research manuscript, his eyes burning with excitement. “Ellis, believe me, this cardiac intervention repair technology will change the world!” “When the company goes public, the first thing I’ll do is marry you and make you the happiest woman in the world.” For that promise, I gave up the opportunity to study abroad. I invested all the inheritance my parents left me, along with myself, into him. I became his shadow, helping him overcome one technical challenge after another. And he, standing in the spotlight, became a successful young tech entrepreneur. Now, the company was finally on track, and our marital home was about to be ready. I had even written my resignation letter for him, preparing to completely become a stay-at-home partner. But he told me he had a son. I slowly crumpled the resignation letter into a ball. “Eduardo, we’re over.” He paused, then laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke. “Had enough drama yet?” “You’ve been with me since you were twenty; you gave your best years to me. Who else would want you besides me?” “Ellis, you have no family name, no connections. The job you have was thanks to me. How would you survive without me?” He parked the car in front of a lavish hotel. “Go think about it carefully. Don’t be so childish.” “I’m going up first. Adjust your mood before you come up. Don’t embarrass me.” The car door closed, cutting off his retreating figure. I leaned on the steering wheel, a wave of nausea churning in my stomach. Eduardo was wrong. I wasn’t the one who couldn’t leave him. I gazed at the dazzling neon lights outside the window for a long time before picking up my phone. I dialed a number I hadn’t touched in five years.

I sat in the car for a long time until Eduardo impatiently called me. “Ellis, how long do you plan to make a scene? Everyone’s watching, hurry up and come in!” I pushed open the car door and walked into the banquet hall. The entire hall was decorated like a fairytale castle. On the large screen in the center, intimate family photos of the three of them scrolled by. Eduardo held an infant who shared some of his features, smiling tenderly. A pure-looking woman leaned against him, her face radiating happiness. That woman was Susan. Seeing me enter, Susan immediately clung to Eduardo’s arm, her eyes welling up instantly. “Eduardo, why is she here?” “Didn’t you say today was Ronald’s first birthday party, our family affair?” “I told you long ago, I don’t want a title, and I don’t want to ruin your relationship. But I can’t let my son be pointed at!” Eduardo quickly pulled her into his embrace, soothing her gently. “Don’t overthink it. Ellis is here to wish Ronald well.” He looked at me, his eyes carrying both command and warning. “Ellis, quickly give Ronald his gift, then apologize to Susan. This whole thing will be over.” My mind went blank. More potent than anger was the profound absurdity that chilled me to the bone. Five years ago, he held me and said, “Ellis, when we have our own home, I’ll give you the best of everything in the world.” But now, for the “family” he formed with another woman and child, he wanted me to bow my head and apologize. “Eduardo, why should I apologize?” His face darkened, and he lowered his voice. “Ellis, I don’t want to lose my temper today. Don’t push me.” “Susan has been worried about Ronald’s future because of you. Bringing you here today is to reassure her.” After a long standoff, I saw the blatant protectiveness and veiled threat in his eyes, and a bitter laugh escaped me. I spoke hoarsely, “Fine, I’ll apologize.” Eduardo’s expression softened, carrying a hint of “I knew you’d be sensible” smugness. He pulled me in front of Susan. “Ellis, hurry up.” Just as I was about to speak, Susan cut me off first. “Eduardo, I don’t need her apology.” She took the teddy bear from my hand and tossed it directly into a nearby trash can. “Something from a shameful other woman is bad luck. My Ronald can’t touch it.” She looked me up and down, her gaze scornful and cutting. “Ellis, right? Eduardo mentioned you. He said you were a loner, didn’t have many friends, and he was supporting you completely.” “Honestly, I pity you. At your age, with no family name, no qualifications, nothing but a man. Your life is such a failure.” “How about this, for Eduardo’s sake, I’ll have him arrange a cushy job for you cleaning toilets at the company. It’s better than clinging to him like this, barely scraping by, wouldn’t you say?” The surrounding guests erupted in laughter. Their mocking stares felt like needles, pricking me all over. I trembled with anger, a familiar dull ache spreading in my chest. “Eduardo, is that how you introduced me to her?” He avoided my gaze, his brows furrowed. “Alright, keep it down. Today is just about Ronald being happy.” He turned and picked up a glass of red wine from a waiter’s tray, offering it to me. “Ellis, Susan speaks her mind. Don’t take it to heart.” “Drink this glass, just for me.”

I stared at the crimson liquid, my hands and feet freezing cold. I had a congenital heart condition. Although it had stabilized after treatment, the doctor had strictly warned me against alcohol. Only Eduardo knew about this. Years ago, to celebrate the success of his first project, I took a drink for him and ended up having an attack, rushed to the ER. Eduardo waited outside, so terrified he almost knelt down. Since then, he had never let me touch a drop of alcohol. But now, he was handing me a drink himself. I looked at him, searching for even a hint of hesitation on his face. Nothing. Only impatience. As if my refusal would be an insult. I slowly raised my hand and took the wine glass. Eduardo sighed in relief, put his arm around Susan’s shoulders, and said dotingly, “See? I told you Ellis is the most understanding.” But Susan wasn’t satisfied. She gave him a playful shove, pouting. “What’s the point of just drinking? That’s not sincere enough.” She looked at me, her smile innocent yet malicious. “Miss Ellis, weren’t you the lead scientist for Eduardo’s company? I heard that cardiac repair technology, you were the one who spearheaded it?” “Why don’t you kneel down and wish Ronald a long life? Then I’ll believe you’re truly here to celebrate.” “After all, to have snagged such an amazing guy like Eduardo, you must be quite skilled at groveling, wouldn’t you say?” The entire room fell silent. Then, stifled laughter broke out. My fingers, gripping the wine glass, turned white from the force, and a sharp pain spread from my chest. “Eduardo!” I almost bit out his name. He finally frowned, seeming to think Susan’s words were a bit much. “Susan, stop messing around.” Susan immediately teared up, looking wronged. “Me, messing around? Eduardo, get this straight, she’s the shameless other woman!” “The moment she showed up, she stole all the attention from Ronald’s first birthday party! Everyone was pointing at me. What’s wrong with asking her to kneel for a second?” As she spoke, she actually started to cry, tears streaming down her face. “I knew it, you still have feelings for her! You never intended to give Ronald and me a complete family!” “What am I to you? Just a free surrogate? Used and then discarded?” Eduardo instantly panicked, clumsily wiping away her tears. “What nonsense are you talking about? You and Ronald are the only ones in my heart.” He turned to me, his face grim. “Ellis, apologize, then kneel.” “Susan’s still delicate; she can’t handle stress. If you upset her, what if it causes lasting damage to her health?” “Aren’t you a doctor? Don’t you understand something so basic?” It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me; I was chilled to the bone. Turns out, he hadn’t forgotten that I couldn’t drink; he simply didn’t care anymore. I futilely opened my mouth, but not a single word came out. The disappointment in his eyes grew deeper. “Ellis, you’re the one making this so ugly.” “I’m giving you one last chance.” He paused, his voice like ice. “Kneel, or get out and never show your face to me again.”

I laughed. Tears welled up uncontrollably, blurring my vision. I looked at this man, both familiar and strange, my heart gripped by an invisible hand, aching so much I couldn’t breathe. I drained the red wine in the glass. The harsh liquid burned my throat, scorching a path to my stomach, and the pain in my chest intensified. I stumbled, steadying myself on a nearby table. “Eduardo, to inject capital into your company, did you touch the money we saved for our marital home?” That money was the last inheritance my parents left me. Eduardo’s face instantly changed. He took a step forward, trying to grab me, but Susan held him back tightly. “What nonsense are you talking about! That money was clearly given voluntarily to support Eduardo’s career!” I ignored her, my gaze fixed on Eduardo. “Answer me.” His eyes darted away, his voice dry. “The company had some cash flow issues. I just temporarily borrowed it. It’ll be paid back soon.” “Temporarily borrowed?” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. “You used my money to bail out your mistress’s company. How ‘temporary’ of you.” Susan’s face cycled through shades of green and white, then she shrieked, “You’re slandering me! Eduardo loves me; everything he does is for me and Ronald!” “To make you completely give up, he already transferred that rundown old house of yours into my name!” “That’s the only thing I had left from my parents!” My vision swam, and I nearly lost my footing. That old house held all my memories of home. Eduardo had once sworn he would protect it with me. But now, he had given it to another woman. “Ellis, you forced my hand!” Eduardo finally exploded in anger, shaking off Susan’s hand and rushing towards me. “I told you long ago, if you just listened, everything would be fine!” “Why do you have to make such a scene? Why do you have to ruin today?” He grabbed my shoulders, shaking me hard. “It’s just a house! I can buy you ten, a hundred houses later!” “What are you even arguing about!” The searing pain in my chest nearly suffocated me. I grabbed his shirt, using every last bit of my strength. “Eduardo… my medication… I need my medication…” He paused, then seemed to understand something, a cynical, cold smile twisting his lips. “Playing this card again?” “Ellis, do you think I’ll believe you’re faking illness every time?” “I’m telling you, that trick won’t work anymore.” He pried my fingers away, one by one. “Since you love to act so much, you can do it alone here.” He steadied the wobbling Susan and walked towards the door without looking back. “Ronald’s tired. Let’s go home.” My body hit the cold floor with a heavy thud. I watched their embracing figures walk away, my vision gradually blurring. Before my consciousness faded into darkness, I thought I saw the hall doors burst open. A familiar, aged figure, raging with fury, rushed towards me. “Ellis!”

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The night before our wedding, I caught Dan Thompson cheating with a stranger. Proud as he was, for the first time, tears streamed down his face. He stammered, “I was drunk, I mistook her for you. It will never happen again.” The woman, blushing, admitted, “I’ve secretly loved Dan for years. I bribed the hotel staff to get a spare room key.” She knelt and apologized to me, swearing she’d stay far away from us. I chose to forgive Dan. After we got married, he truly seemed to love me. Until Dan’s thirtieth birthday. I specifically took time off work and flew eleven hours on an international flight to surprise him. On my way, I stopped at a convenience store for water. The woman next to me was on the phone. “You’re so clingy! It’s only been an hour, and my phone’s practically exploded with your calls. Just wait, I’m going to drain you dry in bed tonight.” The voice was hauntingly familiar. I turned around and froze. It was that woman—the one Dan had cheated with eight years ago. After so many years, she didn’t seem to recognize me. She turned towards the checkout. I couldn’t hear what the person on the other end said, but she playfully retorted, “I’m not cold, I’m wearing plenty, don’t believe me? You can check later.” “You can reach your hand in, slide it along my waist, all the way to…” On an impulse, I pulled out my phone and sent Dan a SnapChat. “Dan, are you off work yet?” No reply. The woman reached for the shelf and picked up two boxes of condoms. The same brand, scent, and size—the ones I knew, the ones Dan always used. Her voice was sickly sweet. “Since it’s your birthday, you get to decide how many times tonight.” I glanced down at my phone. Still nothing. After paying, I followed the woman out of the store. She purred into the phone, “Don’t rush me, I see your car.” The London rain hit my face, cold as ice. I pulled my jacket tighter, my hands trembling as I pressed the call button for Dan. A cold, robotic female voice replied, “The person you are calling is currently unavailable.” I understood. He had activated ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode. This year, he’d told me his overseas branch was incredibly busy, and he couldn’t answer calls once he was in the office. Not being able to reach him wasn’t new. A Bentley pulled up at a nearby street corner. “Dan!” The woman hurried forward, opening the passenger door. I turned my head slightly to look. One glance, and I was rooted to the spot. The car window was half-open. The man in the driver’s seat looked calm and distinguished. The woman swayed her hips and planted a soft kiss on his lips. He gave a helpless smile. “Still so demanding.” The streetlights were dim, but I saw his face clearly. The owner of that face had been with me for my entire thirty years of life. At three, we held hands and walked into kindergarten together. He secretly slipped me the candy the teacher gave him. “I’ll protect you, don’t cry.” At sixteen, he imitated a scene from a movie, hiding my portrait inside a book. When I found it, his ears turned crimson. “So what? I like you.” At nineteen, our first love, our first kiss—he was so thrilled he paid for the entire restaurant bill. “I can’t wait to tell everyone I’m the happiest man alive.” At twenty-two, when he proposed, he swore in front of both our families that he would only ever love me. Everything stopped the night before our wedding. When I opened the hotel room door, he was tangled naked with a stranger. That day was a blur of chaos. Everyone said he was just drunk and mistook her for me. As his childhood sweetheart, I should give him another chance. Even the girl knelt and apologized, claiming it was all her fault, that she’d bribed the staff for the room key, just to fulfill a long-held secret crush. Dan, who had always been so proud and strong since childhood, teared up for the first time. Seeing my silent tears, he picked up a fruit knife and pointed it at his own heart. “Ellie, it’s come to this. I’m sorry for what I did to you.” “If you don’t believe me, I’ll tear my heart out and show you! You’re truly the only one in there!” Tears blurred his face. His voice trembled. “Don’t leave me, Ellie, I’m begging you. You know I’ve loved you for so many years.” “If you leave me, I’ll die, I really will die…” Later, I sealed away that memory. After all these years intertwined, I thought we were inseparable, that we’d go from childhood sweethearts to growing old together. But in this moment. Our thirty years. Finally crumbled.

Dazed, I returned to his apartment. My mom texted me: “So, did Dan freak out when he heard you’re pregnant?” I took a deep breath, swallowed the bitterness in my throat, and calmly replied: “Not yet, I just got to his apartment, haven’t told him.” The apartment door opened from the outside. It was Dan, who had returned. Our eyes met. His expression faltered for a few seconds, then quickly regained composure. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I would’ve picked you up at the airport.” My expression was flat. “Wanted to surprise you.” He smiled, walking over and gently rubbing my hair. “I would never let you do that.” “Flying must be exhausting, right? It’s just a birthday, you shouldn’t have to deal with jet lag.” Dan was about to say more, but his phone rang. As he looked down to reply, his eyes held the familiar tenderness and patience I knew so well. Then he looked apologetic. “Too bad I have a client meeting tonight. My darling will have to be lonely.” Before I could say anything, he pulled a piece of clothing from the closet. I instantly understood. He’d come back for the personal item the other woman had forgotten. This apartment, which he temporarily used for overseas business trips, was a place I had decorated for him little by little, whenever I had a spare moment. I’d taken a week off work for it, even losing a major client. But now, the vase I’d spent half an afternoon finding, and then personally brought from home, was gone. Even the photo of us stuck on the fridge had disappeared. A sharp, damp chill seeped into my core, just like the rain soaking my clothes. I abruptly stood up, dragging my suitcase towards the door. Dan followed me. “Are you mad?” He put his arm around my shoulder from behind. “The apartment isn’t cleaned up. I’ll book you a five-star hotel nearby.” “I promise, I’ll spend the entire day with you tomorrow, okay?” As usual, he leaned in to kiss me. A strange citrus scent, unfamiliar to me, filled my nostrils. It was her scent. I turned my face away. Dan didn’t seem to notice, and rushed off. By the elevator, a creep whistled at me, his gaze sticky. “How much? If he doesn’t want you, I’ll take you.” “He has a girlfriend, I’ve seen her. You’re so beautiful, why stoop so low?” “All the neighbors know them. He was so head-over-heels, he wouldn’t even let his girlfriend walk a step, often carrying her home from the parking garage sometimes. She always looked so happy.” He suddenly grabbed my waist, grinning, and leaned in to kiss me. By instinct, I stomped hard on his foot. While he cried out in pain, I pulled my suitcase and escaped through the emergency exit. Even when I stumbled and fell, I didn’t dare stop to check for scraped knees. I scrambled up and ran down the stairs. I headed straight to the airport, sitting numbly in the departure lounge. I couldn’t understand. Why was Dan cheating again? For the first two years of our marriage, I often had nightmares. In them, Dan was naked, embracing a stranger. I always woke up crying. He would hold me, soothing me over and over. “It’s all my fault, I made my darling sad.” He changed all his electronic device passwords to my birthday and introduced me as his wife at every public event. He always told me what he did and who he met every day. Even when he had to stay overnight for a business trip, he would leave FaceTime on all night, falling asleep to the sound of my breathing. We were both carefully rebuilding that trust. When did it all start to unravel? Vaguely remembering the woman’s name, I opened Ins and searched. It took only a minute to find her among the many accounts with the same name. Only because her profile picture was taken in Dan’s office back home.

The painting hanging behind her was one I’d custom-commissioned from a celebrated artist. Just because Dan had once said he liked it, I had made a special visit, standing outside the artist’s studio in high heels for an entire afternoon before finally persuading them. Serena was a somewhat well-known travel blogger with a decent following. I scrolled down. The posts related to Dan first appeared three years ago. Serena was holding hands with a man, the background our high school track. “With my high school crush, finally!” It was the same spot where, at eighteen, we had first held hands. The night breeze was cool, and Dan’s palms were sweaty from nervousness. “When we’re old and grey, let’s come back here together.” In mid-August two years ago, on our wedding anniversary, Dan claimed he had to miss it because of work. Yet his posts showed him eating street food with Serena. Last New Year’s Eve, I was hospitalized with a high fever from the flu. Dan appeared in Serena’s TikTok, meticulously disinfecting a cut on her fingertip. My hand, holding the phone, trembled. Dan’s face didn’t appear in any of the photos. But the familiar cufflink, the lines on his palm, made it impossible for me to keep lying to myself. Serena’s latest post refreshed. The lace maid outfit in the picture was so revealing it made me sick to look at it. “Bought it but forgot to pick it up. Good thing someone remembered. Tonight, I’m rewarding him.” So, that’s what Dan had gone back to the apartment to get. In the comments, a fan joked: “You’re living well! Your partner must adore you.” Serena replied: “I know, right? Today I asked him when he first fell for me.” “He said it was eight years ago, the day I first bravely confessed my feelings for him. He complimented my ‘startlingly bright’ eyes, said he could never forget them.” “Thinking he’d been thinking about me all these years just melts my heart.” Eight years ago was the day I caught them in bed. I pressed my lips together tightly. But the tears, disobedient, silently streamed down my face. Serena posted another video. The camera focused on a large bed strewn with rose petals. A woman’s voice giggled, “My fans want me to ask you, at thirty, do you have any new plans for our relationship?” A man’s low chuckle. “Plans?” “I do want a baby, will you have one for me?” The camera wobbled, and the sound of fabric violently rubbing together filled the air. My fingertips went numb. I dialed Dan’s number, pressing the wrong buttons several times. The phone rang three times before it finally connected. My voice trembling, I asked, “Dan, am I still in your future plans?” He was silent for a few seconds, then casually replied, “Of course, why wouldn’t you be?” “Oh, by the way, my parents mentioned you had some big news for me. They’ve asked me about it several times, what is it?” Serena’s soft urging came from his end. “Dan, if you don’t focus, I’ll have to punish you, you know.” If I hadn’t seen the video, I would have been foolish enough to believe it was his assistant. My gaze fell on the shredded pregnancy test report in the trash can. I whispered, “Nothing.” The surprise was gone. The past love, the future we’d envisioned together. All gone. Dan’s voice took on a hint of anger. “What’s with the attitude?” “I’ve turned down dozens of overseas collaboration opportunities for you, all because you’re always so suspicious!” “My meeting with a client tonight is also for our future. Can’t you let me breathe for a moment?” Tears streamed down again. I let out a soft laugh. “Dan, you’re right.” “I am being difficult.” “When you get back home, we’re getting a divorce.”

Dan hung up first. He scoffed, “Fine, throw your fit if you want.” The dial tone echoed like a drumbeat in my chest. For the twelve-hour return flight, I didn’t sleep a wink. Only when I lay on the operating table, and the anesthetic coursed through my veins, did I find release from the relentless pain. The day I found out I was pregnant, I was overjoyed. I thought this would be a new beginning for our little family, Dan’s and mine. Just a few more months, and the baby would have been born. Happiness was within reach. But now, everything was lost. After a day of rest, I received another SnapChat from Dan. “I’m back. Family dinner tonight, don’t give my parents attitude.” “Ellie Miller, you’re not a little girl anymore. There’s a time and a place for tantrums.” I replied, agreeing to attend. When I had composed myself and arrived at the Thompson family home, both our families were already there. Dan sat next to me. He looked at my averted face, his voice resigned. “Are you still mad?” He pulled out a necklace and placed it in my hand. “It’s my fault, okay?” “An apology gift for you. Smile for me, hmm?” My palm was icy cold. Just yesterday, before I went into surgery, Serena had posted an Ins update. On a messy bed, gifts were scattered everywhere. She unwrapped them one by one: a limited-edition alligator skin bag, custom-made luxury perfume, a diamond-encrusted bracelet… Only this gold necklace, she sniffed, wrinkling her nose, “It’s so dated, I don’t want it.” The person filming laughed dotingly, “It’s my birthday, and you’re receiving gifts, and you still complain? Should I just throw it away?” I loosened my grip, letting the necklace fall to the floor. Dan frowned. “What more do you want from me? Take it or leave it.” Mrs. Thompson smiled kindly, trying to ease the tension. “I heard you went all the way to London for Dan’s birthday, but he didn’t spend time with you because of work. That was wrong of him.” My mom chimed in, trying to smooth things over. “Ellie, you’re going to be a mother soon, you can’t be throwing tantrums, it’s not good for your health.” “Going to be… a mother?” Dan froze, turning to me in disbelief. “Ellie, you’re pregnant?!” He shot up, a smile he couldn’t control spreading across his face. “I’m going to be a dad, aren’t I?!” The coldness in his eyes melted, replaced by undeniable excitement. I didn’t avert my gaze, seeing every flicker of emotion clearly. But this time, was it real, or fake? I couldn’t tell anymore. And I didn’t care. Both sets of parents chuckled. “Look at this silly boy.” I spoke softly, “No.” “That baby, I aborted it.” The atmosphere froze. Dan’s excitement solidified on his face. His eyes darted around for a few seconds, then he forced a laugh. “Ellie, don’t joke around.” I didn’t reply. I pulled the pre-prepared divorce papers from my bag. Then I gave a faint smile. “Dan, I’ve seen Serena. If we don’t divorce, do you expect her to be a mistress forever?”

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