In the third year of my marriage to my husband, I was the one who asked for a divorce. Everyone thought I was bluffing to get his attention. He thought the same. Later, he started making headlines with different women, all in a desperate attempt to make me obedient. At first, I cried and screamed every night, waiting for him to come home. But my pain only emboldened him further, turning me into a laughingstock for everyone around me. Eventually, I stopped fighting. That’s when he went mad, demanding, “What’s this? A new tactic to win me back?” I wish I could have seen what his gentleness was like. But it’s too late for that now. In the third year of my marriage to Jack Sullivan, he brought home yet another woman. She was exactly his type: young, radiant, and exuding a soft elegance—completely different from me. From her smug, taunting words, I pieced together how they met. Her name was Emily Blair, Jack’s new assistant. She was also proof of his abuse of power. Without any proper vetting, Jack had personally placed her in the role, despite the fact that his previous assistant had been with him for years. Friends had warned me repeatedly to keep an eye on Jack. “He seems like he’s caught up in some midlife crisis,” they’d say. But I was too exhausted to care anymore. Being Mrs. Sullivan for three years had drained me, leaving me a stranger to myself. The day I was diagnosed with cancer was also the day I first met Emily Blair. Holding the thermos my mother-in-law had handed me, I caught her hopeful expression and chose to give in. No matter how ugly things got between Jack and me, my mother-in-law had always been kind. From the very beginning, she had shown me nothing but warmth, even warning me about Jack’s flaws. But back then, all I could see was him. For three years, she had taken my side in every argument, even when I was in the wrong. Sitting in the backseat of the car, watching Jack’s office building come into view, I felt none of the anticipation I once had. Even when faced with the whispers of employees, I had learned to remain unbothered. What I didn’t expect, however, was to encounter Jack’s latest fling here—his latest obsession. As I scrolled through my phone, I could feel someone’s eyes on me. Every time I glanced up, the gaze disappeared, but the feeling remained. I knew that look. I’d seen it countless times. It was the look of women who despised me for being Mrs. Sullivan, who wanted nothing more than to take my place. Their viper-like stares haunted even my dreams. Emily tugged at her friend’s sleeve and whispered nervously, “She’s not what I imagined. Didn’t they say she was crazy and mean?” I heard her. That’s when I finally got a good look at her face. In that instant, I knew she was exactly Jack’s type—like the one he had loved and lost. The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected our contrasting figures: Me, vibrant yet with dead eyes. Her, youthful and full of life. From the start, I was never the kind of woman Jack wanted. But moths always fly into flames, heedless of the consequences—even if it means their death. I took the water she handed me, my gaze scrutinizing her closely. “Mrs. Sullivan, why are you staring at me? Did I do something wrong?” she asked cautiously. “No,” I replied, a faint smile on my lips. “I’m just curious what kind of woman climbs into Jack Sullivan’s bed.” She froze, clearly not expecting my bluntness. After a long pause, she feigned innocence and looked me straight in the eye. “Obviously, someone young and beautiful. After all, Mrs. Sullivan, you…” I knew what she was implying—that I was old and worn-out. I’d seen this tactic too many times to care. Not wanting to waste another second, I handed her the thermos. “Give this to Jack for me. I have somewhere else to be.” “Oh… okay.” That’s when I saw her name: Emily Blair. How fitting—it was such a lovely name. I’d seen it before, tucked into the notes Jack left on his gifts. I had considered staying to see how Jack treated Emily. Would he be gentle? Would he show her patience? But the pain was too much. Lately, I’d been plagued by excruciating headaches, at first assuming it was just insomnia. But now, the pain persisted even during the day. I knew something was seriously wrong. Jack would probably enjoy eating whatever Emily cooked for him. After leaving the thermos with her, I went straight to the hospital for tests. The results were just as I had expected. The doctor told me I wouldn’t make it past the fall. How poetic, I thought. To die in the season of harvest—isn’t that a kind of beauty too? I thanked the doctor softly as he handed me a prescription for painkillers. When you’ve witnessed so much death, the only thing left to fear is pain. Perhaps these pills would help me leave with dignity, unlike my parents, who had died in agony and despair.

When I got home, Jack was already sitting on the couch. He glanced at me briefly before turning his attention back to his phone. I knew he was texting Emily. Only with someone he truly liked would he smile so warmly. I thought silence would fill the room between us, but as I stepped onto the stairs, his cold voice cut through the air behind me. “Where were you? Why did it take you so long to get home?” “If I told you I went to the hospital, would you treat me more kindly?” “What’s this? Another fake illness? Whatever you’re scheming, remember to live up to the title of Mrs. Sullivan.” Mrs. Sullivan. That was the only tie left between Jack and me. Everything about me was something he disliked. He had only married me because his parents pressured him into it. Maybe the saying is true: to gain something, you must lose something. In the three years of being Mrs. Sullivan, there was never a moment when Jack didn’t have someone else on the side. To get back at me, he would parade his affairs in front of me, bringing them into the home his parents had gifted us—the same home where he wanted to erase the pain of losing his first love. But I had never done anything to him. At first, I was heartbroken, hysterically questioning him about his infidelity. But eventually, I realized those women were just tools—props in his revenge against me. None of them ever stayed around for more than a month. I used to think I held a place in his heart. Until Emily Blair came along. Jack never brought her to this house. He remembered her birthday, gave her gifts to mark their 100th day together, took her shopping, watched movies with her, and even kept her by his side at work. They were just like Jack and his first love had been—doing all the things couples in love do. Jack gave her everything: his time, his attention, his money. I turned to look at Jack, his brows furrowed in irritation. For the first time, my voice was calm. “If it weren’t for me, would you have fallen for Emily after marrying Chloe?” “What kind of nonsense are you spouting now? You’re clearly not thinking straight.” I knew that name—Chloe—was a sensitive subject for him. But I didn’t care anymore. Still, I wanted to know the answer. But he was never going to tell me. Pressing my hand against my throbbing head, I watched as Jack slammed the door behind him, leaving the room without looking back. Even though I’d told myself long ago not to feel hurt by Jack anymore, not to lose the last shred of dignity I had left because of him— I still couldn’t stop the ache when I saw his cold, resolute back disappearing down the hall. If only none of this had ever happened.

The bed felt emptier than ever. I curled into myself, clutching my head as waves of pain wracked my body. Even with the air conditioning set to the lowest temperature, I was drenched in a cold sweat. The painkillers barely worked, only dulling the edge of my suffering. I must’ve been hallucinating from the pain. Half-asleep, half-awake, I saw us as we used to be. Before Chloe ever appeared, I had always been the only one by Jack’s side—even if he treated me with nothing but indifference. I’ll never forget that day. It was a bitterly cold winter, snow falling thick and fast. The freezing air outside couldn’t compare to the chill in my heart. That was the winter when I lost both my parents. My father lost his battle with cancer, and on the same day, my mother jumped from the 18th floor. Looking back, maybe the signs had always been there. But back then, I was too young to understand. Grief consumed me. I shut myself away, refusing to see anyone, refusing to eat, hiding in the last place they had been. The day was glaringly bright when Jack found me. He stood there, out of breath, trying to act casual. “I just came to check if you were dead. Don’t read too much into it.” “I’m not dead. You can leave now.” “Come on,” he said, his tone brisk but oddly determined. “You’re practically growing mold in here. Consider yourself lucky—I’m feeling generous enough to drag you outside for some fresh air. No arguments.” And just like that, with his forceful attitude, he pulled me out of the darkness. His hands were trembling, yet he held on tightly. Before I could protest, he started rambling. “Taylor, when was the last time you ate? You feel like I’m dragging a ghost, not a person.” His words made me snap back at him instinctively. “None of your business. I can walk on my own.” Normally, that kind of retort would’ve earned a sharp comeback from him. But that day, he just muttered under his breath, still holding my hand, never letting go. That day felt like the first ray of light in my world after endless darkness. Even now, I’ve forgotten so much over the years, but I still remember that scene vividly. A boy, grumbling endlessly, leading a girl by the hand. A cup of hot chocolate in his other hand, the two of them walking down a snow-covered street. The pale winter sunlight shone on their faces, melting away the shadows that clung to them. They didn’t know it then, but moments like that are fleeting—gone before you realize how beautiful they are.

When I woke up again, it was already past midnight. My stomach burned with hunger after going so long without food. Even without looking in the mirror, I knew I must look terrible. Not that it mattered—there was no one here to see me. I lived alone in this house. Stumbling downstairs to find something to eat, I noticed the living room lights were still on. To my surprise, it was Jack. He had come back. He rarely stayed home at night. I knew he spent his evenings with Emily—eating the meals she cooked, taking walks in the park to help digest, and even going out of his way to track down the exact breed of kitten she wanted. Maybe Jack liked cats too. But I was allergic to cat fur. From the very start, our habits, our preferences, our lives—they were never aligned. He was lounging lazily on the couch, a cigarette between his fingers, his eyes fixed sharply on me as I descended the stairs. I lowered my gaze and tried to walk past him, but he grabbed my wrist. Hard. His grip was so tight that red marks formed almost instantly around my skin. He frowned as he looked me over, his voice full of suspicion. “Why have you gotten so thin?” I froze for a moment, then yanked at my arm, trying to break free. When I couldn’t, I sneered. “Jack Sullivan, what kind of game are you playing now?” “What, did one of your mistresses finally treat you like dirt? Is that why you’re suddenly noticing me?” Jack’s eyes flicked to my wrist, then back to my face. My tone must’ve stung, because his expression darkened. When I finally managed to pull my arm free and walked toward the dining table, I noticed something strange—a cup of my once-favorite bubble tea and a slice of the cake I used to beg Jack to bring home for me. What was this? A peace offering? A bribe for the lunch I had delivered earlier? Or maybe it was an apology. But none of it mattered anymore. I was dying. I didn’t need Jack. I didn’t need his pity. Without a second glance at the table, I headed straight for the fridge and grabbed a cream puff. That’s when Jack snapped. He slammed me against the floor-to-ceiling window with a force that made the glass shudder, his jaw clenched, his voice full of rage. “Taylor, what the hell do you want from me?” “Aren’t these the things you used to love? How dare you ignore them!” Them. Or maybe… him. I looked up at him with a bitter smile. “Jack, I don’t want any of it anymore. Not the tea, not the cake, and certainly not you.” “You know,” I continued, my voice dripping with venom, “you’re pathetic. When I loved you, you couldn’t care less. But now that I don’t, you cling to me like a stray dog.” In all the years I’d known Jack, I’d learned exactly where to hit to make it hurt. His face turned ice-cold, his temper brewing into a storm. As his hand shot up like he was going to hit me, I met his glare, raising my chin in defiance. “Go ahead, Jack. Hit me. If you don’t, you’re not a man.” His hand froze mid-air, my words pushing him to the edge. But instead of striking me, he let out a strangled growl and stalked in circles, his hands on his hips. When I turned to leave, he lost it completely. In one swift motion, he threw me over his shoulder and stormed upstairs, ignoring my fists pounding against his back. Like a wild animal, he threw me onto the bed, his hands yanking at my nightgown with a feral desperation. I felt nothing but disgust. Balling my fists, I punched him with all the strength I had left, but it wasn’t enough. Compared to him, my efforts were nothing but a nuisance. “Get off me, Jack!” I spat. “Don’t you dare touch me with your filthy hands—you make me sick!” He pinned my legs down with his knee and silenced me with a brutal kiss. His lips crushed mine with such force that the skin split, leaving a metallic taste of blood in my mouth. I stopped struggling, my strength completely drained. Leaning down, his breath hot against my ear, he whispered, “Taylor, you say no, but your body seems to want me just fine.” “If you’d just admit what you did back then, we could go back to how we used to be.” “I don’t understand why you’re so stubborn about this.” Hearing those words, I turned my head away, bile rising in my throat. The thought of his mouth—just hours ago, probably on someone else—made me retch. “Am I really that disgusting to you?” For the first time, I looked at his face. His eyes were bloodshot, his expression unhinged, like a child throwing a tantrum because his favorite toy had been taken away. But what was I supposed to admit? I’d done nothing wrong. I would rather die than confess to something I hadn’t done. I used to think I was special to Jack. Until Chloe came into the picture. She was his first love. If I hadn’t accidentally stumbled across the truth, he probably would’ve kept it hidden forever. Jack was always cold to me, but with Chloe, he was different. He smiled warmly, acted playful—he was human. Just not with me. I thought I’d spend my life like a rat in the shadows, watching them bask in their happiness. Then one day, Jack stormed into the house, his face twisted with rage. “Taylor, did you tell my parents about Chloe?” I froze, completely caught off guard. “What are you talking about?” His response was a scream, raw and venomous: “You’re such a miserable bitch. You should’ve died with your parents. If you can’t be happy, why drag me down into your hell?” That was the moment I asked myself: Why didn’t I die with them?

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I’m Pregnant, But All I Got Was “Aria Collins? I Despise Such Commodities with a Price Tag.” After he got drunk, I found lipstick marks on his shirt collar that weren’t mine. My heart turned to ashes. I terminated our child. On the day of our divorce, I threw down the agreement: “Mr. Bennett, we’re done.” I left everything in our marital home, including his photos. He asked me with reddened eyes: “What about me? Are you leaving me behind too?” Later, Lucas Bennett stopped me in the pouring rain like a madman, pulling out a crumpled prenatal check-up form: “We clearly had a child…” I stood at the hospital entrance, clutching the test results tightly. The late spring breeze, carrying the scent of hospital disinfectant, rushed into my collar. The ultrasound image burned hot in my palm. Three months. It seemed that reckless, drunken night had truly left me with a gift. As the digital lock beeped, the entryway mirror reflected my upturned lips. In my mind, I rehearsed countless times how I should break the news. “Lucas, I’m pregnant.” I kept repeating this phrase in my head. I walked up to the second floor. The door to the study was ajar, and Lucas’s voice, mixed with the soft clink of ice cubes in his whiskey glass, came crashing down. “Aria Collins? I despise such commodities with a price tag.” Standing outside the study, I suddenly turned into a laughable statue, the wedding ring on my ring finger painfully digging into my bone. Three months ago, when he woke up drunk by my side, his tone was just as cold. “I was just drunk.” My nails dug into the edge of the test results, a tear falling onto the paper. So my three years of patience, the entryway light I left on late at night, even the fresh flowers I deliberately changed to match his mood, were all just price tags on a commodity in his eyes. I heard Lucas getting up from his chair in the study. As I quickly left, I knocked over a vase at the corner. Instinctively, I protected my belly. Lucas frowned at me and said, “Is your gastritis acting up again?” I didn’t answer him, only saying, “I’m going back to my family’s place for a few days.” He didn’t ask why, just walked past me, leaving behind one last word. “Troublesome.” I squeezed my eyes shut, trying hard not to let the tears fall.

I stayed in a hotel for five days, staring blankly at my phone screen every day, but Lucas didn’t call even once. Every day, I practiced in my mind how to tell him about the pregnancy, but I kept asking myself: Does he really want this child? In the evening, my phone suddenly vibrated. I almost pounced to answer it, my heart beating so fast it almost jumped out of my throat. But Lucas’s voice was as cold as ever: “Come back to the family estate for dinner tomorrow night.” I gripped the phone tightly, my throat constricting: “Okay.” After hanging up, I stood in front of a pile of clothes, lost in thought. I chose a loose-fitting beige dress that just covered my slightly protruding belly. The lights at the Bennett estate were warm and bright, with Mrs. Bennett already waiting at the door. She affectionately took my arm: “Aria, why have you gotten thinner?” I shook my head with a smile. Although Lucas had no feelings for me, his aunt and uncle were very kind to me. The dining table was full of my favorite dishes, but I couldn’t taste anything. Suddenly, Mr. Bennett put down his chopsticks, his gaze moving back and forth between Lucas and me. “When are you planning to give me a grandchild?” My hand trembled, and the fork made a crisp sound against the porcelain plate. Lucas said without changing his expression, “Dad, we’re too busy with work right now, we haven’t considered it yet.” Mr. Bennett frowned and said, “No matter how busy work is, you need to consider family…” Lucas interrupted him, saying coldly, “Dad, it’s a crucial time for the company right now. A child wouldn’t be appropriate.” I lowered my head, pushing the rice around in my bowl, tears almost falling into the soup. This meal tasted like chewing wax. I could hardly remember what I had eaten. As we walked out of the estate, the night breeze carried the scent of gardenia. I mustered up the courage to speak: “About the child Uncle just mentioned…” Lucas interrupted me, his voice cold as ice: “I don’t want one.” My heart turned to ashes. It wasn’t because of the company or anything else. It was because he didn’t want it. He didn’t want a child with me. I stood still, watching him open the car door. The taillights drew two glaring red lines in the night, just like the blood marks my nails had left on my palm. I touched my belly, where a life that would never be anticipated by him was growing.

No matter what, staying at the hotel indefinitely wasn’t a solution. Regardless, this was Lucas’s child, and he had to know. I stood at the villa’s entrance with my suitcase, taking a deep breath before swiping my card to enter. A strong smell of alcohol hit me, making me cough involuntarily. Mrs. Wilson poked her head out from the kitchen, still holding a bowl of hangover soup. She lowered her voice and told me, “The master got drunk today.” I nodded, leaving my suitcase in the entryway. Three months ago, on that rainy night, he had barged into my room just as drunk. “I’ll go check on him,” I told Mrs. Wilson. I tiptoed upstairs. The study door was slightly ajar. Lucas was slumped in his leather chair with his eyes closed, his tie hanging loosely around his neck, the top three buttons of his shirt undone. Given how drunk he was tonight, it clearly wasn’t a good time to talk about serious matters. I stood at the door watching him for a while, but eventually just gently closed it. Back in the master bedroom, I put down my bag and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. The bathroom light was still on, and his dirty shirts were piled in the laundry basket. I sighed, bending down to pick up a shirt to throw in the washing machine. Suddenly, a jarring red caught my eye. I froze, my fingers involuntarily tightening. On the shirt collar, a complete lipstick mark was clearly visible, a bright red lipstick, glaringly obvious. I stared at that lipstick mark, suddenly recalling the scene from three months ago. That day, he had come home just as drunk, reeking of alcohol, pinning me against the wall, his hot breath on my ear. Tears fell uncontrollably, landing on the shirt and spreading into a small wet patch. I could only throw the shirt into the washing machine with trembling hands and press the start button. I crouched on the bathroom floor, my heart feeling like it was being cut by a knife. So in his eyes, I was no different from those women. As long as he was drunk, anyone would do. I stood up, leaning against the wall, my legs weak. The person in the mirror was pale, with swollen red eyes. Suddenly, the bathroom door was pushed open. Lucas stood swaying in the doorway, his shirt wrinkled beyond recognition. He squinted at me, his brows furrowed tightly. “You did the laundry for me?” His voice was hoarse. The washing machine’s end-of-cycle alert broke the silence. I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and responded to him. “Mm.” Then I left the bathroom without looking back at him again. I went to the garage, sat in the car, trying hard to calm myself. My hand caressed my belly, and I smiled. “Mommy will take you away from this cage.” There were 23 days left until the expiration of my contract with Lucas Bennett.

My hand shook on the steering wheel, tears blurring my vision, forcing me to wipe them away repeatedly. I watched the Bennett family villa grow smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, finally disappearing into the night. The mechanical female voice of the navigation system announced “City Women’s and Children’s Hospital,” as if reading out the verdict for my marriage to Lucas Bennett. The hospital’s fluorescent lights stung my eyes. The nurse handed me the surgical consent form. I stared at the paper, my fingers trembling so much I could barely hold the pen. I looked up at the waiting area. A poster of a baby was on the wall, those clear big eyes seemed to be watching me. I closed my eyes, remembering how Lucas looked at me every time, with coldness, mockery, and disdain. I signed my name on the consent form, the pen tip scratching across the white paper as if cutting through my flesh and blood. The light in the changing room was stark white. I changed into a hospital gown, the fabric rubbing against my skin causing slight pain. Lying in the operating room, as the anesthesia was pushed into my veins, I heard the metallic clash of instruments. Suddenly, I remembered the scene from our marriage registration day. That day, I was full of joy, finally able to become husband and wife with the person I liked. But Lucas wore sunglasses, impatiently tossing the signing pen to me. Perhaps I should have understood then that this marriage was a mistake from the very beginning. In the ward, morning light leaked through the gaps in the curtains. When I sat up, a wave of intense nausea hit me. I dry heaved at the bedside, tears falling. I touched my belly with trembling hands; there was nothing there anymore. I had thought that three years of marriage would at least earn me a bit of affection from Lucas Bennett, but I was wrong. What I got from him was contempt, disdain, and his infidelity to our marriage. I was thoroughly tired of the Bennett family’s cage. A week later, I left the hospital. As I drove across the river bridge, I rolled down the window and threw out my wedding ring without hesitation. The platinum band traced a silver parabola in the sunlight, and as it plunged into the river, I felt as if I had let go of a great deal. Only 15 days left until I leave the Bennett family.

When I pushed open the villa door, the sensor light in the entryway immediately lit up, the glaring light making me squint instinctively. Lucas was sitting on the living room sofa, holding a finance magazine. I noticed faint dark circles under his eyes. Seven or eight empty coffee cans were scattered at his feet, like some bizarre warning line. Seeing me return, he closed the magazine with a sound like a judge’s gavel. “Where have you been all these days?” I bent down to change into slippers, feeling a dull pain in my lower back from the abortion surgery. “Dealing with some personal matters.” I returned to my room and sat at the dressing table. The drawer was stuck; I yanked it hard, and a photo album slid out, hitting my foot. I sat on the bed and opened the album. The first photo was from our wedding. I was wearing a white wedding dress, a happy smile on my face, while he stood beside me, expressionless, looking at the camera. Flipping further, there was a candid shot of me secretly looking at his profile during a birthday party. In the photo, he was on the phone, his brow furrowed like a distant mountain, while my hand holding the cake was white with nervousness. The album was full of photos of us together, and photos of him. But none of just me. In every photo, there was an unbridgeable distance between us. When there was a knock on the door, I flipped the album face down on my lap. “Come in.” Lucas entered with a bag that seemed to contain medicine. “We’re out of gastritis medicine at home. This is for you.” I didn’t say much, just a flat, “Oh, thanks.” He stood at the door like a statue, his shadow stretched by the light, crawling up to the foot of my bed. Seeing he wasn’t leaving, I frowned and asked, “Anything else?” He shook his head and then left the room. I went over and picked up the medicine he had brought me, throwing it all in the trash, along with the photo album. In 10 days, in this villa, I would only need to take myself away.

Today is a special day, the day of my divorce from Lucas Bennett. I stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the hotel, overlooking the central axis of River City. The glass curtain wall reflects my image, with fiery makeup and carefully styled curled hair. Surprisingly, Lucas hasn’t called me once today. I thought he would be more eager than me, after all, these three years of marriage were nothing but an unwilling contract for him. Never mind, the divorce agreement is already in my hands, I’ve signed it, now I’m just waiting for him to sign. I pick up the documents on the table and walk out of the hotel in 4-inch stilettos. Walking into the office building of Bennett Group, my reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors shows a white silk shirt and a black pencil skirt. The rhythm of my heels hitting the ground is quick and powerful, announcing my good mood today. Along the way, employees greet me. “Good morning, Mrs. Bennett.” “Mrs. Bennett, you look beautiful today.” I smile and respond to everyone, even joking with them a bit. In the past, I always walked by with my head down, afraid of disturbing others. Standing in front of Lucas’s office door, I take a deep breath and knock. “Come in,” his deep voice comes from inside. I push the door open. He’s looking down at some documents, his brow slightly furrowed. Hearing footsteps, he looks up, his frown deepening when he sees it’s me. His voice carries obvious impatience: “What are you doing at the company?” I don’t speak, just walk to his desk and place the divorce agreement in front of him. My finger lightly taps the place for his signature. He looks down at the document, then back up at me. For a moment, I actually see a hint of bewilderment in his expression. I tuck my hair behind my ear, smiling as I say, “Mr. Bennett, we’re done.”

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My roommate was sharing her love life on a livestream. With a sweet smile, she said she was dating a wealthy older man and they’d get married right after graduation. Afraid she was being deceived, I kindly tried to persuade her. But she spread rumors with her online followers that I was jealous of her, causing me to be cyberbullied to the point of suicide. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my roommate officially announced her relationship with the supposedly rich guy. She boasted proudly, “This Hermès bag costs tens of thousands! My sugar daddy said he’d buy it for me, so he did!” I blinked and said, “Girl, have you considered the possibility that this was stolen from my house by my family’s driver?” My roommate Zoe was a relationship influencer. After posting a video about her daily life with her 36-year-old boyfriend, she gained tens of thousands of likes. Netizens urged her to be cautious, warning her not to be deceived by bad people. They questioned why she would waste her youth on an older man. But when she posted her next video showcasing the gifts her boyfriend had given her, the internet exploded. The video was filled with exquisite luxury items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Oh my god, a Hermès bag worth tens of thousands!” “This guy is loaded!” “To be honest, if they’re serious about getting married, this influencer doesn’t need to work hard anymore.” “I’m not gonna lie, I wouldn’t mind experiencing the life of a rich wife. Even if he’s an old man, I’d be fine with a monthly allowance of tens of thousands!” “Sister, I wish you all the best.” “Although her boyfriend looks ordinary, he’s not ugly. Being rich is definitely a bonus.” Countless comments praised Zoe’s good fortune, saying she didn’t need to worry about finding a job after graduation. The video quickly surpassed 100,000 likes. Zoe was thrilled and decided to continue developing her social media account. I watched the video with a cold eye. If you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t notice the small crack on the strap of that exquisite Hermès bag – it was made by my family’s dog. Most people wouldn’t notice it. That’s why I had discarded the bag, carelessly tossing it aside. I never imagined it would be taken by my family’s driver.

Zoe was one of my few friends in college. In my previous life, I had a cold and indifferent personality. I was pretty laid-back and didn’t like to get involved in drama. As long as things weren’t too outrageous, I would turn a blind eye. Reborn to the time when my roommate and her boyfriend had just officially announced their relationship, I tried to respect others’ fates, set aside my urge to help, and decided to let this pair of scoundrels be. “Lily, I’m out of sunscreen. Can I borrow some from you? I’ll buy a new one and return it to you next time.” At this moment, Zoe was wearing full makeup and a stylish dress, with her phone set up on the table. She was probably recording a makeup video. While asking, her hand had already skillfully unscrewed the cap and was about to apply it to her skin. I smirked, “Sure, it’s $1000 a bottle. You’ve used about half, so just give me $500. WeChat or PayPal?” In my previous life, Alex had invited her out for dinner tonight. Zoe had previously hinted, both consciously and unconsciously, that a guy was pursuing her, claiming he was from a wealthy family. But later, when I learned the truth, I realized that all her jewelry and gifts were stolen by Alex from my home. Since they weren’t limited editions, it wasn’t easy to notice unless you looked closely. After all, I had so many bags that they filled several large wardrobes. Zoe paused in disbelief. “Five hundred? Lily, I’m just borrowing it. Why are you being so petty?” I glanced at the table behind her, and she unconsciously moved to block my view. I laughed coldly to myself. She often came to take my things without asking, and never returned them after using them. Although I didn’t lack for anything, these were all high-quality items. “The face masks you borrowed from me last time, you’ve used them all, right? So pay up, five thousand.” I pointed at the empty box behind her. Zoe was shocked because I usually never cared about these things. Everything she wanted, as long as she asked, or sometimes even without asking, would come and go without return. Three whole years had passed, and almost everything on her desk was taken from me. Indeed, two thieves, a perfect match. Let them have each other. “How can you be like this, Lily? Why didn’t you tell me it cost five thousand dollars when I borrowed it? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass me? Do you think I can’t afford to pay you back?” Our other roommate, Emma, rolled her eyes. “Yeah, if we had known it was so expensive, Zoe definitely wouldn’t have borrowed it. She just needed it urgently. Can’t her boyfriend buy her whatever she wants?” Emma was the one in our dorm who benefited the most from Zoe’s generosity. Initially, when Zoe had leftover snacks, she would share them with us. Later, to monopolize everything, Emma would sarcastically say, “Oh my, I’m the poorest in our dorm. Who’s as rich as Lily? She probably looks down on these things anyway. Why don’t you give them all to me, Zoe?” “Yeah, you can’t even find these online. My boyfriend specially drove his Rolls-Royce to deliver them to me. Lily, I’ll bring you something better next time.” She coyly handed everything to Emma. I wanted to say something but held back. These bulk snacks, some even without a brand, were things even my dog wouldn’t eat. To maintain her face, I could only smile and say, “You guys enjoy.” In exchange, Emma would bring food for Zoe every day and answer roll calls for her, like a loyal servant. Zoe would occasionally offer to buy me a milk tea, but in the end, I always ended up paying. After all, from the first day of school, I had made no secret of my rich girl persona. In my previous life, I foolishly considered her a good friend and was deeply touched. Now I realize she was just using a little kindness to leech off me as much as possible. “Are you blind? Can’t you see that huge logo? Money doesn’t grow on trees. Isn’t your boyfriend rich? Ask him for money. Hurry up, I need to go to class. Otherwise, I’ll report this to our counselor.” I waved my phone. Zoe, seeing she was about to be late for her date, glared at me angrily, muttered “I’ll transfer it to you tonight,” and stormed out in her high heels, slamming the door. Emma couldn’t stand it anymore and started to confront me, “Some people think they can bully others just because they’re rich. They pretend to be friends on the surface, but they can’t shake off that petty nature.” I shrugged, “Emma, do you know why you didn’t get the poverty subsidy this year?” She suddenly became serious, “You know about that?” I knew how important this money was for her, coming from a poor family. “See for yourself.” I sent her all my chat records with Zoe. “Lily, Emma really smells bad. I can’t stand it anymore. I feel sick whenever she comes near me. Do you think she caught some disease outside? I really want to ask the counselor to change my dorm.” “Lily, will you come with me?” I had replied, “But I think she’s quite clean. Just bear with it.” “No, I can’t swallow this. I’m going to tell the counselor.” But later, the counselor didn’t move her out of our dorm, and suddenly said that due to moral issues, Emma’s subsidy for this year was canceled. Perhaps Zoe felt that her lackey still had some use value and didn’t ask for a dorm change. Emma angrily threw her chair, “Just you wait, Zoe.”

I took the afternoon off and returned to my familiar home. I hugged my parents tightly. In my previous life, under the pressure of netizens’ doxxing and harassment, I was tormented beyond endurance. Even my father’s company suffered a stock market crash. They aged overnight because of my situation. What they never expected was that the mole was right in our own home. “You’re all grown up, but still so impulsive. Wash your hands and come eat.” I took the chopsticks my mother handed me. “Dad, help me investigate someone.” Early the next morning, I rushed back to school for class. The classroom was packed. I calculated the time; Zoe was probably still cuddling with her old boyfriend. This was the strictest professor’s class. Skip once, and you fail the course. I looked at the familiar bag in the video. In this life, Zoe had once again posted a video of the Hermès bag Alex gave her. It received the same admiration from netizens. If I remember correctly, isn’t this Hermès bag only available to VIP customers? Your boyfriend must be really rich, beautiful. Zoe lost herself in a chorus of flattery. Oh, this is just an insignificant gift from my sugar daddy. He’s very good to me. He says we’ll get married after I graduate. I commented using a throwaway account: Isn’t this man too old? Doesn’t he smell like an old person? Haha, who knows, maybe you’re just his mistress on the side. As soon as I posted this, I was bombarded with replies from many netizens. After the trials of my previous life, I now felt completely unmoved by these responses. [You said exactly what I was thinking.] [Oh my god, does he really not have a wife?] [Even if we take a step back, would such a rich person really go for a college student?] [This girl really hit the jackpot, but she looks so bitter and mean-spirited.] I put down my phone, very satisfied with my stirring of the pot. I’m sure Zoe must be fuming on the other end.

When I returned to the dorm after class, I heard Zoe angrily questioning me and Emma: “Why didn’t you respond to my messages? Didn’t you answer roll call for me?! Do you know I’m about to fail the course, you heartless people!” “You hypocritical bitch, how dare you report my makeup to the counselor. And to think I helped you so many times before.” Emma went to slap her, and I stepped aside to make way. The slap landed squarely on Zoe’s face. Zoe held her face in disbelief. “Are you crazy? What right do you have to hit me! You’re the one with severe body odor, don’t you know that?” So the two started fighting. Emma had a fiery temper and was stronger, and a lot of Zoe’s hair was pulled out. I watched with great amusement. Then, she seemed to realize something and suddenly pointed at me, “You told her?” Her clothes were pulled down a lot, revealing fresh red marks on her chest from last night. She must have suffered quite a bit. Emma sneered, “So that’s why you receive so many gifts every day. You’re sleeping around. I’m going to tell the counselor right now and ruin your reputation!” “What nonsense are you spouting?! I’m in a proper relationship, it’s none of your business. Shut your stinking mouth!” “Lily, how could you do this to me? I’ve been so good to you, and this is how you betray my trust?” “You can do despicable things, why can’t I talk about them?” “Lily, don’t bother talking to her anymore. Wait until I report her to the counselor this afternoon, let’s see what she has to say then.” Emma pulled me away. Zoe cursed as she walked to the bathroom, preparing to remove her makeup. After a while, she suddenly screamed. “My face, my face!”

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The day I found out I was pregnant, Lucas drove us off a cliff, crashing through the guardrail. Our car tumbled down the mountainside. In the moment before the explosion, Lucas shouted at the sky: “Olivia! I’m coming to be with you!” At that instant, I realized he had never let go of his first love, Olivia. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to my college days. I tore up the love letter in my hand and strode away in the opposite direction from him. Eight years later. He rented out the most expensive bar in the city, planning an unforgettable proposal for his true love. But when he saw me holding another man’s hand, he asked with reddened eyes: “Evelyn, didn’t you promise to love only me forever?” I never expected to see Lucas again, especially not in a nightclub. Traffic had delayed me, causing me to miss the class reunion dinner. I drove straight to the club where I had a prior engagement. To my surprise, I stumbled upon my old classmates who had moved on to their second venue of the night. They were lost in the rhythm on the dance floor. Lucas, with his fair skin and tall stature, stood out in the crowd. He held Olivia close, his eyes full of adoration. “Lucas is truly a rare genius. At such a young age, he already owns several Formula 1 teams,” someone remarked. “Indeed. Tonight, he rented out this entire club just for Olivia.” “This must be the most luxurious venue in the city. The rental fee for one night must be at least a million dollars.” “Well, you can’t put a price on a beautiful woman’s smile.” As the music stopped, Olivia stood there, flushed and slightly out of breath. Suddenly, the big screen lit up, playing a montage of Lucas and Olivia’s romantic moments. The crowd started to cheer as Olivia was ushered onto the stage. Lucas, holding a bouquet of roses, got down on one knee before her. “Olivia, will you marry me?” His voice was as soft as a gentle stream, almost overflowing with emotion. Someone in the crowd asked, “When did Lucas break up with Evelyn?” The question, neither too loud nor too soft, reached everyone’s ears. Hearing my name, Lucas’s expression darkened, his smile fading. Olivia’s face froze for a moment before she quickly recovered, accepting the flowers from Lucas with a polite smile. “Lucas has always been popular with women, but who hasn’t made mistakes when they were young? The important thing is that it all worked out in the end.” The crowd laughed, continuing to compliment the couple on how well-matched they were. I stood in the corner, watching their intertwined fingers. Was I the mistake she referred to? But she didn’t know that in my previous life, it was Lucas who had pursued me. He had fallen for me at first sight, launching an intense pursuit. Who could resist a handsome, tall, intelligent man who loved you to the point of obsession? So I agreed. On the day we became official, Lucas cupped my face, hesitating to kiss me. “Evelyn, am I dreaming?” he had said. “If I kiss you, will I wake up?” I laughed, brushing his beautiful eyes before standing on tiptoe to kiss him. That night, he promised me, “Evelyn, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” I believed him. But he lied. I took a deep breath and headed towards the elevator through the dim light. A sharp-eyed former classmate spotted me and exclaimed, “Evelyn, what are you doing here?” “What happened to you? You look so disheveled.” “Don’t tell me you’re still unemployed. Since Lucas is here, why don’t you ask him to help you find a job that pays at least $5000 a month, for old times’ sake?” Their mockery was undisguised. I didn’t care, just smiling politely as I poured myself a glass of ice water. From the moment I entered, Lucas’s gaze had been fixed on me, never wavering. Seeing me take a free glass of ice water, he seemed to relax a bit and said casually, “Order whatever you want. I’m covering all the expenses tonight.” I replied, “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” My tone was polite but carried an unmistakable distance. Lucas’s attempt to approach me halted. Half his face was hidden in the shadows, making his expression unreadable. After a long moment, he let out a bitter laugh. “Evelyn, after all these years, you’re still so prideful.” Olivia’s gaze was filled with wariness. She intertwined her fingers with Lucas’s, eyeing me with a look of ownership and contempt. “Evelyn, I don’t mean to be rude, but as a woman, you should at least make an effort with your appearance when you go out.” “Look at your mismatched clothes and messy hair. How do you expect any man to want to marry you like this?” “I have plenty of clothes at home that I don’t wear anymore. If you don’t mind, you can have them. After all, Lucas buys me so many that I can’t even fit them all in two walk-in closets.” The crowd burst into laughter. I turned to look at my reflection in the glass. After two days of non-stop work on set, I was exhausted and hadn’t bothered with my appearance. Standing next to the impeccably groomed Olivia, I did look rather unkempt in comparison. “No, thank you,” I said, waving her off as I helped myself to some chilled fruit from the bar. I was too hungry to care about my table manners. Lucas suddenly walked towards me and held out his phone. I looked up at him, confused. “Give me your account number. I’ll transfer you $300,000,” he said. “Your current situation is ultimately because of me.” “But we’re in the past now. Don’t be so stubborn.” “Stop waiting for me and move on with your life.” Lucas’s phone wallpaper was a picture of Olivia holding a large bouquet of flowers. Looking at her carefree smile, I felt a bit dazed. In my previous life, let alone being his wallpaper, there wasn’t a single trace of me on Lucas’s phone. He didn’t even save my number because he never needed to contact me. Whether in life or work, I always arranged everything for him in advance. It turns out that love and indifference are indeed very obvious. We started dating in college and got married right after graduation. He dreamed of becoming a race car driver, while I wanted to study film directing. Two completely different dreams that would never intersect. Seeing his dejected eyes, I gave in. I gave up the opportunity to study abroad without hesitation, following him around with heavy toolboxes day after day. He didn’t have professional equipment, so I would ride my bicycle around the city at night delivering food, saving money to buy him the most expensive and best racing suits. He didn’t have a maintenance team, so I taught myself car repair techniques, taking on the work of an entire team for him alone. But he still lost. His second-hand race car, bought at a low price, could never outrun others’ latest models. Despite my tireless efforts to comfort him in his depression, he pushed me away harshly, his eyes filled with a disgust I had never seen before: “I’m sick of this boring life with you.” “If I had chosen Olivia back then, I wouldn’t be living like this now.” Those words shattered all my hopes for the future. I didn’t even have time to look back at the road we had traveled before we both died in that cliff accident. I wanted to beg him to save our child. But the words were swallowed by the flames before they could leave my mouth. Since fate had given us a chance to start over, we both chose to pursue the lives we wanted. There was no need for any further contact between us. I pushed the phone back to him. “There’s no relationship between us. This isn’t necessary.”

Lucas frowned, his voice trembling slightly, though he didn’t seem to notice it himself. “No relationship? What do you mean? Am I just a stranger to you now?” I looked up, meeting his gaze steadily. “Aren’t we? Our lives have no intersection. Whether I dress well or poorly, whether I live comfortably or not, what does it have to do with you?” “If you have too much money to spend, you might consider helping those in need.” Perhaps feeling that I had embarrassed him in front of everyone, Lucas’s expression turned impatient. He coldly rebuked me, “Evelyn, stop pretending. Didn’t you show up here just to get my attention?” Seeing this, Olivia gently comforted him, “Lucas, don’t say that about Evelyn. It’s too harsh.” Turning to me, the contempt in her eyes was barely concealed, though her tone remained gentle as ever. “Evelyn, don’t mind Lucas. He’s just concerned about an old classmate.” “How about this? I opened a private clinic on South Street. We need a receptionist there, with a salary of $7000 plus room and board.” “If you’re interested, you can work there.” Someone nearby exclaimed, “South Street is prime real estate! To have a clinic there, Olivia must really be something.” “Evelyn, you’ve struck gold! Quick, thank Olivia!” I rolled my eyes, calmly eating my fruit and refusing their offer once again. “No need. I’m very happy with my current job.” Seeing that I didn’t appreciate their gesture, those trying to curry favor with Lucas immediately stood up to criticize me for being ungrateful. “Evelyn, I think poverty has made you crazy. Lucas and Olivia are trying to help you, and not only are you not grateful, but you’re acting all high and mighty.” “We’re all old classmates. Everyone knows what you’re worth. Don’t miss this opportunity for the sake of your worthless pride.” After he finished speaking, Olivia pretended to stop him. “Please don’t say that about Evelyn… Maybe she really likes her current life.” As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, as if she had been bullied. Seeing the tears in Olivia’s eyes, Lucas pulled her into his arms, comforting her softly. “Olivia, you’re just too kind.” He turned to me and said, “Evelyn, I didn’t expect you to still be so selfish and hypocritical.” “You really are beyond help! You only deserve the worst life has to offer.” I was curious why Lucas would say such things about me. In both my previous life and this one, I had never done anything to hurt him. Why, after all these years, was he still speaking to me so harshly? I didn’t want to engage with them any further and stood up to go to the private room upstairs. However, a former male classmate blocked my way. He held a drink and leered at me as he approached. “Evelyn, I always hated that high-and-mighty act of yours. Never thought I’d see you like this.” “How about you drink with me? $500 per glass, what do you say?” “If you let me hold your hand, I might even pay extra.” I looked closely and barely recognized him as the guy who had confessed to me at the graduation ceremony. I think his name was Jack. At the time, I was focused on securing a spot for further studies abroad, so I had flatly rejected his advances. I didn’t expect him to hold a grudge for so long. Everyone was laughing, and no one came to my aid. I frowned. It wasn’t my intention to join their gathering. If I hadn’t had a prior appointment, I would have left long ago. The security guards were nowhere to be seen. As I was about to push him away, Lucas, who had been quietly watching everything, suddenly threw his glass violently at Jack. His tone was ice-cold: “Stay away from her.” Jack, now drenched in alcohol, was about to lash out but stopped when he realized it was Lucas. He could only turn back and glare at me viciously. The glass shattered on the floor. Olivia’s schadenfreude smile instantly vanished as she looked at Lucas in disbelief. “Lucas, what are you doing?” Lucas didn’t even glance at her, his eyes fixed on me. “This is my event tonight. I don’t want any accidents happening here.” I took two steps back, wiping the alcohol off my pants. “The security here is really poor.” Olivia looked at me, her eyes almost shooting fire. “You’re complaining now?” “Do you know where you are? This is the property of Adrian, the movie star. If it weren’t for Lucas, someone like you wouldn’t be able to set foot in here in a lifetime.” At the mention of Adrian, several female classmates suddenly became excited. “Is that the Adrian who’s won all those awards at such a young age and has been on the city’s richest list for five consecutive years?” “I heard he already has a child, but his wife has never been seen in public.” Just then, the main door was suddenly pushed open. A little girl, surrounded by a group of bodyguards, entered the hall. The girl looked around curiously. A butler in a suit followed closely behind her, cautiously saying, “Miss, please walk slowly. Be careful not to bump into anything.” The old classmates became excited instantly. “Someone who can freely enter a private event and is called ‘Miss’ must be the movie star’s little princess!” “My goodness, she looks exactly like Adrian!” I was about to step forward when the man who had been splashed with alcohol by Lucas earlier blocked my path again. He didn’t dare confront Lucas, so he took out his frustration on me: “Evelyn, if it weren’t for Lucas, how could someone like you even get to see the movie star’s daughter? I suggest you kneel down and apologize to me right now. If I’m in a good mood, I might even marry you.” “A good man like me with a stable monthly income of $5000 is hard to come by. I advise you to be sensible!” I ignored him and watched as the movie star’s daughter was surrounded by people. They bombarded her with questions, and some had already taken out their phones to take pictures. Olivia’s face no longer showed the arrogance from earlier. Instead, she wore a fawning smile: “Little sister, is your daddy Adrian?” After getting confirmation from the little girl, Olivia’s smile became even more ingratiating: “What are you doing here? Would you like some fruit? Let sister get it for you.” As she spoke, she reached out to touch the girl’s face. The little girl pushed Olivia’s hand away and walked straight towards me. Under everyone’s gaze, she threw herself into my arms, sweetly calling out: “Mommy!”

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When my wife came to visit me at the hospital, she frantically questioned me. “You knew the food was poisoned, so why did you eat it?” I shrugged my shoulders and replied seriously, “I poisoned it myself.” I still remember my previous life. Emma’s childhood sweetheart, Ethan, first deliberately prescribed the wrong medication to a patient, then stole a body from the morgue. Finally, he even poisoned the food of one of my patients, causing them to die from poisoning. At that time, I was busy performing surgery on other patients. When I came out, drenched in sweat, the police immediately put handcuffs on me. Just as I was about to defend myself, the police suddenly produced a surveillance video. It showed that I was the one behind all of these incidents. I was left speechless, unable to refute the evidence. In the end, I was stabbed to death in the hospital by the patient’s family. Even as I died, I couldn’t understand why I had become the culprit for all of these crimes. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn on the day Emma’s childhood sweetheart poisoned and killed someone. “Lucas Gray, are you out of your mind?” Emma Parker stormed into the room, pointing at me angrily. “You knew the food was poisoned, yet you still ate it!” I looked up at her innocently. “How did you know the food was poisoned?” Realizing she had let something slip, Emma hurriedly explained, “I heard from the nurses that you were hospitalized for poisoning. Besides, why would you eat a patient’s food anyway?” A police officer slowly walked in. “Because he poisoned it himself,” he said. “Then, feeling guilty, he ate it. Fortunately, his stomach was pumped in time, so there’s no serious harm done. Now, we need you to come to the police station to make a statement. Due to the criminal nature of the act, you’ll need to be held in custody for five days.” Hearing this, Emma immediately panicked. “No way! Lucas, I know you wouldn’t do something like this. Please explain to the police, okay?” I waved my hand in refusal. “I did wrong, and I’m willing to go to the station and be held in custody. Emma, don’t worry about me. I’ll be out in a few days.” The officer patted my shoulder approvingly. “Good lad, owning up to your mistakes. Let’s go.” Emma was clearly unhappy. She grabbed my arm. “Lucas Gray, are you crazy? Weren’t you busy performing surgery that day? How could you have had time to commit a crime? Have you lost your mind?” Seeing her seemingly good-hearted attempt to clear my name, I remained unmoved. As I continued to stay silent, Emma spoke again. “Don’t forget, I married you despite everything! If my father finds out you’ve been in jail, he’ll definitely make me divorce you!” I glanced at her and said calmly, “If your father still can’t accept me, then so be it. I don’t want you to keep living a hard life with me. But people must face the consequences of their actions. No matter how you try to stop me, I’m going to take responsibility for this crime.” Emma was completely infuriated by my response. She angrily slapped me across the face and then turned to leave. Watching her figure slowly disappear, I let out a sigh of relief. I still remembered my previous life. Ethan Williams, who had been missing for a long time, suddenly reappeared. Emma was so excited she could barely leave his side. All our friends knew they had been childhood sweethearts and had harbored feelings for each other. When I found out about this, I didn’t confront them. Instead, I wanted to let them be together. However, on the day I was planning to propose a divorce, Ethan deliberately prescribed the wrong medication to a patient, causing them to vomit blood. He then went to the morgue to steal a body, and finally poisoned the food of my most familiar patient, leading to their death by poisoning. At that time, I was in the emergency room performing surgery on a patient. When I came out, I wanted to immediately tell Emma and ask her to persuade Ethan to stop. But what awaited me was a line of police officers who rushed forward to handcuff me. Emma stood behind them, silently watching everything unfold. As soon as I opened my mouth to explain, she immediately retorted, “Don’t try to drag Ethan into this! Take responsibility for your own mistakes! I know him better than anyone else!” I stood there, staring at her in shock. I couldn’t understand why the person I loved most didn’t believe me. “It’s him! He’s the murderer!” I turned around to see the patient’s family, the deceased’s family, and the morgue manager all appearing before me. They angrily accused me, saying I deliberately prescribed the wrong medication causing the patient to vomit blood, stole a body from the morgue, and finally poisoned someone to death. I hurriedly explained that it was Ethan who did these things, not me. Moreover, I was busy performing surgery at the time. But no one was willing to believe me. They produced surveillance video footage that clearly showed it was me doing these things. They would rather believe I had superhuman abilities to kill people than consider the possibility that the surveillance footage might be compromised. In the end, I was stabbed to death by the enraged victim’s family member. He stabbed me repeatedly, and no one was willing to help me. They unanimously believed that I, a murderer, deserved to die. After death, I couldn’t understand why the person in the surveillance footage was me. And who had the ability to tamper with the footage in such a short time? This wasn’t an easy feat. So where exactly was the problem? Given a second chance at life, I was determined to uncover the truth and clear my name! I went back to the police station with the officer. I was held in custody for exactly five days. During those five days, all I did was sleep and eat, staying obediently inside. Upon release, the first thing I did was pick up my phone and search for the top news headlines. Sure enough, there was another incident at the hospital where I worked. All the misdeeds Ethan had committed in my previous life, he had done again in this one. But I wasn’t panicked at all. Instead, I felt a sense of anticipation. I had been in custody for these five days, so surely they couldn’t implicate me again. However, to my surprise, I had barely walked five meters out of the detention center when those people found me again. They each held weapons in their hands, as if they wanted to end my life. The leader was the family member of the deceased who had stabbed me to death in my previous life. He grabbed my collar angrily and said, “It was you! You poisoned my son’s food! You killed him!” I was stunned and retorted, “I already ate that food myself. Whoever poisoned it after that, it wasn’t me!” But he didn’t want to hear my explanation and continued shouting, “My son had just been admitted to university! He was in the prime of his youth, why did you have to ruin him!” Others chimed in, “That’s right!” “You deliberately prescribed the wrong medication for my dad, causing him to vomit blood!” “You even dared to steal a body from the morgue! Do you know how heartbroken the family is?” “Her husband had already died in an accident! Now you won’t even leave his ashes, she’s been hospitalized from the shock!” Listening to their accusations, my head was spinning. Why? I had been in custody for these five days, why were these people after me again? Coming back to my senses, I calmly said, “It’s impossible. I didn’t have time to do any of this in the past few days. You must have the wrong person. You should be looking for Ethan Williams, not me. If you don’t believe me, go check the hospital’s surveillance footage!” Hearing my words, their faces didn’t show confusion but rather smugness. “Hah, I knew you’d say that, you scumbag!” “We’ve already checked the surveillance footage!” They pulled out the footage and showed it to me. I was instantly stunned. The person doing all these terrible things in the video was indeed me again! A passing social media influencer caught wind of the drama. She quickly came over and asked, “Hey everyone, what’s going on here?” They angrily recounted, “This man poisoned my son’s food and killed him!” “He deliberately prescribed the wrong medication for my dad, causing him to vomit blood!” “He stole a body from the morgue, causing the family member to faint and be hospitalized!” Their accusations, one after another, firmly nailed me to the pillar of shame. Hearing this, the influencer immediately took out her phone, pointed it at my face, and said, “Folks, did you hear that? This doctor who seems to save lives is actually a murderer!” With these words, the comment section instantly exploded. “Oh my god, this person is truly heartless!” “A doctor who’s supposed to save lives has become a murderer, how ironic!” I clenched my fists, trying hard to control my emotions. “I really didn’t do it.” At this point, my explanations were all just excuses in their minds. The father of the child directly punched me in the face, shouting, “You still dare to deny it!” “Let me tell you, a life for a life is justice, if you don’t explain yourself clearly today, don’t even think about leaving here alive!” The son of the patient who was given the wrong medication threw the prescription in my face, yelling with a red face, “Look carefully! Look at what medication you prescribed for my father!” “My dad clearly had a heart condition, yet you gave him asthma medication, he had inflammation, and you gave him supplements!” “How can you be so vicious, don’t you have a father?” Hearing this, the morgue manager also stepped forward. “That’s right!” “I’ve always looked up to you as a role model, but you did such disgusting things!” “I was truly blind, today I’m going to seek justice for the victims’ families!” They kept talking over each other, nearly drowning me out. I took a deep breath and calmly said, “I can understand how everyone feels, but the fact is, I really didn’t do these things.” “The person behind all this is Ethan Williams, my wife’s childhood friend. You can confront him. Besides, for the past five days, I’ve been in custody, I couldn’t possibly…” Before I could finish, I was interrupted. “Lucas Gray! What nonsense are you spouting!” I turned around to see Emma and Ethan walking towards us, shoulder to shoulder. I was about to speak, but Emma beat me to it. “Do you know how worried Ethan was when he found out you were in custody? He kept telling me he believed in your character. If it weren’t for the surveillance footage, I wouldn’t have known that someone who usually seems so gentle could be such a beast behind closed doors!” Ethan quickly patted her back to comfort her. “Emma, don’t be too upset. I believe my brother just had a momentary lapse of judgment.” He then turned to look at me, his eyes cunning. “Brother, I know you’ve always looked down on me at the hospital. That’s why you kept finding fault with me, telling the chief that I’m not suitable to be a doctor. But I really want to save lives and help every patient. I could tolerate everything you said before, but now you’re trying to pin a murder charge on me! I really can’t accept this. Brother, if you did something wrong, you should take responsibility yourself, not randomly frame others!” Hearing this, the people around us began to look at him sympathetically. “You bastard, how dare you falsely accuse others!” The child’s father, enraged, swung the club in his hand towards me. I couldn’t dodge in time and fell to the ground with a thud. Blood trickled down my forehead, and I saw stars. “Stop! What are you doing?” The police, out on patrol, happened to see this scene and quickly ran over. The leader was Officer Johnson, who had personally put me in custody before. He was stunned and questioned, “You just got out and you’re causing trouble again?” With these words, the surroundings suddenly fell silent. Seeing that I didn’t speak, Officer Johnson spoke again. “What’s going on? What exactly happened?” I glanced at the slightly panicked Ethan and smirked. “Officer Johnson, you must help me! I just got out, and they suddenly came after me, saying I killed someone and stole a body. How could I have had time for that?” Officer Johnson was taken aback and spoke on my behalf. “That’s impossible. He’s been in custody for the past five days.” I quickly nodded and continued to lead him on. “Right? And I’ve been staying there obediently the whole time, not leaving for even a moment!” Officer Johnson shielded me behind him and said confidently. “I think you must have misunderstood. I personally took him into custody, and there were armed police patrolling 24 hours a day. It’s impossible for him to have escaped and committed crimes.” But they clearly weren’t going to let me off. They continued, “We have surveillance footage as evidence. If you don’t believe us, we’ll show you!” The police officer took the surveillance video and immediately frowned. Because he too could clearly see that the person committing the crimes in the footage was me. “Alright, to give everyone a fair resolution, I’ll take this footage for verification right now.” Everyone nodded. “That’s fine, but we want to watch it happen. Who knows if he might try to tamper with it when no one’s looking!” To appease the public, Officer Johnson had to agree. In the police car, under everyone’s witness, the footage was proven to be authentic. There wasn’t a single trace of human tampering. Officer Johnson visibly became flustered. He took out his phone and made a call. After hanging up, he suddenly stood up and put handcuffs on me. “Everyone, please rest assured. I just called the detention center where he was held to confirm. There was a hidden tunnel dug out in the room he was in, and the exit of this tunnel is right behind our police station in the underground passage!” “Lucas Gray, I originally thought you were sincerely repenting, that’s why you were so cooperative! But now it seems you were just biding your time!” Hearing Officer Johnson’s confirmation, the smile on Ethan’s face was barely concealed. He pointed at me and shouted, “That’s right, the murderer must be severely punished! Give everyone justice!” The victims behind him all chimed in agreement. Seeing their accusations and framing of me, I wasn’t scared; instead, I felt somewhat pleased. Since I’ve been given a second chance at life, I certainly wouldn’t be as foolish as in my previous life. I took out my phone and quietly sent a text message. After sending the message, I sat in the police car and calmly said, “Don’t rush. Wait a bit longer. There might be a twist in the story.” The people around scoffed, “Oh, a twist! I’d like to see who could possibly save you now!” Ten minutes later, a young man pushed through the crowd. “Lucas Gray is not a murderer!” “I can prove it!”

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In my previous life, my sister Lily didn’t want to marry the poor boy Jack, so she begged me to take her place. Little did we know that he would eventually become a billionaire. In this life, she excitedly told me, “Sis, if you could be the billionaire’s wife, so can I!” Watching her marry him, I couldn’t help but smile. She had no idea that Jack’s rise to wealth was entirely due to my strategic planning. Without me, he would be nothing! “Sis, if you could be the billionaire’s wife, so can I!” My sister Lily looked at me, her body trembling with excitement. Greed and desire were written all over her face, not even trying to hide it. I smirked, my smile full of hidden meaning. In my previous life, Lily didn’t want to marry the poor boy, so she cried and begged our parents to let me take her place. But who would have thought that the poor boy would eventually become a billionaire? She only knew about the luxurious life I had with Jack after we got together, but she had no idea that Jack was essentially incompetent. Worst of all, Jack had a tendency for domestic violence. His rise to wealth was entirely due to my strategic planning. Without me, he would be nothing! Seeing Jack and me frequently appearing on TV, living a life better than hers, my sister was consumed with envy and jealousy. So she lured me back home under the pretext of our parents being ill, and pushed me off a tall building. As I was falling to my death, I grabbed onto her clothes, and unexpectedly, we both reincarnated to the day when Jack came to propose.

Just like in my previous life, the poor boy Jack came to propose, relying on the fact that his father once saved my father’s life. After entering our house, he immediately took a liking to the lively and bubbly Lily. Being quiet and well-behaved, I naturally didn’t catch his eye. When Jack expressed his desire to marry Lily, she excitedly said to me, “Sis, this time you can’t steal my chance at a wealthy life.” I smiled slightly, “Are you sure you won’t regret this decision in the future?” She was already overwhelmed with excitement, “This will be the best decision I’ve ever made!” After saying this, she turned to our parents and said, “I’ll marry him!” Hearing her words, our parents’ faces showed obvious concern, “Are you sure?” After all, our family was relatively well-off. Although not extremely wealthy, we never had to worry about food or clothing. Marrying Jack meant a life of poverty, possibly filled with endless hardships. My sister nodded firmly again, seemingly already fantasizing about her lavish life as a billionaire’s wife. Although reluctant, our parents could only painfully agree. After all, Jack’s father did save our father’s life, and now that they’ve come to propose, there was no reason to refuse. Moreover, Lily was willing to marry him, giving even less reason to decline. Throughout all this, I kept my head down, quietly staring at my old canvas shoes, a slight mocking smile playing on my lips. The greedy and selfish sister and the incompetent Jack were indeed a perfect match.

Originally, the wedding date was set for the tenth of next month. But my sister was so eager to become the so-called billionaire’s wife that she insisted, “I don’t care, I want to marry him next week. No! I want to marry him the day after tomorrow!” My father angrily stood up from the sofa, “Lily, do you know what you’re saying? Have you no shame?” My mother also ran out from the kitchen, trying to persuade Lily, “You’re going to have a hard life after marrying him. The later you marry, the better. Why are you so eager to bring forward the date?” Unexpectedly, my sister raised her chin proudly, like a peacock showing off its feathers. “Who says I’m going to have a hard life? I’m going to enjoy a life of luxury. Jack is handsome and gentle. I fell deeply in love with him the moment I saw him. I believe our life together will definitely be wonderful.” I smiled as I watched my sister’s animated expression, imagining her current happiness. After all, when I became the billionaire’s wife in my previous life, I had access to all kinds of luxury brands and frequently appeared on TV, becoming the so-called national ideal wife. At that time, she must have been incredibly jealous. My mother secretly tugged at my hand, signaling me to try and persuade her. I smiled faintly, “Lily is old enough to make her own decisions now. If she wants to get married earlier, let her.” My sister was so happy her eyes narrowed into crescents, “After getting married, I can start building my own family and career sooner.” Our parents didn’t quite understand. My sister smiled and said, “I believe my future will be brilliant. Just wait and see, Mom and Dad.” Seeing my sister’s radiant smile, our parents could only sigh helplessly. I just lowered my eyes, unable to suppress a sneer. My sister only saw the glorious side of my previous life, and now she’s eager to replace me and live that so-called brilliant life. I’m really looking forward to seeing how she plans to turn the incompetent Jack into a billionaire. As the wedding date approached, Jack’s side still showed no sign of preparation. According to our local customs, before the wedding, the groom’s family must give the bride some jewelry, at least a ring, necklace, and bracelet. No matter how small or inexpensive, it’s a gesture of sincerity. Seeing Jack’s lack of effort, my father was furious, “Is the Jack family treating my daughter like grass?” My mother wrung her hands nervously, “Yes, getting married without even a piece of jewelry, we’ll be the laughing stock of the neighborhood.” I calmly watched all of this from the side. Jack’s family was dirt poor, struggling even to put food on the table. How could they possibly have extra money for jewelry? My father was still regretful, “If it weren’t for the engagement, we would never let our daughter marry into that family.” Thinking about his beloved daughter going to live a life of hardship, my father was heartbroken. My mother sighed, holding Lily’s hand and trying to reason with her, “Lily, if you really don’t want to marry him, we can find another way.” Lily panicked and shook her head vigorously, “Of course I want to get married! In this life, I won’t marry anyone but Jack!” Her casual words made our parents’ eyes dim with sadness. “Looks like the wedding day will have to be a simple affair.”

Just as our parents predicted, on the wedding day, even the clothes Lily wore were hastily bought by our parents who couldn’t bear to see her so poorly dressed. Naturally, only Jack came to pick up the bride. He wore a faded jacket, rode an old bicycle, and had a big smile on his face. “Mom, Dad, I brought some firecrackers to celebrate!” As he spoke, he proudly placed the firecrackers on the ground and lit them. Amidst the crackling sounds, our parents’ faces looked extremely unhappy. This so-called wedding was pathetically shabby. Forget about a banquet, there wasn’t even a single person from the village coming to offer blessings. Even neighbor Ava, who usually gossips about everything, had gone to work in the county town as usual today. I smirked. Except for the change in the main character, everything else was exactly the same as in my previous life. The poor Jack, without any sincerity, still brazenly explained this behavior as keeping things simple. But in this miserable atmosphere, the bride was smiling brilliantly. As soon as Jack finished lighting the firecrackers, she eagerly sat on the back of his bicycle, “Mom, Dad, I’m off then.” Jack, looking at his new bride hugging his waist, was so happy he couldn’t close his mouth, “Mom, Dad, please go back inside. No need to see us off.” My mother opened her mouth, wanting to say something but holding back. Watching their retreating figures, her eyes inevitably moistened. “Lily, how will you live from now on…” My father sighed heavily and turned to go back inside without a word. Watching Jack and Lily embrace intimately, I momentarily recalled those painful memories from my previous life. My gaze gradually turned cold, then slowly returned to calmness. After all, I’ve been reborn now. I have a completely different path ahead of me. Those hardships will never happen to me again. Seemingly noticing my gaze on them, Lily thought I was jealous. She deliberately came to my side and lowered her voice, “This was originally my life. You’d better not interfere!” “Sis, remember, don’t appear in front of Jack casually in the future. All those good days belong to me.” I nodded obediently, “Mm-hmm.” I couldn’t ask for anything better. I don’t know if it was psychological, but I suddenly felt that Lily in front of me looked much more pleasing. After all, her every word and action now deeply satisfied me. Lily was very pleased with my understanding, “After all, I’m married now. In the future, stay as far away from me as possible!” I nodded seriously again, “Okay.” Looking at my excited sister in front of me, I fell into deep thought. If I remember correctly, on the first night of their marriage, Jack would reveal his abusive nature. In my previous life, it was because I fought back fiercely, willing to risk my life, that Jack had no choice but to let it go. Later, Jack needed me to strategize for him, and I controlled most of his social resources. With me holding him down, he naturally didn’t dare to abuse me anymore. In this life, I can only wish my sister good luck. Watching their gradually disappearing figures, I calmly advised my mother, “Since this is Lily’s own choice, we should just give her our blessings.” This is what she desperately wanted, so we can only wish her well. My mother wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, “Emma, you’re the only daughter left at home now.” I held my mother’s hand and turned to go back inside. But my heart felt incredibly light.

When there were two daughters at home before, our parents would always think of Lily first for everything. With Lily gone, my life will only become easier and happier. I can enjoy the happiness that should come with my age, with my father’s company, and never have to tread on thin ice like in my previous life. Moreover, in this life, without Jack, that incompetent fool, as a stumbling block, I’ll become the billionaire myself! Firmly grasping my destiny in my own hands is the most correct choice. I still set my first goal on real estate, which I saw as the most promising in my previous life. I started organizing my initial capital. Then I invested all the funds I had into a large plot of land in the county town that nobody else thought much of, buying low and planning to sell high later. This way, my capital would multiply several times over. Then, like in my previous life, I would use the capital to register an e-commerce company, as e-commerce would become the most mainstream and profitable industry in the coming years. After planning out what I needed to do next in my mind, I also prepared to start slowly putting things into action. According to local customs, the second day after the wedding is when the bride returns to her parents’ home. I was looking forward to seeing what choices my sister would make in this life. Early in the morning, our parents started preparing. My mother was busy with the food, worrying and muttering, “Prepare more meat dishes. Who knows when Lily will get to eat meat again after marrying into that family.” My father sat nearby, heavily tapping his pipe with a gloomy expression, “I’ll have someone slaughter a few chickens and ducks for her to take back.” As our parents were talking, there was a commotion at the door. Entering was my sister, with a bruised and swollen face. The moment I saw her, I understood. Sure enough, my sister ultimately wasn’t me. She had made a completely different choice from what I did. Back then, I wanted to firmly grasp my destiny in my own hands, striving with all my might to climb out of the mud. But now, my sister had pinned all her hopes on that incompetent fool, hoping that he would somehow become a billionaire overnight. Seeing my sister in this state, my mother was heartbroken. She pulled her to sit down and started crying. “Has that Jack gone mad? Doesn’t he know his own situation? I’ve already lowered myself by marrying my daughter to him, and he dares to lay hands on her?” “It’s only the second day and he’s already hitting her. How will the days ahead be?” My father was also furious, “I must teach that boy a lesson. How dare he hit my daughter? He must pay the price!” Watching my father angrily speak while going to find a hoe, looking like he was ready to fight Jack to the death, my sister panicked. She quickly got up from her seat and hurriedly stopped my father. “Dad, don’t do this. Don’t go find him. I’m not hurt at all.” My father was exasperated, “You’ve been beaten like this and you say you’re not hurt? Do you have to be beaten to death before you feel pain?” Seeing her like this, even though I already knew the outcome, I couldn’t bear to watch. So when our parents said they wanted to seek justice for her, I chose to remain silent. My sister shook her head with a smile, “Actually, Jack is quite good to me. He wouldn’t possibly beat me to death. As for why he hit me, I understand. After all, people destined for greatness have their tempers.” When my sister said this, her eyes were full of deep love. “Don’t worry, my life will only get better, not worse.” Her simple words made the air fall silent. It was the first time I’d seen someone so willing to walk into a dead end. I couldn’t help but speak up, “If Mom and Dad went to seek justice for you today, he might be a bit more restrained in the future.” She sneered, “Sis, are you jealous that I’ll have a better life in the future? Are you afraid that you’ll be forever trampled under my feet?” I pretended not to understand, but inwardly I was extremely frustrated. As parents, seeing her like this was truly heartbreaking. My parents suggested taking her to the hospital to bandage her wounds, but my sister refused. Her reason was actually, “Jack is going to be a billionaire in the future. If news of me being beaten gets out, it will affect his future reputation.” In the end, our parents couldn’t persuade her and could only buy some disinfectant to help her treat her wounds. It had been less than two days since she married, and my sister at the dining table was clearly starving. Her eyes lit up at the sight of meat, and she stuffed it into her mouth frantically. My sister, who had come back empty-handed, left with two chickens and two ducks. She even left a harsh warning, “If any of you speak about what happened today, don’t blame me for being merciless.” Seeing her like this, I was utterly speechless.

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Three years into our marriage, my wife still refused to have any physical intimacy with me. She claimed to be a germaphobe, saying she disliked physical contact with others. That is, until I discovered her in a hotel room with her first love, only to be beaten to death by the two of them. Reborn to the time just after graduation, I decided to let them be together, hoping we’d never cross paths again. Five years later, she had become a renowned pianist, attending a business conference with her boss and first love. Seeing me appear, Lily crossed her arms and looked at me disdainfully: “Ugh, what bad luck. I can’t believe this lapdog Lucas is still here, a toad lusting after swan’s flesh. He’s actually stalking me!” I smiled, my left arm around Grace, the Summers family’s daughter, and my right hand holding our daughter’s. Later, Lily showed up at my door wearing revealing clothes. “Didn’t you say you’d only love me? Lucas, please, let’s have a child together!” “Oh my, Miss Lily, you look absolutely radiant today. Such grace, truly befitting a famous pianist!” An middle-aged woman approached with an admiring smile. “Standing next to Mr. James, you two make a perfect couple. A match made in heaven, both talented and beautiful.” Lily raised her chin slightly, a look of pride on her face. James stood beside her, beaming with pride, occasionally exchanging pleasantries with those around them. “Indeed, being with Mr. James is truly a perfect combination of the business and art worlds!” Hearing the chorus of praises around her, Lily stood even straighter, her smile growing brighter. She tossed her hair lightly, her eyes full of unrivaled pride. “You’re all too kind. I’ve just put a bit more effort into piano, and James has been very supportive,” Lily said with feigned modesty, but her tone couldn’t hide her satisfaction. “Well, if it isn’t Lily and James! I never expected to run into you here!” A man in a crisp suit quickly approached, his face plastered with a fawning smile. It was Greg, a former classmate from university. She raised an eyebrow slightly, a barely noticeable trace of contempt flashing across her face, but she maintained an elegant smile: “Greg, what a coincidence.” Greg’s gaze swept over Lily and James, then he dramatically gave a thumbs up: “Lily, you’ve really made it big now! A great artist, standing next to Mr. James, you two are simply perfect together! Looking back, I was right all along. Unlike some people back then, a frog trying to swallow a swan, probably still amounting to nothing now.” Greg leaned in closer to Lily, his face full of flattery: “I always knew that Lucas wasn’t good enough for you. It’s great that you’re with Mr. James now, he’s truly your match. Oh, by the way, Mr. James, I was wondering if you could put in a good word with my boss about my promo-” James glanced at him with a hint of disdain, giving a slight nod. I finished instructing my assistant about the conference details, then noticed the cleaning lady had dropped something. I picked it up and handed it back to her. Greg, sharp-eyed, immediately spotted me. His face twisted into an exaggerated mocking expression, pointing at me and loudly exclaiming: “Well, look who it is! Isn’t that Lucas? Speak of the devil! How the mighty have fallen, reduced to helping the cleaning lady. How pathetic!” Lily followed Greg’s pointing finger, her face showing disdain as she let out a light snort: “I thought he might have amounted to something, but turns out he’s just a nobody doing odd jobs. It’s laughable, really.” She raised her chin slightly, her eyes full of contempt. James’ lips curled into a mocking smile, arms crossed, as he said condescendingly: “Now, now, Lily, don’t be like that. The man’s just trying to make a living with his… skills. Someone’s got to do these menial jobs, right?” The people around them, hearing their words, burst into laughter. The cleaning lady, looking nervous, whispered to me: “You don’t have to help me, I don’t want them talking about you like that.” I just smiled and shook my head, continuing to efficiently clean up the trash. Seeing that I didn’t react, Greg became even more animated. He swaggered over to me, deliberately bumping into me, causing some of the trash to spill out again. He then feigned innocence, saying: “Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there. But my, aren’t you careless with your work.” James’ lips curled into a smile. He pulled out a business card from his pocket, holding it between his fingers, and carelessly tossed it towards me.

The business card fluttered down, landing next to the trash at my feet. James crossed his arms, a mocking smile on his face, deliberately raising his voice: “Lucas, out of consideration for Lily, I’ll give you a chance. My company happens to need a janitor, and judging by how you work, you seem quite experienced. If you’re willing, you can start right away.” He paused, his eyes full of mockery, and continued: “Of course, my company has high standards, I wouldn’t hire just anyone. If it weren’t for your past with Lily, I wouldn’t even bother with you. You should be grateful to Lily, otherwise you might be picking up trash in places like this for the rest of your life.” Lily covered her mouth, letting out a contemptuous laugh, her eyes full of derision: “Lucas, stop trying to act tough. James is doing you a huge favor. Just be a good boy and go work as a janitor at his company. At least you’ll have a job, instead of embarrassing yourself here. And stop thinking you’re a frog that can swallow a swan. Following me here must have been quite an effort for you. James is giving you this chance because he’s generous, not holding your past obsession with me against you.” Greg chimed in, “That’s right, Lucas. Don’t be ungrateful. Mr. James is willing to give you this opportunity, you should count yourself lucky.” I looked at Lily, standing there proud as a peacock, and couldn’t fathom how I had ever fallen for her. In my previous life, I had doted on her endlessly, trying to fulfill her every whim. Those expensive piano master classes, whenever she asked, I paid for them without hesitation, just so she could progress further in her piano career. For her, I even gave up my expertise and passion in computer science, diving headfirst into the unfamiliar real estate industry. Because she thought real estate was lucrative, no matter how I tried to explain the current development trends to her, she insisted I work in real estate. Later, I found out it was because James was in real estate. Back then, I foolishly believed that as long as I could make her happy, any sacrifice was worth it. But reality was cruel. Due to my lack of experience in real estate, my investments repeatedly failed. Not only did I lose everything, but I also thoroughly disappointed my family, who cut off my financial support. Even then, I never complained about her. Every idea of mine was shot down by her; she always demanded that I act according to her wishes. She remained obsessed with luxury goods and expensive cars. When I couldn’t afford to satisfy her desires, she forced me to take out high-interest loans. To be with her, I completely fell out with my family. They strongly disapproved of my investment philosophy, thinking I had lost my mind, consumed by love. At that time, I was destitute, running around trying to repay debts, working day and night. Once, she wanted to buy a limited edition luxury bag, but I simply couldn’t afford it. I still remember our conversation from that time. “Lucas, look at how pathetic you are now. I really don’t know what I was thinking when I got together with you!” Lily crossed her arms, her eyes full of disgust. “I used to be the dream girl for so many people. Being with you, I must have used up all my bad luck for eight lifetimes!” Yes, Lily was beautiful, and there were indeed many boys pursuing her at the time. I fell for her the moment I saw her. That’s why I cherished her so much after we got together. I looked at her, somewhat pitifully saying, “Lily, I’ve sacrificed so much for you. Why have you never seen it?” “You call that sacrifice?” Lily sneered, “Look at yourself now, you’ve achieved nothing and you’re drowning in debt. I should have listened to James from the start and stayed away from a loser like you.” “James, James, it’s always James with you!” I couldn’t help raising my voice, “If you like him so much, why did you even get together with me in the first place?” “It was because you relentlessly pursued me, and I was young and naive then. I was fooled by you!” Lily glared at me, her eyes wide with anger. “It was only after I got together with you that I realized you could never give me the life I wanted. Look at James, he’s already successful in his career at such a young age, driving luxury cars, living in mansions. And you? You can’t even afford to buy me a designer bag!” “So you regret being with me?”

I looked at her, feeling a wave of sadness. “Why didn’t you just reject me outright back then, instead of having me do so much for you?” “Hmph, you did all that willingly, what’s it got to do with me?” Lily sneered, curling her lip in disdain. “Besides, I wanted to see just how far you’d go for me. Who knew you’d be so useless, couldn’t even manage a real estate business properly.” “I tried my best. I gave up my passion for computer science for you, entering a field I knew nothing about. Wasn’t that hard enough?” I shook my head helplessly. Lily said contemptuously, “James is a hundred times better than you with just a single word. If I had listened to him back then, I wouldn’t be in this situation now.” Lily justified herself, “And you, you could never give me what I wanted. I regret being with you, you wasted my youth!” Married to Lily for three years, dating for one, throughout these four years, she always used her germaphobia as an excuse to avoid me, even refusing the most basic physical intimacy. Over time, I got used to this sexless marriage, assuming she really did have severe germaphobia. Though disappointed, I could only silently endure. Until that day, when I suddenly received a hotel booking message from an unknown number on my phone. The moment I saw the content of the message, my mind went blank, and I was completely stunned. My hand holding the phone couldn’t stop shaking, my eyes fixed on that line of text, which clearly showed the hotel address and room number. An ominous feeling welled up in my heart, but I still clung to a glimmer of hope that this was just a prank. I went to the address, and as I stood outside the room, my heart was in my throat. Before I could knock, I heard unmistakable sounds coming from inside the room. My blood seemed to freeze, and all I could hear were those nauseating noises. I tried to discern the voices, and the woman’s voice was so familiar. The door opened, and there stood James, shirtless. His hair was disheveled, his face still flushed, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. Inside the room, Lily was wearing sexy lingerie I had never seen before. Fearing their affair would be exposed, they dragged me into the room and beat me to death. I can still recall the despair I felt at that moment. I snapped back to reality, those painful memories receding like a tide, while Greg’s disgusting face came back into focus. “Lucas, with your lack of success, you’re only fit for these lowly jobs,” Greg continued to grin, relentlessly mocking me, his face full of smug satisfaction. Ignoring him, I walked over to a nearby table, intending to sit down. He tried to trip me, but I noticed and deliberately stepped on his shoe. “Fuck you, watch where you’re going! You’ve dirtied my shoes!” He said, lifting his foot towards me, his eyes full of challenge. “What are you waiting for? Get down on your knees and clean my shoe! Consider it your apology for being such a klutz.” Hearing this, the group of people fawning over James burst into laughter, their eyes full of contempt. I coldly stared at him, saying nothing. Just then, Lily suddenly frowned, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She bit her lip slightly, seeming somewhat hesitant. “Greg, that’s enough,” Lily’s voice suddenly rang out, tinged with impatience. “He’s still… There’s no need to go that far.” Hearing Lily’s words, Greg’s face showed surprise, quickly replaced by a fawning smile. “Lily, I just couldn’t stand the sight of him. I wanted to teach him a lesson for you.” “That’s enough, stop it,” Lily waved her hand, her eyes flashing with a barely noticeable panic as she turned her head slightly away. James also frowned beside her, his eyes full of displeasure. “Greg, don’t waste time on someone like him. We have important matters to discuss.” Greg quickly nodded, his face full of a bootlicking smile. “Yes, yes, Mr. James is right.” They found a table and sat down. James picked up a glass of champagne, taking a small sip, his eyes revealing a hint of eagerness and greed. “I heard that the daughter of the Summers Group and the son of the Navigator Group will both be attending today. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we can establish a connection with them, our company’s development will be smooth sailing.” James put down his glass, his gaze sweeping around the room. “I’ve heard that these two giant corporations have formed a marriage alliance. Do you think they’ll leave any opportunities for us smaller companies? I heard the son of Navigator Group hasn’t been seen in public for a long time. I was even thinking of introducing my daughter to him!” An older small business owner chimed in, agreeing with James. Lily nodded slightly, a calculating look flashing in her eyes. Just as James and the others were enthusiastically discussing how to build relationships with the Summers Group and Navigator Group, there was a sudden commotion in the crowd, with everyone turning to look. I knew Grace had arrived. Grace was wearing an elegant evening gown that far outshone Lily. When Lily saw Grace’s face, the jealousy in her eyes was almost palpable. Her brother, Edward, was holding our daughter’s hand, walking beside her. James’ eyes lit up. He immediately put down his glass, adjusted his collar, and quickly went to greet them. “Miss Summers, it’s truly my honor to see you here today.” James’ face was full of a fawning smile, his eyes revealing a hint of eagerness. The people around also gathered, starting to shower Grace with compliments. “Miss Summers, you look absolutely stunning today. Your aura is simply unmatched.” Lily, not to be outdone, pushed through the crowd. With a sycophantic smile on her face, she said to Edward: “You must be the young master of Navigator Group. You’re truly accomplished at such a young age.” Edward frowned in displeasure, not even sparing Lily a glance. At this moment, our daughter broke free from Edward’s hand and ran towards me, sweetly calling out, “Daddy!” Hearing our daughter’s voice, everyone around froze. The smiles on James and Lily’s faces instantly turned rigid. Grace also walked over, smiling as she took my hand, saying softly, “Lucas, sorry to keep you waiting.”

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On my wedding day, my best friend sent me an intimate video of her with my husband. In a fit of rage, I left Alexander despite his desperate pleas. I ran away with my childhood sweetheart, Ryan Thompson. Alexander, possessive and obsessed, went as far as to blacklist us globally. In the end, I died alone in a rented apartment, sick and penniless. On my deathbed, Jessica Moore looked down at me triumphantly. “Lily Collins, you’re such a fool. You actually believed that AI-generated video I sent you?” “Now that you’re dead, Alexander will have no choice but to marry me!” She laughed smugly. As I finally understood everything, I wanted to slap her, but my arm fell limp. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn! Seeing that intimate video again, I finally realized I had truly been reborn. The embarrassing sounds filled the room. I examined the video carefully and immediately spotted the flaw. Jessica had been careless, forgetting to remove the AI watermark in the bottom right corner. In my past life, blinded by anger, I had overlooked this crucial detail. Alexander thought I had abandoned him for Ryan, so he relentlessly targeted us, hoping I would come crawling back. I was too stubborn to give in, refusing even to ask him about it. This allowed Jessica to swoop in, marry into wealth, and become a rich socialite! In this new life, I won’t fall for her tricks again! The wedding proceeded as planned. Under the officiant’s guidance, Alexander and I exchanged rings and kissed, making everyone envious. Jessica, watching from below, clenched her fists in jealousy so tightly her nails dug into her palms. As the ceremony neared its end, Jessica couldn’t sit still any longer. The moment I stepped off the stage, she urgently pulled me aside. She exclaimed excitedly: “Lily! You can’t be together!” “He’s just a scumbag! You can’t marry him!” “While you haven’t gotten your marriage license yet, break up with him quickly! Otherwise, you’ll have plenty to cry about later!” She spoke with an air of authority, as if she truly had my best interests at heart. I smoothed out the train of my wedding dress and calmly replied: “Oh? You seem to know my husband better than I do.” Jessica missed the sarcasm in my voice and continued: “Of course! You’re my best friend. Anyone who wants to marry you has to be thoroughly investigated by me!” She leaned in close and whispered in my ear: “Lily! You have to believe me! He’s a total scumbag!” “Did you see the video I sent you earlier?” I feigned surprise and shook my head. “Huh? Video? What video?” “I’ve been busy getting married to my husband. When would I have time to check my phone?” Hearing this, Jessica had an expression of sudden realization. She dug her phone out of her purse, held it up to my face, and played the video herself. “Here, look at this now!” “After you see it, you’ll know everything I said is true!” Just as the video started playing, Alexander called out from the doorway. “Honey, haven’t you girls been chatting long enough?” “It’s our big day. If you stay any longer, I might get jealous!” His tone was full of playful complaint. I laughed and replied: “Alright, I’ll be right out!” Then I turned to Jessica with a smile and said teasingly: “Oh Jessica, there’s no need to show us these educational videos.” “Alexander and I have already had plenty of hands-on practice~” With that, I winked at her and walked out.

Jessica stood there stunned after hearing my words. “Wait, can’t you tell it’s me and Alexander in the video?” She looked at the video again carefully, still unable to understand why I could remain so calm after seeing evidence of my husband’s infidelity. I was walking slowly, and when I reached the door, I overheard her words. Seeing her confused expression, I couldn’t help but smirk. Alexander was waiting impatiently at the door. As soon as he saw me, he eagerly pulled me into his arms. Then he scooped me up and strode towards the car with his long legs. Nestled in his embrace, breathing in his unique sandalwood scent, I softly said: “Honey, can we go get our marriage license right now?” Jessica’s words had reminded me that Alexander and I hadn’t officially registered our marriage yet. Without that legal protection, I’d feel more at ease once we had the license. Hearing my request, Alexander’s face lit up with joy. He had asked me countless times about getting our marriage license. He knew I had a childhood friend and was afraid of missing his chance. But I had always refused because of my friend’s words. This was the first time I had brought it up, and he immediately nodded in agreement. He pulled out our IDs and took me straight to the registry office, afraid I might change my mind. He said I was his most beloved treasure – now, in the future, and for all eternity! After getting our license, Alexander excitedly wanted to post about it on social media. I quickly stopped him. “Don’t post it yet. I have an interesting show to watch first!” Although Alexander didn’t understand what I meant, he went along with it. “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say, darling!” Seeing his obedient and innocent expression, I couldn’t resist giving him a kiss on the forehead. My past self was truly foolish! To have doubted a man so completely devoted to me. In this life, I will cherish him properly and make him the happiest man in the world! After the wedding, Alexander treated me wonderfully. When we returned from our honeymoon, he went straight to the office to handle work matters, while I slept until sunset. Jessica, who had been turned away several times, finally caught me on a day I got up at noon. As soon as she entered, she couldn’t help but examine the decorations in the villa, her eyes full of ambition. I saw through her but said nothing. I adjusted my thousand-dollar silk nightgown, covering my fair legs, and said softly: “Jessica, married life is quite comfortable.” “You should find someone to marry soon too.” Hearing this, Jessica laughed awkwardly, then frowned and scolded: “Lily! How can you have so little self-respect?” “You’re only married, you haven’t even gotten your license yet! How can you move into his house?” “Listen to me! Rich men like Alexander are just playing around with you! Don’t get too invested!” I lightly raised my hand, revealing a diamond ring the size of a pigeon egg on my ring finger, along with a thick gold bracelet on my wrist. “Just playing around? He sure is willing to spend a lot if that’s the case.” Jessica stared, her eyes nearly popping out of her head, almost drooling with jealousy. She grabbed my hand and earnestly advised: “Lily! I’m your best friend!” “How could I possibly want to harm you?” “Listen to me, break up with him as soon as possible!” “Otherwise, in the end, you’ll be kicked out with nothing but tears!”

I tilted my head in confusion and asked: “Why do you keep saying bad things about him?” “I’m very happy now. Shouldn’t you be happy for me?” “Why do you keep wishing me ill?” I coldly stared at her, and the air around us seemed to freeze. Even the mosquitoes sensed the tense atmosphere and flew away, not daring to come near. Seeing that I refused to break up, Jessica’s chest heaved with anger. She glared at me with bloodshot eyes, gritting her teeth. “Lily Collins! I’ll tell you the truth!” “Alexander and I have known each other for a long time! We were even talking about marriage!” “If I hadn’t gotten angry and broken up with him, do you think you’d have had a chance?” “Alexander only loves me. He married you just to make me jealous!” “Otherwise, why would he only have a wedding ceremony with you, making it public knowledge, but not get a marriage license? Isn’t it just to upset me?” Jessica spoke with such conviction that if I hadn’t already gotten the marriage license with Alexander, I might have believed her lies. Seeing that I remained unmoved, Jessica pulled out that intimate video again. She held it up to my face triumphantly and said: “Look! This is proof that we were together before!” “We love each other so much. As long as I change my mind, he’ll definitely abandon you and come back to me immediately!” Hearing this, my expression instantly darkened. Before, I just thought Jessica was stupid, but now I found her utterly disgusting! I coldly looked at her and said flatly: “Who doesn’t have an ex they’d rather forget?” “As long as I’m the only one in his heart now, that’s all that matters.” “Besides, if he would really get back together with you just because you say so, why don’t you go find him directly?” “Why go through all this trouble to tell me?” I went along with her words, pretending to believe what she said. Seeing that I believed her, Jessica’s expression softened a bit. She raised an eyebrow smugly and said: “Fine! You said it yourself, don’t regret it later!” “I only wanted to persuade you to leave voluntarily because you’re my friend!” “Since you won’t listen to reason, just wait to be kicked out!” With that, Jessica angrily turned and left. That evening when Alexander came home, after hearing from the staff about what happened during the day, he hugged me with a wronged expression. “Baby~ I swear, from beginning to end, there’s only been you. I only love you.” “I don’t know why your friend would say such things. I’ve never done anything to betray you!” He was so anxious to prove himself innocent that he almost cried. I stroked his head, smiling as I comforted him: “Of course I believe my husband~” “That bad woman just can’t stand to see me happy and is trying to break us up on purpose.” I buried my head in his shoulder and said softly: “Promise me, no matter what happens in the future, you’ll believe in me, okay?” “Don’t try to understand me through other people’s words. If there’s a problem, ask me directly, okay?” In my past life, I fell because of trust. If I had trusted Alexander a little more, perhaps the outcome wouldn’t have been like that. This time I didn’t fall into Jessica’s trap, but she might try to manipulate Alexander next. Hearing my words, Alexander nodded firmly and raised his hand to swear to me. “I, Alexander Gray, swear that I will trust and cherish Lily Collins for a lifetime!”

I held his hand and said with a smile: “No need to swear, I believe you!” The next day, my phone was bombarded with calls. Looking at the dozen missed calls, I was a bit dazed and called back. “Mom? What happened?” I thought something had happened at home and my heart was in my throat. An angry rebuke came from the other end of the phone. “Lily Collins! You’ve really gone too far this time!” “How could you do something as despicable as being a homewrecker!” “Having a daughter like you, I must have done something terrible in my past lives!” I listened in confusion, bewildered. “Mom, what are you talking about?” “I don’t understand.” My mom let out a cold laugh. “Huh, you don’t understand? If your best friend Jessica hadn’t come crying to our doorstep, I wouldn’t have known you were such a shameless person!” As soon as I heard the key word “Jessica”, I immediately understood what had happened. Jessica must have gone to my parents and told them an exaggerated version of events. I sighed, wanting to explain, but before I could even say “Mom”, I was cut off. “Come home right away. Since you haven’t gotten your marriage license yet, break it off immediately! Don’t go ruining other people’s relationships!” With that, my mom hung up the phone, not even giving me a chance to explain. Left with no choice, I could only drive home to explain things in person. As soon as I reached the front door, I heard Jessica’s crying coming from inside. “Waaah~ Uncle, Auntie, you have to help me!” “I treated Lily like my own sister, but she stabbed me in the back and stole my boyfriend!” My mom was comforting her: “It’s okay, I’ve already scolded Lily.” “Auntie will make them break up right away, she won’t compete with you!” When I entered, this was the scene I saw. Jessica sat on the sofa, crying her eyes out, while my parents were busy offering her tissues and fruit. When she saw me come in, a flash of triumph passed through Jessica’s red-rimmed eyes. My mom saw me and immediately dragged me into the kitchen, berating me. “Lily! How could you be so foolish! Even if Alexander is rich, you shouldn’t become a mistress just to marry into wealth!” I frowned, looking displeased. “I’m not a mistress. Alexander and I had a wedding ceremony, and we got married with both families’ blessings! How am I a mistress?” Seeing that I showed no remorse, my mom raised her hand and slapped me. “Ungrateful child! If I had known you were a homewrecker, I would never have agreed to your marriage, even if it killed me!” She kept calling me a homewrecker, and I knew Jessica must have brainwashed her. Talking was useless since she wouldn’t believe me anyway, so I directly took out the red booklet from my bag. “Mom, look carefully! Alexander and I are legally married. We are the lawful husband and wife!” “Even if Jessica dated Alexander before, that’s all in the past! I am Alexander’s wife now, so please stop helping an outsider!” I thought showing the marriage certificate would calm my mom down, but it only made her angrier. She raised her hand and slapped me again, making my ears ring. I stared at her in shock, but my mom said: “Divorce! Divorce him right now!” I frowned in confusion, wanting to ask why. My mom took a deep breath and pulled out an ultrasound report from her pocket. “Jessica is pregnant! She’s carrying Alexander’s child!”

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Betrayed by Love “Beep… beep…” The thirty-second call went unanswered. Caleb still hadn’t picked up. I had reheated the dishes on the table three times already. The homemade ice cream cake had melted into an unsightly puddle, worse than tears. My fingers gently caressed the gift box beside me. Inside was my pregnancy report. This was meant to be Caleb’s birthday surprise. I had imagined countless times how he would react upon seeing this gift. Perhaps he would be surprised, maybe delighted. It might even bring a change to our hopeless marriage. However, as time ticked away minute by minute, hope began to fade. I stubbornly sat in place, unwilling to give up. A part of me still clung to the slim chance that he was just temporarily delayed. Finally, at two in the morning, the door creaked open. My heart clenched tightly as I stood up from the darkness. Filled with joy, thinking Caleb had returned, I prepared to welcome him. However, the scene before me was like a sharp blade piercing straight into my heart. In the faint moonlight, Caleb had Natalie pinned against the wall. His lips urgently pressed against hers, his hands tightly gripping her waist as if trying to merge her into his body. “You know what? When I sleep with her, all I can think about is you,” Caleb’s voice, tinged with drunkenness, reached my ears with crystal clarity. “That one time with her, it was all forced. I felt disgusted when I woke up.” As these words registered, my world seemed to collapse. The gift box slipped from my hand, hitting the ground with a crisp, jarring thud. Their movements froze abruptly. Caleb turned his head, his gaze colliding directly with mine. A flash of panic and guilt crossed his eyes, but it was quickly masked by that familiar coldness. Caleb frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by my presence. I stood there, feeling as if all the blood in my body had instantly frozen, my hands and feet turning ice-cold. It was Natalie… Caleb’s ex-girlfriend, the one who had once abandoned him, had returned. Anger, sorrow, and despair intertwined into an invisible net, binding me tightly. “Aria, what are you doing there?” Caleb’s voice was cold, devoid of any warmth. I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but my throat felt blocked, unable to produce a sound. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. “Since you’ve heard everything, there’s no point in hiding it,” Caleb’s tone remained icy. “I never loved you. Marrying you was nothing but a forced choice.” I looked at him, the last glimmer of hope in my heart completely shattered. The past gentleness and care, those seemingly beautiful moments, were all just my one-sided wishful thinking. Caleb turned his head, speaking softly to Natalie, his eyes full of adoration. “It’s late, you shouldn’t go back.” He looked at me again, his voice leaving no room for negotiation. “Tonight, I want Natalie to stay.” I gazed at him, feeling as if the person before me was a complete stranger. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself. “Fine, do whatever you want.” I tried to keep my voice steady, but the trembling tone betrayed my devastation. I turned and staggered back to the bedroom. That night, Caleb didn’t step into the room once. As morning sunlight filtered through the window, the house, which should have been filled with warmth, was permeated with a suffocating atmosphere. I hadn’t eaten all night and couldn’t sleep. My head was pounding from crying over last night’s events. When I walked out of the room on an empty stomach, I saw Caleb and Natalie in the kitchen, laughing and making breakfast together. Their intimate behavior made me feel like an intruder in my own home. Natalie noticed me and immediately put on a warm smile. To me, it seemed nothing but fake. “Aria, you’re up! Caleb and I made breakfast especially. Come and try some.” As she spoke, she walked towards me with a bowl of soup. Looking at the bowl, my stomach suddenly churned. The morning sickness from my pregnancy had been getting worse lately, and just the smell of food was making me nauseous. I quickly covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom. “Ugh…” I dry heaved in the bathroom, feeling so sick I could barely stand up straight. When I finally managed to pull myself together and wash my face, I returned to the dining area to find the atmosphere had turned ice cold. “Aria, what’s your problem?” Caleb’s voice was full of anger, his brows furrowed and eyes full of accusation. “Natalie kindly made you breakfast, and this is how you treat her goodwill?” I looked at Caleb, my heart full of hurt. “I didn’t mean to, I—” I tried to explain, but before I could finish, Natalie interrupted me. “Caleb, don’t be like that. Maybe my cooking isn’t good, and that’s why Aria doesn’t like it. I’m sure she didn’t mean any harm.” Natalie’s eyes were slightly red, putting on a pitiful act. But I caught the glimpse of triumph in her eyes. “Enough with your act!” I finally exploded, shouting. “I’m not feeling well and can’t eat. Is that a problem?” “Not feeling well?” Caleb’s eyes were filled with suspicion. “Don’t use that excuse to avoid apologizing!” “Natalie spent all morning making this breakfast. Not only are you ungrateful, but you’re also making a scene!” I looked at Caleb in disbelief. How could he think of me like this? “Who’s making a scene here?” “Why should I apologize just because I can’t eat?” There was no way I would bow my head to Natalie. Caleb impatiently cut me off. “Whether you’re really unwell or not, you must apologize to Natalie!” I raised my head defiantly, tears welling up in my eyes. “I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?” Caleb’s face darkened further. “You’re still being stubborn!” “If you won’t apologize, then drink this soup. You can’t disregard Natalie’s kindness!” I looked at the steaming hot bowl of soup, my heart filled with desolation. It was seafood chowder, the dish I hated most. After five years of marriage, he couldn’t even remember this. “Caleb, how can you treat me like this!” “Are you going to drink it or not?” Caleb’s eyes held no warmth, only a cold command. In his heart, Natalie’s feelings would always be more important than mine. Looking at this man I once loved deeply, who now seemed so unfamiliar, I was filled with anger and resentment. “I won’t drink it!” The next second, Caleb grabbed the bowl and forcefully tried to pour the soup into my mouth! The scalding temperature made me struggle, but I was no match for Caleb’s strength. As my head tilted back, the steaming hot soup burned its way down my throat. It wasn’t just my body that was scalded, but my heart as well! Using all my strength, I pushed Caleb away. With a loud crash, the bowl shattered into pieces. I looked at the cold Caleb and the smugly triumphant Natalie, and spoke each word deliberately. “Are you satisfied now?” Without waiting for their reaction, I rushed out the door, leaving without looking back. At the hospital, a nurse was cleaning and disinfecting my scalded tongue with saline solution. Her brows were tightly knitted. “Try to avoid injuries during pregnancy,” she advised. “It’s not advisable to use burn medication in the first five months of pregnancy. You’ll just have to bear with it for now.” “And you’re allergic to seafood. It’s good you didn’t drink much. Don’t you know what you can and can’t eat at your age?” I nodded vacantly, letting out a bitter laugh. Being forced to drink that soup had not only scalded my tongue. My throat and stomach were still burning and numb. “Being so careless, you might lose the baby, you know? You young people are really reckless!” she added. Finally, to be on the safe side, she suggested I check on the baby’s condition. I thanked her with a pale face, but didn’t tell her that none of this mattered anymore. Because I had decided not to keep this child. Originally, I had planned to surprise Caleb with the news of its arrival. But he had shattered my expectations and joy with his own hands. I clutched the registration slip tightly, my knuckles turning white, as I mechanically headed towards the obstetrics department. My steps were unsteady, each one feeling like I was walking on knife edges. As I sat in the waiting area, a familiar voice crashed into my ears. “Natalie, be careful! Don’t fall!” It was Caleb! I instinctively shrank back, like a startled deer. My hands involuntarily clutched at my clothes. Caleb was supporting Natalie, both of them walking over, chatting and laughing. Their happy appearance was like a sharp blade, stabbing straight into my already battered heart. He noticed me and stopped in his tracks, looking over with a puzzled expression. “Aria? What are you doing here?” Natalie followed Caleb’s gaze and looked at me, a flash of malice in her eyes. Just then, her number was called. Caleb told her to wait while he went to get the test results. Natalie nodded obediently, but as soon as he left, her face turned ugly as she walked towards me. She took out her phone, opened a video, and held it up to my face, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Aria, I didn’t want you to know this originally.” “But you’d better understand where Caleb’s heart truly lies.” The video showed Caleb at a classmate reunion, the night he got drunk. His friend asked him, “Caleb, I heard Natalie is coming back soon. What are your plans?” Caleb replied carelessly, “We’ve cleared up our misunderstanding. Anyway, I’ve sworn to treat her well and not let her suffer any grievances, regardless of our relationship status.” Combined with the tenderness in his eyes and the teasing from those around him, someone spoke up for me. “But your wife has been really good to you too. She loves you so much and has waited for you faithfully for so many years. I think you should forget about Natalie and just live happily with your wife.” Caleb took a drag on his cigarette and laughed coldly. “Her, sincere? She’s just like her father, only knowing how to force people with their methods.” “Otherwise, why would I marry a woman I don’t love?” “I’ve been good enough to her all these years, but I will never touch her!” The more he drank, the more unfocused his eyes became, and he kept calling Natalie’s name, his voice full of longing and deep affection. “Did you see that?” Natalie leaned in close to me, lowering her voice and enunciating each word. “The one who isn’t loved is the real third wheel. I’m pregnant too, and I know you look like that today because you’re pregnant as well. But you and that bastard in your belly shouldn’t exist. Caleb has always loved me from the beginning to the end. You’re nothing but a substitute who can’t even show her face in public. Know your place.” Every word was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing straight into my heart. My breathing instantly became rapid, my chest heaving violently. Caleb returned with the papers. Noticing the tense and strange atmosphere, he asked suspiciously, “What’s going on?” Natalie had already reverted to her gentle demeanor, linking her arm with Caleb’s. “Nothing, Aria just came for a health check-up.” “No wonder she wouldn’t eat my soup this morning. She really wasn’t feeling well.” “Caleb, don’t be angry with Aria anymore.” Caleb’s sharp gaze fell on me, as if trying to see through me. “You’re really unwell, not lying? Usually, you’re as strong as an ox. Only Natalie is naive enough to believe your act.” I trembled, opened my mouth, but my throat was dry. The words “I’m pregnant” almost slipped out, but I swallowed them back hard. I bit my lower lip tightly, my mind replaying the video Natalie had just shown me. The last shred of hope in my heart was completely shattered. Seeing my pale face, a complex emotion flashed in Caleb’s eyes. But he didn’t say anything more, turning to hand the papers to Natalie. His tone was so gentle it could almost drip water, his face wearing a smile I hadn’t seen in a long time. “The baby is doing well. Are you relieved now?” The two embraced lovingly, like an inseparable couple. Many people around cast envious glances at them. I averted my gaze, hearing the arrangements for me to enter the operating room. When I regained consciousness, the baby was already gone. I felt weak all over, unable to even sit up straight. Lying alone on the bed, I shed silent tears, but I didn’t regret this decision. During the days I focused on recovering in the hospital, Caleb didn’t call even once, which I was glad for. After being discharged, I returned home. Caleb and Natalie were cuddled up on the sofa, feeding each other. Seeing me push open the door, they stopped their actions. Caleb was the first to react, standing up angrily. “Aria, what do you mean by this?” “Do you know how many days you’ve been away from home? You even dared to block my number!” I didn’t speak, just stared at him silently for a moment. “Do you really care whether I stay in this home or not?” “It seems you two were quite happy while I was gone.” Hearing the sarcasm in my voice, Caleb awkwardly avoided my gaze. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with them and headed straight for the bedroom. Soon after, Caleb pushed open the door and came in. A trace of apology crossed his face. “I’ve been busy taking care of Natalie these past few days because she’s pregnant and not feeling well. I’m sorry for neglecting you.” Saying this, he took out a large gift box and thrust it in front of me. “It’s a new custom-made necklace. Do you like it?” “Let me put it on you.” I subtly avoided him, not at all interested in his casual attempt at appeasement. Caleb wasn’t annoyed and started speaking earnestly. “I haven’t had time to accompany you properly lately, but I promise I’ll treat you well in the future.” “I’ve already been forced into marriage by you and your father. What more do you want? So don’t mind Natalie’s presence.” “She’s just divorced and pregnant. I pity her and want to take care of her, that’s all.” He looked at me and said without hesitation, “As long as you don’t mind her presence, and we three can live well together, I can still treat you as well as before.” I stared at him, speechless, amused by his matter-of-fact words. Then, pointing at the door, I coldly said one word. “Get out.” As he left, he cast a disdainful glance at me, shaking his head to indicate that I didn’t know what was good for me. I kept a cold face and called my father with a grievance. “Dad, I’ve already bought a ticket to go abroad. I want to live with you and mom.” “I’m never coming back.”

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“I have a business dinner tonight, so I won’t be coming home. Don’t disturb me under any circumstances. This is important.” I held my phone, watching with my own eyes as my wife, who had claimed she needed to work overtime, walked into a hotel arm in arm with a man. That man was the one that got away in her heart, while I was nothing more than a cheap substitute for the love she couldn’t have. We had been married for five years, yet those five years of marriage couldn’t compare to the first day he came back. “Alright, take care of yourself. Don’t go too wild,” I replied sincerely before hanging up and starting the car. Now it was my turn to seek out my own lost love. “Ethan is coming back soon. Don’t you think you should explain things to your husband?” Olivia lounged lazily on the sofa, her eyes full of disdain as she coldly retorted. “Explain what? Is there any need? After all these years, doesn’t he understand the situation? He’s always been too scared to say anything, let alone make a fuss.” Olivia’s lips curled into a mocking smile, her tone dripping with contempt. The woman who had initially asked the question quickly nodded in agreement. “It’s hilarious. Jack is nothing but a doormat, isn’t he? Pathetically infatuated, loving you to death. Everyone knows we all see him as a joke.” She paused, then continued more bluntly, “But the Jack family has been down on their luck for so long now. He probably can’t bear to give up his meal ticket. He’s not just a doormat anymore; he’s practically a leech, refusing to let go.” As soon as she finished speaking, the room erupted in raucous laughter. I stood outside the private room, listening to the piercing laughter inside. I clenched my fists, remaining silent for a long while before slowly reaching out to push open the door. Instantly, the laughter ceased, and all eyes turned to me. They continued to laugh, looking me up and down with contempt in their eyes. Seeing this, Olivia casually adjusted her coat and stood up, saying nonchalantly, “You all keep playing. I’m leaving first.” The atmosphere in the car was suffocatingly tense, dead silent all the way. It wasn’t until we were seated in the car that Olivia suddenly spoke, her voice devoid of any warmth: “You heard our conversation, didn’t you?” My body suddenly stiffened, my throat feeling as if something was stuck in it. I couldn’t utter a single word. “Jack, don’t pretend in front of me. I know you heard everything. You’d better understand your place, got it?” Olivia glanced at me sideways, the warning in her eyes so intense it was almost palpable. In fact, even before marrying her, I knew crystal clear that I was nothing more than a substitute for Ethan. Five years had passed, and the situation remained unchanged. Back then, when my family went bankrupt, those who had once fawned over and curried favor with my family vanished without a trace in an instant. Meanwhile, those chasing after debts were like hungry wolves, constantly blocking our doorway. We were at our wit’s end. Just because my face bore some resemblance to Ethan’s, Olivia had set her sights on me. She generously spent a large sum of money to “buy” me from my parents into the Summers family. With that money, my family was barely able to clear their debts. Olivia had saved my family, so naturally, my parents were grateful to her. They repeatedly demanded that I do everything possible to please her. “Our family is truly blessed to have Olivia as a daughter-in-law. We must have struck gold. No matter what you think, you must serve her well and keep her happy!” For the five years after our marriage, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to taking care of her. I had thought that even if you raised a dog, after so long, it would develop feelings and know how to wag its tail to show affection. But I never imagined that from Olivia, all I would receive was endless mockery and sarcasm. She would occasionally warn me, reminding me to always remember my place, not to foolishly dream of replacing Ethan, and certainly not to entertain any fantasies of winning her heart. Our marriage was like a false farce, where I could only mechanically perform according to the script she had set. One misstep, and I would face nearly violent torment. My thoughts were a tangled mess. I suddenly snapped back to reality, instinctively gripping the steering wheel tighter as I squeezed out two words in a dry voice: “I understand.” Half a month later, Ethan returned from overseas. I gripped the steering wheel, playing the role of Olivia’s chauffeur. She had over a dozen drivers, yet she insisted on calling me. I understood this was her way of warning me. What I didn’t expect was for Ethan to corner me in the restroom. He smiled mockingly, pushing me against the wall. My head hit the tiles, causing excruciating pain. “You think Olivia loves you?” “A fake should be thrown in the trash and destroyed.” I kept my head down, saying nothing. He laughed, confident in his victory: “I heard the Jack family wants to make a comeback?” He suddenly lunged forward, grabbing my collar. The cold metal of his watch band pressed against my Adam’s apple. “Divorce her within two weeks, or else…” “I can destroy the Jack family.” Outside the stall, Olivia’s light laughter could be heard: “Ethan, why aren’t you coming out yet?” Ethan laughed too: “Are you that worried about me? You even followed me here.” Like a lowly coachman, I drove the two of them home. In the evening, I passed by the Hilton Hotel. The glass doors reflected two silhouettes. Olivia had her arms around Ethan’s neck, standing on tiptoe to kiss him. “Not coming back tonight.” I received her message on my phone. I didn’t reply, looking up to see the lights of the presidential suite on the top floor come on. My phone vibrated in my palm: “Business engagement tonight.” Later that night. I scrolled through their social media posts. In one photo, Ethan was bending down to wipe a wine stain off her skirt. The comments section was boiling like hot oil: “The real deal is back, time for the substitute to exit!” “Why hasn’t Jack divorced her yet? Does he want money more than dignity?” My finger hovered trembling over the power button when a new trending topic suddenly topped the list. #Sophia Lee, Stanford’s youngest visiting professor returns to the country# In the accompanying image, the woman stood under the spotlight in a laboratory, her white coat accentuating her cool gaze. I suddenly remembered years ago, when she smiled with her eyes curved into crescents, yet filled with unshed tears. “Come with me, please?” What did I say back then? “The Jack family needs me.” …… In the rearview mirror, a giant screen was looping Sophia’s interview. She said, “I came back for someone.” On a rainy night, a girl stood outside my house without an umbrella, stubbornly waiting in the pouring rain. On my phone, she sent me a message: “Jack, do you really not want me anymore?” At that time, the Jack family was on the verge of collapse. To avoid dragging Sophia down, I could only hide in my room like a coward, not daring to give any response. She refused to give up, calling me repeatedly. After much hesitation, I finally answered: “Go home, I won’t see you.” “…” “You’d better not try to get back together with me in the future!” After saying this, Sophia hung up the phone, blocked all means of contact, and never reached out to me again. Later, I heard that she had followed her family’s arrangements and gone abroad. I stared blankly at the photo attached to the trending topic. She had become the ideal version of herself that she had always dreamed of. This was good. I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of melancholy. I could almost imagine how scornful her attitude would be if she knew about my current situation. She would probably think I deserved it. After putting down the phone, I stared at the ceiling, lost in thought, not really thinking about anything, just spacing out. Suddenly, my phone on the bedside table vibrated, making a “buzz” sound as a notification popped up. I picked up the phone and saw it was a friend request, with her name as the note: Sophia Lee. After a long silence, I took a deep breath before accepting it. Immediately after, I received a photo. In the dimly lit bar, Ethan had his arm around Olivia’s waist, their behavior unmistakably intimate. This photo alone wasn’t enough to disturb my composure, but the person who sent it could. My heart grew cold, and I typed out a line: “Did you come specifically to mock me?” At the top of the chat box, the “typing” text appeared and disappeared several times. After a period of waiting, Sophia finally sent a message: “Is this really your choice?” I put down the phone wordlessly, not intending to respond to this question. On the bedside table lay the divorce papers. It wasn’t because of Ethan’s threat, but because I had already planned to divorce Olivia. Months ago, I had already asked a lawyer to draft the agreement. I just hadn’t found the right opportunity due to pressure from my parents. Rumors said I was Ethan’s substitute. Just something for Olivia to console herself with after losing him. But no one knew that for me, Olivia was also just a substitute. After a long while, when Sophia didn’t receive a reply, she sent another message: “Come keep me company for a drink. Let’s give them something to be excited about.” The bar was playing pulsating music, and the flashing lights made me squint. As I looked around, before I could locate Sophia, I felt a warm touch on my wrist. Then, a warm embrace. I caught a whiff of a subtle fragrance, and looking down, I saw Sophia burying her head in my shoulder. After a long while, she finally raised her head and looked into my eyes, saying, “Long time no see. Do you like this way of greeting?” “Uh… it’s a bit sudden.” Seeing my wooden expression, Sophia curled her lips into a light smile, “Scared you, didn’t I?” Her behavior was flirtatious, her words frivolous. I had to admit, after not seeing her for so long, she had changed a lot. Back then, Sophia was passionate and sincere. Every time she clung to me, she always made me promise over and over that I would never leave her, as if getting that promise would put her mind completely at ease. I tried to calm myself down, trying to appear as composed as possible. But as she held my hand and led me through the crowd, my heart kept racing. We walked through a long corridor, up to the second floor, and arrived at a booth in the corner. My gaze swept over the railing to the floor below, where I found Ethan and Olivia with a group of friends. Someone was egging Olivia on to feed Ethan some alcohol, their laughter extremely noisy. “I chose this spot on purpose. It’s close, and you can see clearly.” Sophia glanced at me, her cold tone revealing a hint of resentment, “Back then, you dumped me for this kind of trash? Huh, your taste isn’t great.” “You should understand everything now.” I pursed my lips, responding expressionlessly. Given Sophia’s status, it wouldn’t have been difficult for her to investigate what happened back then. She said this merely to mock me. Sighing inwardly, I honestly said, “I hurt you back then, but I don’t regret making that decision.” Sophia narrowed her beautiful eyes, her cold gaze unusually complex, “Really no regrets? Then why don’t you dare to look at me? Why do you keep avoiding my gaze?” “What are you afraid of?” She walked around the table to my side, leaning down to lift my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes, “Or is it that you just hate me that much?” Sophia pursed her bright red lips, silent for a moment before asking, “If I hadn’t used Olivia as an excuse, would you have even bothered to look at my message?” “You always liked to play these games. In your eyes, I probably couldn’t even compare to a single strand of her hair, right?” She asked and answered herself, suddenly leaning in so close I could feel her breath, “Tell me, wouldn’t it be interesting if Olivia saw you like this?” As Sophia leaned in closer and closer, the commotion from downstairs brought me back to my senses. I hurriedly pushed her away, “You’re not this kind of person. If you’re upset, you could get revenge on me in other ways. There’s no need for this…” Before I could finish speaking, Sophia forcefully pressed down on my shoulders and kissed me. She bit my lips with reckless force until the taste of blood spread on my tongue. Only then did she stop, “You think you know what kind of person I am? Five years have passed, and you’re still so full of yourself.” Indeed, the current Sophia was increasingly hard for me to figure out. I was the one who had pursued her initially, only to abandon her when my family fell on hard times. The deeper the love, the more thorough the hate. This was to be expected. The pressure on my body lightened as Sophia sat beside me, saying coldly, “You were even lost in thought just now. What were you thinking about? Your cheating wife downstairs?” For a moment, it felt like all secrets had been exposed. This marriage, as messy as mud, was indeed a pain I found hard to speak about. If Olivia found out about Sophia and me, how would she react? And what about the Summers family? No matter what, I couldn’t let Sophia get involved. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I stood up and said, “I have to go.” As soon as I said this, Sophia became even angrier, “Are you running away again? The night has just begun.” “Stay and keep me company, won’t you?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295875”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance