I had endured it for five years, from dating to marriage and having a daughter. My wife, Olivia, always said she had an avoidant personality and tended to run away from intimate relationships. But I couldn’t take it anymore when our daughter, Lily, came home drenched in rain, tearfully saying, “Mom said she had to drop off Uncle Ryan and his daughter Emma, so I had to come home by myself.” When Olivia returned, I confronted her about her actions. She simply replied, “I don’t know how to explain it to you. Think whatever you want.” This time, I couldn’t hold back anymore. Today, I was working overtime at the company. I quickly sent a message to my wife, who was flying back from a trip: “Honey, I’m working late today. Could you pick up Lily from school?” As usual, there was no response to my message. The chat history showed only my messages. I had grown accustomed to her lack of replies, assuming she had seen the message and would pick up our daughter. At 8 PM, I finished work and returned home to find Lily sitting at the doorstep, crying softly, soaked to the bone. “Lily, why are you sitting outside? Hasn’t Mom come home?” I pulled her up, feeling her ice-cold hands. She must have been sitting there for a long time. As soon as she saw me, Lily burst into tears and threw herself into my arms. I quickly carried her inside, grabbing a towel to dry her hair while gently coaxing her to tell me what had happened. Sobbing, Lily said, “I saw Mom’s car at the school gate. I thought she was there to pick me up, but she said she had to drop off Uncle Ryan and his daughter Emma. She said it wasn’t on her way and told me to go home by myself.” My heart sank. Ryan was Olivia’s ex-boyfriend. How were they in contact again? At the same time, I felt a chill run through me. Lily was only in first grade. The way home wasn’t exactly close. What if something had happened to her? I remembered when we were dating. Olivia was known for her beauty and was a future pilot. Strangely, she had always been single. Out of curiosity, I pursued her for several months, constantly showing my affection until she finally agreed to be with me. Later, I learned that her parents had divorced and remarried when she was young, leaving her to grow up alone. She told me, “I have an avoidant personality. I’m not good at maintaining intimate relationships. If you can accept that, we can be together.” She rarely replied to my messages and was indifferent to my care. When faced with relationship issues, she would either say “Think whatever you want” or avoid the problem with silence. Because I loved her so much, I still married her. After marriage, we had Lily, and I thought she would be different with our daughter. I never expected her to do something like this today. She said she had an avoidant personality, so why was she willing to drive Ryan and his daughter? Stopping my racing thoughts, I quickly got Lily to take a bath, fearing she might catch a cold. I comforted her, saying that Uncle Ryan might have had an emergency, which was why Mom couldn’t bring her home, and that Mom would apologize when she returned. Lily blinked, clearly not believing me, but she was mature enough not to press further and obediently went to the bathroom. Late at night, Lily developed a fever from getting caught in the rain, mumbling “Mom” in her delirium. I gave her some fever medication and put her to bed. Thankfully, she was okay. But Olivia still hadn’t come home. I sat in the living room, my mind in chaos. When the clock struck one, Olivia finally returned, reeking of alcohol but with clear eyes. She walked straight to the living room to pour herself some water, showing no intention of explaining herself. I asked, “Olivia, why are you back so late? Did you go drinking?” She casually replied, “Yeah, had a few drinks with friends.” I pressed on, “With Ryan, right?” She turned around, irritated, and said, “Yes, with him. He’s my colleague now. Jack, your distrust is putting pressure on me.” It was the same old response. Undeterred, I questioned her about refusing to bring Lily home in the afternoon. After a long pause, her only response was a silent, expressionless stare. Feeling heartbroken for our daughter, I demanded, “Lily is so young. What if something had happened to her on her way home? Is this how you be a mother?” She finally snapped, throwing out, “I don’t know what to say anymore. Think whatever you want.” Then she shut herself in the study and didn’t come out again. I lay sleepless on the couch until the early hours of the morning, finally drifting off as dawn broke. The next morning, Olivia was nowhere to be seen. On the way to drop Lily off at school, she anxiously asked, “Dad, did Mom apologize to me last night?” Forcing a smile, I lied, “Yes, she did. Mom said she’ll buy you your favorite doll when she flies back next time to make it up to you.” Lily immediately brightened up, entering the school with an excited smile. Watching my daughter’s retreating figure, I thought sadly, how long would I have to keep lying to her?

I found myself constantly checking my phone for messages, but Olivia hadn’t sent anything since that day. When we were dating, other guys’ girlfriends would always be texting them about the little things in their lives. I gently suggested that Olivia try sharing what she was doing with me too. She looked at me incredulously, saying she really didn’t see the point in talking about eating, waking up, or going to sleep. So I never knew what Olivia was doing or where she was. It was only my trust in her that kept our relationship going until now. Yesterday, Lily came home excited, saying there was a parent-child sports day at school. She asked if Mom would have time to participate. She added thoughtfully, “I know Mom is busy. It’s okay if she can’t make it.” It was clear she really wanted to participate. Although Olivia’s monthly salary was pooled with mine for our family expenses, her schedule was always packed, leaving little time to spend with our daughter. I had always explained to Lily that Mom worked hard to give us a better life in the future. Seeing Lily’s hopeful face, I mustered up the courage to call Olivia. The call was immediately disconnected, but I received a message from her. “What is it?” I replied, “There’s a parent-child sports day at school soon. Our daughter wants you to go with her. Can you take a day off?” She responded, “When is it? I’ll see if I can make it.” I sent her the details and reminded her of a few things. Then I asked which route she was flying today. To my surprise, she gave me a detailed answer about her flight. I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe she had realized her mistake from last time and was trying to improve her attitude. On the day of the sports event, I was warming up with Lily in the waiting area. She kept glancing towards the entrance, clearly distracted. As other children and parents started to enter, I crouched down and hugged Lily, asking, “Mom might be held up. How about Dad participates with you first?” Lily stubbornly shook her head and ran to the entrance. “Mom promised me. I believe in her.” Time ticked by, but there was still no sign of Olivia. I quickly messaged her, asking where she was, but got no response. My daughter’s small figure stood firmly waiting. Finally, as the event ended and other students left with their parents, Olivia still hadn’t shown up. Lily’s eyes filled with tears, but she bravely told me it was time to go home, remaining silent on the way back. When we opened the door, we found Olivia sitting on the couch, reading a book. She didn’t react to our arrival. Lily ran up to her, her little face red with anger, and demanded, “Mom, you promised me. Why didn’t you come?” Ignoring Lily’s words, Olivia frowned at me and said, “I told you I’d see how things went. I had important business come up today. Couldn’t you, as her father, just accompany her?” Olivia was always like this, rarely participating in Lily’s activities. This time, she had promised and then broken that promise. I even suspected she was using work to avoid Lily and me. Lily was about to say something else when she noticed a beautifully wrapped doll on the couch – her favorite cartoon character. Just as she picked it up to take a closer look, Olivia suddenly stopped her. “That’s not for you. I bought it for Uncle Ryan’s daughter. Don’t open the packaging.” Lily couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into tears, sobbing that she hated her mom before running to her room and locking the door. Only Olivia and I were left in the living room. She glanced at Lily’s room, seeming to want to say something, but then just sat on the couch as if nothing had happened. I couldn’t contain myself anymore. I confronted her, “Why are you doing this? You promised to come and then broke that promise. Do you know how long Lily waited for you? And that doll – why did you only buy one for Ryan’s daughter? You know Lily loves that doll. Was it so hard to buy one more?” After my barrage of questions, Olivia stood up impatiently and said defiantly, “Enough! I just want my own space. You’re all putting too much pressure on me. I’ve always been like this, with everyone.” I closed my eyes, feeling overwhelmed, and said, “If you keep this up, I don’t think I can go on!” She reverted to her expressionless, indifferent state and said, “I can’t change. If you can’t handle it anymore, let’s get divorced. We’re not compatible, and you don’t need to waste any more time on me.” Olivia had just suggested we get divorced. At that moment, I felt like all my perseverance in loving her had become a joke. She was truly a block of ice that couldn’t be warmed. But for Lily’s sake, should I really get divorced? Suddenly, Olivia’s phone rang. Right in front of me, she opened SnapChat to find a message from Ryan, thanking her for helping out on short notice. She immediately replied, saying it was no problem. So that’s why she didn’t come today. She was helping him out. My SnapChat was pinned at the top of her chat list, with a “Do Not Disturb” icon next to it. She had long since found me annoying.

For the past few days, I hadn’t messaged Olivia, who had left home. Her suggestion of divorce had extinguished any lingering hope I had. I suddenly didn’t know why I had persisted in loving her. Perhaps she never needed it. When we were dating, my friends gently warned me that if a man is too devoted, a woman might not appreciate him. I didn’t believe it then, thinking it was just because of her family background and that Olivia wasn’t inherently cold. I made sure she received all the usual gifts and companionship, no less than anyone else would. She was just too avoidant when it came to emotions. Ryan was her first love. She had actively pursued him, but in the end, Ryan said they weren’t compatible and broke up. After graduation, he married and had a daughter. Now, it seemed he was divorced. Maybe with Ryan, the unattainable was appealing to her. Watching from afar made it seem better. But I couldn’t tolerate any doubt in our relationship. If she was truly wavering, there was no point in forcing her to stay. But what about Lily? Would divorce harm her? Olivia didn’t truly not love Lily. When Lily was younger, the gentle look in Olivia’s eyes as she held and fed her couldn’t be faked. Materially, Olivia always did her best to give Lily the best of everything. But the way she treated Lily now had hurt our daughter deeply. That night, Lily asked me if I had lied to her, saying that Mom hadn’t apologized or promised to buy her a gift. I apologized to her, and she hugged me, saying it was okay. She just wanted Mom to be with her. She loved her mom very much but had to be understanding because Mom was so busy. If we really left Olivia, Lily might be very upset. That afternoon after work, I bought Lily’s favorite doll and went to pick her up. After waiting for a while without seeing her come out, I called her teacher. The teacher was surprised, saying, “Lily didn’t come to school today. Her mother called in sick for her, saying she was taking her out.” Olivia had taken her out to play? Why didn’t she tell me? Was she trying to make it up to Lily by taking her out? Although I felt uneasy, she was still the child’s mother. It might be good for them to spend some time together. Late that night, mother and daughter still hadn’t returned home. Getting anxious, I called Olivia directly. She answered, sounding out of breath as if she was running. “What’s wrong? Where’s Lily? Let me talk to her,” I asked. She paused, then said in a low voice, “Something happened. I’ll have her call you later.” I pressed her to tell me what had happened. After a long silence, she finally replied, “Lily is missing. We’re looking for her now.” It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck me. I nearly collapsed, barely managing to ask for their location before rushing over. They were in the neighboring city. I took the fastest high-speed train and went straight to the police station. To my surprise, Ryan and his daughter were there too. Seeing my pale face, Olivia grabbed me and said, “Jack, calm down. Lily will be fine. The police have checked the surveillance cameras and are searching for her.” I couldn’t calm down at all. Ryan approached, looking guilty: “It’s all my fault. I mentioned that Emma was lonely and thought it would be nice if Lily could play with her. That’s why Olivia brought her along. We never expected Lily to disappear while we were shopping in the mall.” Olivia couldn’t meet my eyes, burying her head in my chest, trying to comfort me. I pushed her away forcefully, glaring at her with fury. For the sake of Ryan’s child, she had secretly taken Lily out and lost her. What kind of mother was she? “If anything happens to Lily, none of you will get away with this. Once we find Lily, let’s get divorced, Olivia.” “As you wish. We’ll set you free.”

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It was the third year of my marriage to Lucas. He was 35. I was barely 21, just starting my senior year in college. I hadn’t decided yet whether I wanted to be a full-time housewife. Then I overheard him chatting casually with a group of big shots in his circle: “Sophia has nothing going for her except her youth.” “Compared to her, Bella is much more sophisticated.” “I’m starting to regret getting married. It would have cost so much less to just keep a young mistress. Now if I divorce, I’ll lose too much.” Without hesitation, I handed him divorce papers. Seeing the black and white text stating that I would leave the marriage empty-handed, he let out a long sigh of relief. He then feigned generosity and said, “I’ll give you $2 million as compensation.” I smiled and refused, “I’m still young. I can afford to play around.” What he didn’t know was that my brother was the prince of the city’s elite circle. All these years, Lucas had only managed to squeeze into the big shots’ circle thanks to my brother’s support. Divorcing me? His losses were just beginning.

For my senior year internship, I decided to work at Lucas’s company. All so I could catch a glimpse of my handsome husband every day. As a lowly intern, I kept such a low profile that even Lucas didn’t know I was there. I didn’t want to bother him or distract him from work. Occasionally, I’d overhear other interns discussing Lucas. I’d listen carefully but never chimed in. “Mr. Evans is so handsome. 35 is really the golden age for a man.” “Too bad he’s married. I heard his wife is some unknown young girl.” “Ugh, why can’t I be that lucky…” When I was 18, Lucas pursued me with the intention of marriage from day one. He gave me the engagement ring right away to express his sincerity. I responded with equal enthusiasm. We got married after dating for a year. It was impulsive and exhilarating. Sweet and blissful. He gave me a fairytale romance beyond my wildest dreams. The love of a domineering CEO was straightforward and overwhelming, leaving me dizzy and disoriented. If I hadn’t come to intern at his company this time, I might never have discovered his secrets. Bella. Lucas’s secretary. Sexy and beautiful, the typical mature woman. She often accompanied Lucas on business trips and social engagements. She handled all company affairs, big and small, and even knew more about the company than Lucas did. So, before everyone learned about Lucas’s marriage, they all thought Bella was the real boss’s wife. While getting lunch in the cafeteria, I’d overhear old employees who had worked with Bella complain: “Mr. Evans really has poor taste. He doesn’t know how to cherish a beauty like Bella right by his side.” “Bella even gave up her high-ranking position at a listed company to be Mr. Evans’ secretary.” “Mark my words, once the passion fades, Mr. Evans will definitely divorce and end up with Bella.” There were many rumors, but I didn’t take them to heart. After all, the passion between Lucas and me was still burning hot every night. Until one night at a social event, a drunk Bella confessed her love to Lucas in front of everyone. It wasn’t so much a confession as it was forcing Lucas to make a choice. Bella asked Lucas if he had feelings for her. Lucas remained silent for a long time. Bella pressed on: “If you don’t have feelings for me, why won’t you approve my resignation letter?” Lucas’s face was grave as he replied with one word: “I do.” Then he gazed at Bella intently and said, “I do have feelings for you. I can’t be without you. That’s why I can’t approve your resignation. Is that okay?” Bella smiled, downed a glass of white wine, grabbed her purse, and walked out. The air froze for two seconds. Then Lucas chased after her. Everyone at that gathering had worked alongside Lucas and Bella for years. I wasn’t there. But Emma, a chubby girl I was friendly with who loved gossip, had recorded the scene and sent it to me privately. Emma asked me: [Do you think something will happen between Mr. Evans and Secretary White tonight?] I replied: [Probably not… right?] [They’re both adults who’ve known each other for years and have such deep feelings. They’ve had drinks, confessed their love… how could nothing happen?] I firmly typed back: [Mr. Evans is married. He should know better. Besides, Secretary White has no reason to be the other woman!] [You’re right. But whether something happened or not, we’ll know tomorrow.] I didn’t understand what Emma meant by “we’ll know tomorrow.” But the moment I exited our chat, I got my answer. Lucas messaged me saying he wouldn’t be coming home tonight due to a last-minute social engagement. My heart sank. I immediately called him. At first, no one answered. I called several times in a row. Finally, Lucas picked up. “Baby, my phone was on silent. I didn’t hear it. What’s wrong?” I held back my emotions, my fingernails digging into my palms. “Honey, are you really not coming home tonight?” “Yeah, we’re all still here at the gathering. I can’t get away. Try to understand, baby.” I gritted my teeth and continued, “Are there any women at your gathering?” He paused, then chuckled, “No. Since when did you start checking up on me? Do you want to video call so I can prove my innocence?” As he spoke, I heard a rustling sound – the kind made when expensive shirts rub against hotel sheets. In the past, when our love was wild and passionate, I often heard that sound too. “Mmm…” A muffled groan escaped Lucas’s lips. In that instant, all the knots in my heart unraveled. After three years with Lucas, we’d done plenty of intimate things. I knew exactly what that “mmm” meant. It was the sound he made when he was trying to stifle his pleasure. This detail – he probably didn’t even realize it himself. Well, well. I didn’t even need to stop him from cheating. He’d already crossed that line. I laughed bitterly, “No need for a video call…” I was afraid I’d go blind. “Enjoy yourself. I’m going to bed.” My heart felt dead as I prepared to hang up. But Lucas spoke again, his voice low and husky. “Baby, we just closed a big deal tonight. Starting tomorrow, everyone will be working overtime. I might be working late for a while, so don’t wait up for dinner.” Working overtime. Or spending overtime with Bella. It didn’t matter to me anymore.

After hanging up, I couldn’t sleep all night. With dark circles under my eyes, I arrived at the office the next morning. My mind was still blank when Emma sidled up to me to continue gossiping about last night. “Something definitely happened between Mr. Evans and Secretary White last night.” I frowned slightly. She went on, “This morning, Mr. Evans’s clothes were all wrinkled, and… he was wearing the same outfit as yesterday. Doesn’t that mean he never went home last night?” I nodded, too drained to compliment her observational skills. She continued, “Secretary White was late this morning too. When she came in, she looked radiant. Usually, she’s all business, but today she seemed like a whole new person.” I asked her, “How so?” She chose her words carefully: “More cheerful, more sexy, more coy… you’ll see for yourself.” I looked up and saw Bella walk in wearing a tight-fitting dress. I’d seen that dress before. When Lucas and I were shopping together, I had my eye on it. But they didn’t have my size, so I just paid and asked them to send it to Lucas when it came in stock. Now I see. The dress arrived alright. But the recipient had changed. Bella was in a great mood. As soon as she came in, she asked everyone what they wanted to drink, her treat. Everyone cheered excitedly. I sat in the corner, my emotions a jumbled mess. I tried to numb myself with work. But it didn’t help much. In a daze, lunchtime arrived. I sat at my desk eating takeout. Bella, carrying bags of gourmet food, headed to Lucas’s office. She went in. And didn’t come out all afternoon. When she finally emerged, it was almost time to leave work. Emma next to me clicked her tongue twice and sighed, “The world really is going downhill. Of all people, why did Secretary White have to fall for a married man? Jack, who sits close to the CEO’s office, said that as soon as Secretary White went in, she threw herself into Mr. Evans’s arms. They almost turned the office into a hotel room!” With that, Emma sent me the photo Jack had secretly taken. Bella was sitting on Lucas’s lap, feeding him lunch. Their intimate posture and expressions were unmistakable. “I wonder how Mr. Evans’s wife would feel if she saw this scene,” Emma sighed softly. Mr. Wilson, sitting across from us, frowned. “They’re in love. Why are you two meddling?” Emma didn’t catch Mr. Wilson’s tone and joked, “That’s right, she is the mistress after all!” Mr. Wilson was not pleased. He tossed a ledger at Emma, “Since you’re so free, finish this. You’re not leaving until it’s done.” Emma pouted. I quietly sent her a message: [Mr. Wilson and Secretary White go way back. He’s definitely on her side, so don’t say stuff like that anymore.] Emma sent back a crying emoji. I comforted her: [I’ll help you with that ledger. Let’s finish it quickly and get off work. I’ll treat you to crayfish.] She perked up again. That evening, we finally finished our overtime work and were ready to go for crayfish when Mr. Wilson stopped us. “Thanks for working late. Let’s all go grab a late-night snack.” Mr. Wilson didn’t give us a chance to refuse. He took us straight to a restaurant near the office. After eating, he dragged us to a karaoke bar. We didn’t want to go, but we had no choice. As lowly interns, we had no say. Sitting in a dark corner, Emma and I decided to play mobile games instead. We got so into it that we didn’t notice more people entering the private room. Until I heard a familiar voice. That’s when I saw Lucas, surrounded by a group of big shots, sitting in the main seat. At first, they were discussing business. Then, they started talking about their personal lives. Kids, wives, in-laws… and of course, mistresses. “I saw Bella’s social media post. Something about true love prevailing. What’s up? Did you finally come to your senses and take Bella to bed?” Someone asked. I couldn’t help but prick up my ears. Lucas replied calmly, “You guys don’t understand the situation that day. I had no choice. Bella was forcing my hand. If I didn’t accept her, she was going to quit. You know Bella’s been with the company for so many years. The company can’t function without her. And… I guess you could say I can’t function without her either.” “So Bella’s okay with being the mistress? Lucas, don’t let this backfire on you later.” “Yeah, we all saw how much effort you put into marrying that young girl back then. Forget about keeping your mistress stable, what if your wife finds out? Won’t that cause a huge scene?” “It’s not like that. If Bella doesn’t mind, why should that young girl care?” “After being spoiled by Lucas all these years, how could that girl go back to an ordinary life? Even if she finds out about the affair, she definitely won’t do anything rash. At least with the title of Mrs. Evans, she’s set for life and can be someone important.” Everyone chimed in with their opinions. In the end, they concluded that as long as Lucas kept Bella happy and quiet, his wife at home wouldn’t cause any trouble. They even congratulated Lucas on having the best of both worlds. Emma listened, her face scrunching up in disgust. She couldn’t help but whisper in my ear, “Disgusting.” Then she added, “Even though Mr. Evans is being a jerk, what they’re saying isn’t entirely wrong. That young girl hasn’t even graduated yet, right? With no family background or skills, making a fuss really wouldn’t do her any good. What do you think?” I nodded, “She won’t make a scene. In today’s society, everyone wants to keep up appearances.” Anything can be discussed calmly and rationally. Even divorce. At this point, Lucas put down his glass and spoke: “It’s true, Sophia has nothing going for her except her youth. Compared to her, Bella is much more sophisticated.” “But Bella’s proud personality, who knows how long she can tolerate being the other woman.” “I’m starting to regret getting married. It would have cost so much less to just keep a young mistress. Now if I divorce, I’ll lose too much.” So, he was calculating his losses. Of course, Lucas and I were legally married. A divorce would mean splitting his assets acquired during our marriage. Well, I’ll grant Lucas his wish. I can leave the marriage empty-handed. But the price he’ll pay after I walk away with nothing – that’s something he’ll have to bear.

When everyone finally dispersed, Bella left with a drunk Lucas. From a distance, I watched them embrace, their lips pressed together. Perhaps they had been holding back for too long. As soon as they got in the car, it started rocking up and down. Silently, I recorded everything that had just happened. Then, I called my brother. “What’s up, little sis? Why are you calling so late?” My brother’s voice instantly touched the softest part of my heart. With a “plop,” I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears started streaming down my face. “Sweetie, what’s wrong? Are you crying?” I was choking on my sobs, unable to speak. My brother immediately asked where I was. I mumbled an address through my tears. Half an hour later, he appeared in front of me. I was huddled on some steps by the street, my body shaking. My brother took off his coat and draped it over me, sitting down beside me. “Where’s Lucas?” “He cheated.” My brother froze, his jaw clenching tight. “Where is he? I’ll kill him.” I grabbed my brother’s hand, shaking my head, “There’s no need. It would only dirty your hands.” My brother angrily stomped on the ground! But he wasn’t satisfied with just that. He asked me, “Do you want a divorce?” I nodded without hesitation. “Could it be a misunderstanding?” I showed my brother all the videos and photos stored on my phone. Although I didn’t say anything, my brother had already made his decision. He immediately took out his phone and made several calls. First, he contacted his lawyer friend to draft a divorce agreement for me. Second, he contacted Lucas’s suppliers, telling those who had just negotiated contracts but hadn’t signed yet to not sign, those whose contracts were expiring to not renew, and those whose contracts weren’t up yet to withdraw all discounts and charge market prices. After making those calls, my brother took my hand, “Come on, let’s go home.” I shook my head, tears still hanging in the corners of my eyes, “Before we go home, I want to move out first.” My brother didn’t hesitate. He drove me to the marital home Lucas and I shared. The house was bought by Lucas. I had nothing to be nostalgic about. It’s just that after living here for three years, I never thought I’d leave like this. “If you want this house, I’ll get you the best lawyer to help you keep it.” “No need, bro. Anything that’s touched by Lucas, I find it all quite dirty now.”

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I have a limp, a result of an injury I sustained while saving my childhood sweetheart when we were young. Despite being treated differently because of my disability, James Parker, my childhood love, promised to always be good to me. I believed him wholeheartedly. Until one day, I saw a girl corner him against a wall, attempting to kiss him. He turned his head to avoid it. The girl’s eyes reddened. “James, I don’t believe you’re not attracted to me!” James gritted his teeth and then kissed her forcefully. I’ve had a limp since I was a child, but everyone said I was lucky because I had James Parker, my childhood sweetheart who loved me dearly. James was the epitome of youth – handsome, smart, athletically gifted, and popular with girls. His only flaw, according to some, was having a disabled childhood sweetheart – me. Whenever someone said this, James would angrily rebuke them. “Lily’s leg was injured while saving me. I don’t want to hear you talk about her like that.” Each time he said this, he’d pull me into his arms. Listening to his heartbeat, I truly believed he was my prince charming, descending from heaven to save me. But I forgot that not everyone who rides a white horse is a prince. James and I started having problems in our sophomore year of college. It began when I watched a mixed doubles tennis match between him and his underclassman partner, Emma White. They had perfect chemistry and won the gold medal in the college tournament. Their high-five after winning, Emma handing James a towel, and the loving look in her eyes when she gazed at him all made me feel uneasy. But when James hung his gold medal around my neck and invited me to their tennis team’s celebration party, I forced myself to suppress my discomfort. I told myself to trust James. But at the party, when I saw Emma casually picking up James’s drink and about to sip from it, my carefully maintained composure finally cracked. I put my hand between Emma’s mouth and the bottle. “Isn’t this James’s drink? Did you grab the wrong one?” The lively atmosphere suddenly went quiet for a moment before resuming. James’s teammate laughed it off: “Emma must be too excited; she grabbed the wrong drink.” But Emma’s eyes showed no amusement as she put the drink back. The incident was brushed off with laughter, but it left me feeling unsettled. My unease reached its peak as James walked me back to my dorm that night. Because of my leg, James always walked slowly to match my pace. After hesitating, I brought up the incident at dinner. But James interrupted me: “It’s nothing, she probably just grabbed the wrong drink by mistake. Don’t worry about it.” His words caught in my throat, leaving me unable to express my concerns. My heart ached, and I had to force back tears of frustration. James took my hand and kissed it twice, telling me not to worry and insisting that he and Emma were just friends from the tennis team. His sincere gaze made me want to believe him again. I really, really wanted to trust him – if only I hadn’t later seen them kissing in a hidden corner. It was after another tennis match where James and Emma had won. I was looking for James with a water bottle and towel. Strangely, he wasn’t celebrating with his teammates. I noticed Emma was missing too. Pushing down my growing anxiety, I massaged my right leg, which was aching from standing too long, and continued searching. Perhaps my disappointment had reached its limit because when I saw Emma pressing James against a wall, I felt surprisingly numb. Emma’s coquettish voice rang out. “James, stop denying it. You like me.” James had one hand on her shoulder, as if to push her away, while the other clutched his newly won mixed doubles medal. He seemed to sigh. “Don’t do this,” he said. Emma’s voice began to break. “I don’t believe it. You don’t really like that childhood sweetheart of yours. I know you like me.” With that, she tilted her head up to kiss him. I clutched the water bottle tightly, silently praying for James to push her away. But he didn’t. James accepted Emma’s kiss, even lowering his head to deepen it. The medal that should have been mine, that should have been hanging around my neck, was now draped over Emma’s, alongside her own. As they moved passionately, the two medals clinked together, creating a clear, crisp sound. It was hauntingly beautiful. James and I had known each other since we were very young. Back then, he was the leader of our neighborhood kids, and I remember following him around everywhere. One day, while playing on a small hill, he slipped and started to fall. I quickly grabbed him, but being too weak, we both tumbled down the slope. James was fine, but I cushioned his fall with my body, and my right leg exploded in excruciating pain. I passed out from the agony. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, surrounded by my parents’ concerned faces and James’s parents’ guilty expressions. My right leg was in a thick cast. The doctor told me that I might never be able to run and jump like other children again. Hearing this devastating news, I felt my world turn gray. I had always loved sports, and the thought of never being able to play normally again was worse than death. But then James pushed through the adults. He wiped away my tears and the gloom from my eyes. With his young, apologetic voice, he said to me, “Don’t be sad, Lily. From now on, I’ll be your legs.” He promised to take care of me until I no longer needed him, which helped ease my parents’ anger. James was indeed a sports prodigy. He excelled on the field, winning countless awards from childhood through adolescence. I could only sit in the stands, watching him triumphantly receive his prizes. Although I knew the accident wasn’t his fault, I couldn’t help but wonder: if I hadn’t saved him that day, would I be the one winning awards now? But I would shake off these thoughts because James would always hang his heavy medals around my neck. His neck glistening with sweat, his breath carrying the vibrant energy of youth, he would look at me with bright, moist eyes and say something that went straight to my heart. Holding the medal draped over my neck, he’d say proudly, “Lily, from now on, all my medals belong to you too.” I think that’s when he truly entered my heart, like a gentle breeze full of youthful vigor, quickly taking root and blossoming. After that, James began competing frequently, always giving me all his medals. His mother once joked, “People might think our Lily won these awards herself!” James shot her a fierce glare, and his mother, realizing her mistake, fell silent. Because of my leg injury, I had few friends. I spent most of my time quietly reading and waiting for James. James confessed his feelings to me on a summer evening in our sophomore year of high school. He asked me to meet him downstairs in our neighborhood. Amid the summer cicadas’ song, I slowly made my way down, my neck damp with a fine sheen of sweat. Just as I steadied myself, before I could even make out his silhouette, I felt a cool metal medal being placed around my neck. It was the medal from his recent tennis tournament. Tennis was my favorite sport, and James had won this for me. “I already have many medals,” I said slowly, looking at him. James rubbed his nose, seeming a bit nervous. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about.” I gazed at him silently as he struggled to find the words. The early summer breeze was still mild, not yet oppressively hot. A gust of wind tousled my bangs, and just as I was about to brush them aside, James leaned in and gently kissed my forehead. “Lily, let’s be together,” he said, his voice trembling. My eyes widened slowly, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. “Okay,” I heard myself say, trying to sound calm. How strange, I thought. Spring had already passed, yet my heart was in full bloom. Life after getting together with James didn’t seem to change much. Our friends had long assumed we were a couple anyway. Although James was a sports prodigy, he struggled with his academic subjects. Heaven had closed one door for me physically but opened a window intellectually. My grades were excellent. I was genuinely concerned about James’s academic performance because I wanted us to attend the same university. So, after finishing my own studies each day, I spent extra time figuring out how to help James improve his grades. Though the process was challenging, we eventually made it into the same university, thanks in part to his sports credits. I thought we would be happy forever, but I was too naive.

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When the plane crash happened, my pilot husband Samuel immediately snatched away my life jacket. He pinned me firmly against the emergency exit, using me to shield his first love from the raging flames. Giving her the chance to survive. In my previous life, the same thing happened. He pushed me out to save his first love. As the plane disintegrated, I was burned alive, my body completely destroyed. He cried inconsolably at my funeral, yet married his first love the very next day. But then he got into a car accident. Before dying, he said he regretted his actions. If given another chance, he swore he would save me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment of the plane crash. Once more, he chose to save his first love, tying me to the disintegrating plane to await death. … Samuel used a safety rope to bind me tightly to the emergency exit. Having learned about airplane emergency procedures, I knew clearly that he intended to use my life alone to give everyone else a chance to escape. Using my body to block the oncoming flames, delaying the disintegration of the plane’s emergency exit. But I would be incinerated the instant the exit broke apart, my body torn into countless pieces. This was something emphasized repeatedly in survival training. Samuel must have remembered. “Samuel!” I shouted, but in the blink of an eye, I saw him embracing his first love as they jumped into the sea together. He held her figure tightly in his arms. The plane’s fuselage grew hotter and hotter, plummeting at an extreme speed. And I was left hanging at the emergency exit, experiencing the torment of ice and fire. My arms were scorched by the fierce flames. The skin gradually curled and blistered. The plane began to rapidly break apart in two places. At that moment, my entire body was overwhelmed by the fear of impending death. Looking at the death knot Samuel had tied with his own hands, seeing my wrists bruised purple from being trapped, I finally understood how laughable Samuel’s deathbed regrets in my previous life were. Heaven had given him another chance. Yet he still gave the opportunity to live to his first love, Olivia. This time, he even felt sorry that Olivia’s face had been burned in the previous life due to the fire, so he directly used me to block the rapidly approaching flames. Watching the fire consume my arms, yet calmly helping his first love put on the life jacket snatched from my hands. Using the life-saving rope meant for escape to seal off my path to survival. Enduring the pain, I watched as the plane was about to disintegrate, feeling the agony of my limbs being torn apart. It hurt so much, the pain made me faint. But when I opened my eyes and saw white walls, I was momentarily dazed. “She’s awake!” Having just regained consciousness, I was surrounded by a crowd of people. Several doctors and nurses pushed through the crowd and approached me. “Vitals normal!” “No adverse reactions!” “Excellent!” The doctor in charge told me that in the last moment before the plane disintegrated, I had fallen into the nearby sea. A man who had been sea fishing rescued me. He drove through the night to bring me to the hospital. Most fortunately, that man was also an accomplished surgeon, so along the way, he saved my life using his extensive emergency medical knowledge. The group surrounding me were mostly reporters. This plane crash with zero casualties had received extensive media coverage. Due to the massive exposure, the media discovered that there was one unauthorized passenger on the flight beyond the official headcount. But the airline refused to provide the specific passenger list, citing protection of customer privacy. In the end, it was the pilot Samuel who admitted that his wife Chloe had used his name to board the plane against regulations.

As a result, many uninformed members of the public believed I deserved such severe injuries. Some even publicly stated that I should have been dismembered and killed when the plane broke apart. My personal information was released online. During my hospitalization, countless media outlets and social media influencers wanted to get a first-hand interview with me, constantly harassing me. The hospital could only tell them I hadn’t fully regained consciousness and was still in a coma, blocking them from entering. But Samuel, as my husband, never showed up. Looking through those reports, I learned that Samuel had been named an outstanding pilot and everyday hero for his rescue efforts. He even did interviews with his first love Olivia, the two of them playing off each other, claiming that I had obstructed their rescue efforts. And that I had always been suspicious of their pure friendship, deliberately using Samuel’s name to board the plane. All because I was jealous. They said it was my jealousy that nearly endangered everyone on the plane. There were even people online starting to ship them as a couple, with captivating videos that even had me mesmerized. As I was watching, the attending physician walked in. “I see your spirits have improved a lot, you’re even interested in shipping your husband with someone else?” I closed my phone and cooperated with his examination. A whole patch of skin on my arm had been burned off, and every dressing change felt like death. He looked at it and said: “Logically, sitting in the middle, you should have been among the first group to escape. How did you end up burned so badly?” “And why are there marks on your hands as if you were tied up?” I looked at the attending physician. “I’ve been following the news for so long, why haven’t I heard anything about the black box?” “It hasn’t been found yet, after all it fell into the sea.” I shook my head. It would be found soon. Once found, everything would become clear. In my previous life, Samuel’s accident happened just before it was found. At that time, I really thought he was distracted by guilt over me, causing him to be hit by a car and die. Only later did I learn that it was because the black box had been found, and the fact that he had illegally allowed his first love into the cockpit and pushed me out to die was about to be exposed. After enjoying being adored by people for so long, he couldn’t accept going from heaven to hell. “Once the black box is found, everything will be clear.” “Alright!” Not long after the attending physician left, Samuel arrived. Olivia was following behind him. Seeing their matching couple outfits, I turned away in disgust. But Samuel sat down beside me and said: “Now that you’re awake, do an interview and say what I tell you to.” He tossed a notebook at me, hitting my hand. Using an imperious tone, he said: “Just take responsibility for everything yourself. It’s not like they’ll do anything to you anyway. It’ll save my job and help Olivia get reinstated too. It’s a good thing.” A good thing? I couldn’t hear anything good about it. He put the nearly wilted flowers he was holding into my vase. “As long as you obediently say what I tell you, I won’t divorce you. You’ll still be Samuel’s wife. If you don’t…” He glared at me before continuing: “We’ll have to get divorced.” This kind of threat had existed since I married him, and it had always worked before. This time he thought it would work too. Olivia stood to the side, looking at my injuries with disdain. But she put on a pitiful act and said: “Sister, you really misunderstood. Samuel and I are just ordinary friends. If you hadn’t boarded the plane this time, none of this would have happened. So… please, do me a favor. After all, you were in the wrong!” I didn’t board the plane? I was on that flight because of a sudden work assignment. The company booked the ticket for me. The HR department even specially grabbed this ticket for me, considering that my husband Samuel and I lived apart most of the time.

But in their words, it became me insisting on coming to catch them in the act. They even claimed that leaving me at the emergency exit, nearly causing me to be dismembered, was what I deserved. Olivia cried and pointed at the scar on her hand, “If it wasn’t for you constantly obstructing Samuel from rescuing me, I wouldn’t have had such a large area of skin burned off.” Samuel looked at her with heartache before turning to me and saying: “Look what you’ve caused. Don’t you feel any guilt? Olivia has so many burn injuries. If you hadn’t fought for the life jacket and refused to give it up, how could her injuries be so severe?” I let out a cold laugh. “I was a legitimate passenger who bought a ticket. That life jacket was from my seat.” I looked at Olivia. “As for her!” “Captain Samuel should know best how she got on board!” At this point Samuel fell silent, just lowering his head and fiddling with his fingers. He knew very well that this flight was going to a seaside destination. Olivia had insisted on going on a beach vacation with him, just the two of them, without me around. So Samuel made an exception and let her sit in the cockpit. Since they were all part of the same flight crew, everyone turned a blind eye, and Olivia just sat in the cockpit accompanying him on this flight. Moreover, Olivia played a big part in causing this plane crash. This was probably something even Samuel himself didn’t realize. “Olivia was originally part of our flight crew. If it wasn’t for you reporting her and getting her suspended, she wouldn’t have had to sneak on board with me. So you share responsibility too!” I reported her? I looked at Olivia and saw her face turn bright red in an instant as she lowered her head, not daring to speak. Although I had always been dissatisfied with Olivia’s relationship with Samuel, because their flight routes were so dangerous, I worried about Samuel getting into an accident. So I basically turned a blind eye. I hadn’t even shown anyone else those provocative messages she sent. Let alone report her. “What did I report her for?!” I asked, and Samuel immediately raised his voice by several octaves. “You reported her for improper conduct and seducing your husband. Who else but you would report that!” Improper conduct? I couldn’t help but laugh. At this moment, Olivia suddenly seemed to break down and blurted out: “Who else could be so petty but you? You still won’t admit it? I asked the people in the complaint department, and they said it was you!” Just as she was speaking, a group of reporters rushed in, holding up various equipment. They excitedly rushed up to me. “Regarding the recent news about you, what’s your own view? Did you go to catch your husband cheating and obstruct him from rescuing other passengers, causing the accident to worsen?” I looked at Samuel, took the microphone, and said softly: “My husband wants me to admit to everything, so I’ll admit to it all!” The reporters looked at me in confusion. At that moment, someone in the crowd shouted: “The black box from the plane crash has been found! Officials say they’ve extracted important evidence and will hold a press conference soon to announce the cause!”

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My childhood sweetheart suddenly officially announced his relationship one night. His girlfriend was the girl who had been pursuing him for three weeks. One day, he finally snapped at me, his tone impatient: “If it’s not important, can you please stop bothering me?” But he knew very well that I lost my right leg because of him. I looked at him coldly and left with a parting shot, “Don’t think too highly of yourself.” A few months later, he was crying at my doorstep, begging for forgiveness. 0Recently, a girl has been relentlessly pursuing my childhood friend. She sent flowers on Valentine’s Day, brought water when he played basketball, and waited for him after evening study sessions – she tried every trick in the book. I thought she would fail like all of Jack’s countless admirers before her, but when I asked Jack about his feelings towards her, I saw him hesitate for the first time. Although he eventually told me to stop asking such pointless questions, I noticed something different. After one basketball game, when he accepted the water Emma handed him, I saw a genuine smile on his face amidst the teasing from others. I realized he had fallen for Emma. Otherwise, why would he suddenly leave our dinner together when he received a message from Emma asking for help? I cleaned up our table and limped after him. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Emma said someone was following her,” he replied urgently. As he said this, I clearly felt Jack quicken his pace. I was stunned for a moment, instinctively trying to speed up as well. But I forgot that my right leg was a prosthetic, and I couldn’t run fast. The next second, I fell to the ground, letting out a cry of pain. Jack turned to look at me, but his eyes lacked their usual concern and worry. I knew that look – it was irritation and disdain. I had seen it in many people’s eyes before. He came forward to help me up, his brows furrowed and his tone unusually cold: “What’s going on?” “Why are you following me? Why didn’t you go back to the dorm? Don’t you know your own body’s limitations?” Scared by his tone, I instinctively apologized: “I’m sorry.” I wanted to keep up with him too. He seemed to finally realize he had said something wrong and ruffled my hair several times: “Lily, I didn’t mean it like that. Don’t cry.” He said, “Emma might be in danger. Be good and go back to the dorm, okay?” I nodded, and he let out a relieved sigh before turning and leaving. As Jack’s figure disappeared from my sight, I suddenly felt like crying. But I held it in. It was just… an inexplicable feeling of hurt. That day, my leg was actually scraped, but Jack didn’t notice because I was wearing long pants. In the end, I stumbled back to the dorm alone. I walked very slowly, and by the time I reached the dorm, I saw a new post on Reddit. Emma wasn’t in any danger that night; it was just a grand confession she had planned. Opening the photo, I saw Jack standing in a heart shape made of candles, his ears red. Emma stood opposite him, her face blushing. The post quickly gained traction. Most comments were along the lines of “What a perfect couple” and “The girl is so brave.” Among the hundreds of comments, I even saw my name mentioned. “Who still remembers Jack’s limping sidekick?” But this comment was quickly buried. I didn’t pay much attention to it. That night, Jack officially announced their relationship. The caption read: “A new chapter, my heart belongs to Emma.” He attached the photo of their confession from that night. With trembling fingers, I commented “Congratulations” under his post. On the day they got together, Jack replied with thanks to every comment congratulating them on that Reddit post, except for the one mentioning me. He skipped over it. In the past, he would have immediately lashed out at anyone in the comments who insulted me, not stopping until they apologized. But now, he chose to ignore the humiliation directed at me to maintain the beautiful atmosphere of his new relationship. I knew that Jack and I were drifting apart. 0

When I was ten, Jack became my new neighbor. When I first saw him, the movers were carefully carrying a Yamaha piano into their house. Jack stood awkwardly to the side, but when he saw me, a smile spread across his face: “Hello there, little girl.” Jack was excellent at playing the piano, and I had been learning ballet since childhood, so I often asked him to accompany me. Over time, we became known as “childhood sweethearts” to others. My favorite piece he played was “Für Elise.” Watching his flying fingers, my heart would start to flutter. I liked Jack. No one knew. For him, I even threw myself in front of a falling beam during a fire to protect him. While recovering in the hospital, I heard my parents crying outside the room, lamenting that I would never be able to dance again. Jack held my hand tightly at my bedside: “Lily, I’ll always be by your side from now on.” Tears slid down my cheeks as I bit my lip, barely managing to say: “Jack, I can’t shine on stage with you anymore…” I saw his expression turn grief-stricken, crying so sorrowfully, his grip on my hand tightening as he said earnestly: “Lily, you are the light itself.” From then on, Jack became my guardian angel. He would fulfill all my little wishes, like saying he would only play “Für Elise” for me alone. He would chase away other kids who gossiped about me, even if it meant getting physical. He would deliberately slow down his pace when walking with me, just to protect my fragile self-esteem. He said that whenever I needed him, he would never let me be alone. He said these things with such sincerity, and I basked in his gentleness year after year. Most of the roads we walked in our growth were wide and smooth, but I never imagined that the path between Jack and me would become muddy, causing me to fall and allowing thousands of vines to grow between us. 0

On the first day Jack and Emma got together, they invited me to dinner. When I arrived, I realized it wasn’t just the three of us. Besides the guys I knew who were friends with Jack, there were also some of Emma’s friends. Among them were people who had gossiped about my limp behind my back. Jack had previously cut ties with them because of this, but because of Emma, he chose to accept them again. I stood there frozen, watching them chat and joke happily, feeling as if my feet were weighed down by a thousand pounds. The moment they saw me, they all fell silent, looking at me with strange expressions tinged with mockery. I looked towards Jack, but he averted his gaze as if he hadn’t noticed my discomfort. In the end, I found a corner to sit down. Emma was the first to speak at the dinner: “Thank you all for your tremendous support in my pursuit of Jack! Today, I want to properly thank you!” “This first toast is for Lily.” I looked up in surprise to see Emma’s lips curled into a slight smirk, her expression smug: “Thank you, Lily, for always being by my boyfriend’s side, acting as his guardian for so long.” “If it weren’t for Lily’s companionship, how could I have caught up with Jack walking so fast?” Rachel, Emma’s friend sitting next to her, chimed in: “Don’t forget that time when Lily’s prosthetic leg fell off while trying to keep up with Jack for an 8 am class. It was hilarious, I still have photos on my phone.” They joked so naturally, making Jack laugh beside them. I choked up. It was the first time I doubted Jack. Could he really not hear the mockery in Emma’s words? Or did he also think my disability was just a casual joke to be tossed around? “Oh really? I remember something pretty funny too. Rachel’s wig fell off during the long jump in PE class. It was quite a shocking sight. It even ended up on the campus confession page afterward. I have photos on my phone too, want to see?” The one who spoke was Alex, Jack’s friend. His tone was flat, completely different from Emma and Rachel’s joking manner. Rachel’s face immediately turned awkward, forcing out a few dry laughs. After that, I kept my head down, sipping juice and secretly glancing at Jack sitting diagonally across from me, just to see if his smile was any different from when he smiled at me. The air conditioning in the private room was set very low. I unconsciously rubbed my arms, and the next second, a jacket was draped over my legs. Alex said in a voice only I could hear: “Put it on.” I obediently did as he said. I don’t know if it was my imagination, but after I put on Alex’s jacket, I clearly sensed a change in Jack’s expression. After the dinner, Jack offered to walk Emma and me back to our dorms together. Emma’s face clearly fell, but she still clung to Jack’s arm sweetly and said, “Baby, look, Lily is already wearing someone else’s jacket. Why don’t you let them have their private time? Just focus on walking me back, okay?” Jack rejected the idea without hesitation: “No, her leg isn’t good. I’m not comfortable letting her go with someone else.” As he said this, I couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed. The reason I had some interaction with Alex was also because of Jack. For instance, when Jack needed to go on dates with Emma and couldn’t accompany me to the rehabilitation center, he had asked Alex to take me there and back to school. But throughout those times, we hardly had any conversation. I really couldn’t have imagined that in a moment like this, it would be Alex who came to my rescue. Alex spoke up at this point: “Want to come with me?” I said, “I’ll go with you.” After saying this, even through the night, I clearly saw the displeasure on Jack’s face. But when he looked at Emma, that displeasure instantly melted into tenderness. Two taxis drove side by side. Because the distance was so short, through the car window, I could even see the two of them kissing shamelessly in the backseat.

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My daughter Emily was running a high fever in the middle of the night, but my husband Jack had taken the car and left. The next day, I saw a post from Lily, his female business partner, on social media. “Finally fulfilling my dream of motherhood,” she wrote. The picture showed stockings on the passenger seat, and the car’s interior was identical to ours. Furious, I confronted Jack for an explanation. He brushed it off casually: “I’m just maintaining client relationships. It’s all for you and Emily’s benefit.” “Besides, what use is a daughter? Lily’s son will be the one to carry on the Miller family name!” To add insult to injury, Lily leaned into his arms and said, “Don’t mind me, sweetie. I just love kids and needed someone to help me have one.” I kept my face expressionless as I turned away, already planning my next move. 0When four-year-old Emily’s fever suddenly spiked to 104°F in the middle of the night, I frantically woke Jack up. He glanced at his phone, then left without a backward look. “There’s an issue with a business partner. You’ll have to handle this yourself,” he said. I watched in disbelief as he slammed the door shut. With no other choice, I carried Emily downstairs myself. To my shock, Jack had taken the car and driven away without a word. In the dead of night, the streets were deserted. I had to walk eight miles to get Emily to the hospital. As the nurse hooked up the IV, she scolded me, “A little longer and she could have suffered brain damage. Where’s her father?” I forced a smile. “He’s busy with work.” The nurse nodded approvingly. “What a good husband.” Is he really? I wondered. In our seven years of marriage, I had helped him grow his small fruit stand into a thriving store. As our lives improved, I saw less and less of him. Having finally caught my breath and settled Emily to sleep, it was already dawn. I picked up my phone, intending to ask Jack where he was, but instead saw a social media post from Lily from twenty minutes ago. “Finally fulfilling my dream of motherhood,” it read. The picture showed stockings on a car’s passenger seat, and the interior was identical to ours. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. Though I had a bold guess, I didn’t dare to investigate further. Jack and I had been married for seven years, weathering hardships together. Even as our situation improved, he seemed to be a good husband and father to Emily and me. Lily was a purchasing manager at his company, and had been buying fruit in bulk from our store for company events for years. I’d never heard of them being close. Looking at my sleeping daughter, I tried to push the thoughts away. But the next day, reality hit me like a ton of bricks. In the hospital lobby, I saw two familiar figures. Jack was carefully supporting a woman, laughing and talking. It was Lily. Her belly was slightly swollen, and Jack’s face showed a tenderness I’d never seen before. I remembered being eight months pregnant and still working in the store. Jack would come by after unloading deliveries and affectionately pat my belly. “You’re doing great, honey. I promise I’ll take good care of you both in the future!” he’d say. Now here he was, arm-in-arm with another woman at the hospital! I was grateful Emily was still upstairs getting her IV. Before I could approach them, Lily spotted me. Leaning into Jack’s embrace, she sauntered over. “Well, if it isn’t Chloe! What brings you to the hospital?” Seeing my silence, Jack quickly stepped closer. “Honey, I’m just accompanying Lily for a prenatal check-up. Don’t be upset.” I stared at her belly, my throat dry. “Whose is it?” He looked guilty but tried to appear calm. “Mine… but you know my parents have always wanted a grandson to carry on the family name…” Lily giggled, stroking her belly. “Don’t take it personally, sweetie. I just love kids and needed someone to help me have one!” 0

Heartbroken and disillusioned, I went back upstairs and took Emily home alone. I thought Jack might follow to explain further. But to my surprise, he didn’t come home until that evening. “Emily, look what Daddy bought for you!” he called out. He returned with a load of snacks and toys, but only gave Emily two bags of chips. My daughter looked longingly at the toys in his hands, but was too well-behaved to ask for more. I felt angry and ridiculous. Was his own daughter only worthy of leftovers? If these were bought for someone else, why pretend to be a caring father? “Honey, I bought something for you too. Look at this dress, do you like it?” he said. I coldly watched him pull out the garment. It was a bright red dress. But the size was wrong, and the color wasn’t my style. Since marrying Jack, I’d never bought new clothes to save money. I only wore old black and gray clothes, with my one red dress being my wedding gown. But even that was far inferior in quality to this one. Besides, after having a child, my figure had changed. This didn’t seem like a size I could wear. I took out my phone and smirked. On it was CCTV footage from the store. It showed him passionately kissing Lily, who was wearing an identical red dress. Was this a carefully chosen gift, or just something Lily didn’t want passed on to me? “If you don’t want to stay married, just get a divorce. No need to be disgusting,” I said. He flew into a rage, throwing the dress on the floor. “I try to be nice and this is what I get? Don’t push your luck! I’m just maintaining client relationships, all for you and Emily’s sake!” “Besides, you’re eating my food and spending my money. You’re past your prime and still acting like this!” With that, he stormed out, slamming the door. I knew without asking that he was going to see Lily again. Emily looked up at me and asked, “Mommy, were you fighting?” Looking at her face, I felt overwhelmed with grief. To marry Jack, I had cut ties with my parents and hadn’t seen them in years. I had worked tirelessly to grow the business from nothing, handing over all the profits to him. Now I was being treated like a parasite. Fighting back tears, I knelt down and stroked Emily’s face. “If Mommy and Daddy separated, who would you want to live with?” “I want to stay with you, Mommy!” Feeling a small comfort, I knew I had to fight for Emily’s sake. Late that night, after finishing a call with my lawyer, I suddenly felt a splitting headache. Using my last bit of strength, I sent Jack a message. [Remember to go to the store tomorrow. I’m not feeling well.] Then I passed out. The next morning, Emily woke me up. I realized Jack hadn’t responded all night. Instead, Lily had sent a picture of his sleeping back. My heart ached. The seven-year itch was real after all. To make money, I forced myself to go to the store. But halfway through unloading a delivery, I felt dizzy. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a sterile hospital room. The nurse told me Emily had called her father. I felt a glimmer of hope. At least he wasn’t completely heartless. “You’re overworked and stressed out,” the nurse said. “Whatever’s going on, talk it out. Don’t make yourself sick.” I looked around but didn’t see Emily. I quickly asked the nurse about her. “Her father and grandmother took her home. Oh, you still have one more IV bag…” I pulled out the IV and hurriedly left. 0

When I got home, my mother-in-law Martha was indeed there. Emily ran to me excitedly when I arrived. “Mommy, you’re finally back! Daddy came home earlier too!” “He brought a lady with him. She gave me this toy!” I had a bad feeling, but I sent Emily to her room to play. I heard noises coming from the bedroom and rushed to open the door. “Chloe! Don’t disturb them!” Martha tried to stop me. My heart sank. “So you know about your son’s affair?” She spat, “What affair! He’s just borrowing a womb to have a child. It’s consensual, don’t make it sound so ugly!” “Besides, Jack left Lily to rush here for you. Doesn’t he deserve to make amends?” I laughed coldly and moved to open the door. She grabbed me again. “And you haven’t given our family a son to carry on the name all these years. Lily drank my special tea before getting pregnant, so it’s definitely a boy!” I was both amused and angry. So everyone knew about their affair except me? Shaking off Martha, I kicked the door open. Inside, the two were half-dressed. Jack was even shirtless. “Is this how you make amends? In bed?” I sneered. Seeing me enter, Jack hurriedly covered Lily with the blanket. “She wasn’t feeling well, so I was just checking on her. The baby comes first, you know…” “Don’t worry, once the baby’s born, I’ll never see her again.” I scoffed, “She’s already showing. Aren’t you worried about miscarriage, playing around like this?” Suddenly, he slapped me across the face. My ear rang, and my left cheek burned. “How dare you say such unlucky things! If Lily miscarries, I’ll never forgive you!” Just then, Lily let out a strange cry. “Honey, I’m in pain!” He panicked and quickly helped Lily up to leave. As they passed me, he kicked my knee. Lily whimpered, “Chloe, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come…” Jack cooed, “Don’t apologize. As long as you and the baby are okay.” Even Martha fussed over her as they left. Emily, frightened by the argument, came out with teary eyes and gently touched my swollen face. My heart ached. I was determined to take Emily and leave, no matter what! I spent half the day consulting with my lawyer and gathering evidence. That evening, Martha came home first. “Chloe, think about Jack. He works hard day and night to provide for you two, and in the end, he doesn’t even have a son to carry on the family name.” I laughed coldly. “He provides for us? If I hadn’t begged for connections, could he have turned that fruit stand into a store?” She was taken aback but tried to continue scolding me. I cut her off. “Where is he?” “At… the hospital with Lily. You really scared her earlier.” I scoffed, “Did he know I fainted at the store? Did he know I was taken to the hospital?” Martha stammered, unable to answer. So he did know. A dull pain spread in my chest. Seven years of love, and I still cared for him instinctively. “Tell him I’m filing for divorce.” 0That night, Jack rushed home. “I’m sorry, honey. Please don’t divorce me, okay?” “Are you still mad about me hitting you? Come on, hit me back!” He grabbed my hand and pressed it to his face. Since he insisted, I slapped him hard. He seemed shocked that I actually hit him, his eyes darkening for a moment. Then his expression softened again. “Our family really needs a son to carry on the name. I promise, just this once.” “We’ve been together for seven years, honey. Please don’t divorce me.”

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I was diagnosed with acute leukemia and couldn’t stop vomiting blood. Jack happened to pass by. Seeing me face down on the street covered in blood, he spoke with disgust. “Since you’re dying anyway, give the special medicine to Emma. Otherwise, let’s get divorced!” He then grabbed his slightly bruised first love and stole my ambulance. A kind-hearted person who couldn’t bear to watch called a taxi for me. When I got out of the car, I realized that the last fifty dollars in my phone had been used by Jack to buy a box of condoms through his credit card. Back home. Disheartened, I signed the divorce papers, but then saw my daughter’s diary entry: “I hope both mom and dad can attend my graduation ceremony.” To fulfill my daughter’s wish, I voluntarily gave up the medicine and begged Jack to attend together. As a result, on that day, my daughter hugged Emma’s legs and boasted in public: “See? I told you my mom would definitely come.” “Congratulations, Ms. Zoe. The special medicine is ready. Once the family member signs, we can arrange the surgery.” The moment the doctor announced this, I finally snapped out of my fear. Today was supposed to be my 28th birthday, but I was suddenly diagnosed with acute leukemia. Fortunately, heaven was kind, and the hospital managed to get the last dose of the special medicine. Grasping at this lifeline, I immediately dialed Jack’s number. “Honey, can you come to…” Before I could say “hospital,” our daughter Lily interrupted on the other end. “Mom, Dad and I have prepared dinner, and I even fried a heart-shaped egg for you.” “When are you coming home?” Hearing that my usually pampered daughter and husband had actually cooked for me, I felt a bit comforted despite my bitterness. “Lily, you’re so clever. Mommy will be home soon. Can you pass the phone to Daddy…” But the next words I heard plunged me into an icy abyss. “When you come back, remember to clean up the kitchen. Aunt Emma isn’t feeling well, so we need to go keep her company.” “Dad, don’t forget to pack the heart-shaped egg I fried…” Before I could respond, they hurriedly hung up. I lowered my gaze to hide the disappointment in my eyes. I arranged the surgery date with the doctor alone. When I got home, it was already 10 PM. Having not eaten all day, I suddenly remembered Lily saying she had fried a heart-shaped egg. I walked into the kitchen with anticipation. Microwave, rice cooker, fridge… Finally, in the trash can, I found 29 badly fried eggs. Only then did I realize. She and Jack had cooked for another woman – Emma. Emma lived up to her name. Although she was a rich heiress, she couldn’t bear to see human suffering and had established a charity organization. Jack was one of the beneficiaries. I once teased him: “The story of a first love and a poor boy, how romantic.” He corrected me seriously. “Don’t talk nonsense. I only respect her.” “If it weren’t for Emma’s financial support, I would have starved to death long ago. How could I have entered university, met you, and had such an adorable daughter?” So when her family went bankrupt and she was diagnosed with leukemia, Jack and I helped her with all our might. Even though there were several times when Jack would abandon me and our daughter to comfort her. But today’s situation was different. I needed someone by my side too… Just as I was feeling down, Jack’s call came through. “Zoe, Emma had an attack, so I had to rush over with Lily.” The man gently explained his absence. Clutching the hospital’s diagnosis report, I felt jealous for the first time. “She’s sick, but you’re not a doctor. What can you do there?” Seemingly surprised by my retort, he lowered his voice again. “It was sudden, and she has no family left. I was the only one the police could contact.” “I couldn’t be with you on your birthday and our wedding anniversary, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.” Realizing that Emma’s situation was serious enough for the police to get involved, I softened a bit. “Lily isn’t in good health and shouldn’t stay up late. I also have something to discuss with you. Remember to come back early.” “I’ll try my best.” They say that not giving a definite promise is a tacit admission of inability to fulfill it. Sure enough. Jack didn’t return home until the next morning. Out of spite, I didn’t prepare their breakfast. Ignoring my haggard face, Lily picked at her sandwich critically. “Mom, why isn’t there any warm milk? And where’s the egg I like in the sandwich?” No guilt, no apology. After staying out all night, her first action upon returning home was to complain. I suddenly remembered that among the eggs I threw away yesterday, several were discarded simply because they weren’t heart-shaped. “If you want to eat them, go dig through the trash can.” Only then did Lily realize we had run out of eggs. “Oh, Aunt Emma is sick, so what’s wrong with letting her eat well?” “We ran out of eggs and you didn’t buy more. Mom, you’re so lazy.” Hearing her unfair accusations, I suddenly felt so resentful. The child I carried for ten months and raised with such care was now criticizing her mother for the sake of an outsider? Before, when Emma was sick, I had to give way to her. Now that I’m sick too, why should I still give way to her?

“She needs care, but don’t I need it too?” I slapped her hand and scolded her. “Who spoiled you with such bad habits, messing up the food like this?” Lily, who had just been hit, was stunned for a moment before bursting into loud sobs. “Mom is so mean, not at all like Aunt Emma.” “Aunt Emma knows I’m not feeling well and reminds me to wear more clothes. Mom doesn’t even make breakfast for me. Mom is a bad mom, I don’t want mom anymore!” She wiped her tears and ran upstairs. “She’s just a child who doesn’t understand. Why are you arguing with her?” Jack worriedly followed her, picked her up, and patted her back to comfort her. “If we’re out of eggs, we can just buy more. What if you scare the child?” I moved my lips but ultimately said nothing. When I hit her, how could I not feel heartbroken? Lily was born premature and spent two months in an incubator. Later, she was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. With her, I never dared to raise my voice and always did everything myself. She used to be very understanding, hugging me and showering me with compliments. Constantly praising me for being thoughtful, smart, capable, and gentle. Now, because of Emma, she calls me a bad mom. Looking up to meet Jack’s reproachful gaze, it felt like a thorn piercing my heart. I completely lost my appetite. After cleaning up the kitchen, I prepared to do the laundry. Unexpectedly, I found two tickets to a fireworks show in Jack’s clothes. The theme of the fireworks show was called “FOR MY LOVER,” scheduled for our wedding anniversary. “Zoe, I’m sorry for speaking harshly earlier. I was worried about Lily.” Before I could think too much, Jack stood in front of me with a bouquet of roses. “I was supposed to give these to you yesterday, but after all that happened, the flowers aren’t fresh anymore.” He scratched his head regretfully, his eyes sincere and bright. My gaze fell on the card attached to the bouquet, which had a childish handwriting: [Happy Birthday to the most beautiful mom in the world!] Instantly, my grievances burst forth like a flood. They hadn’t forgotten my birthday after all. “Silly, it’s the thought that counts.” Jack tenderly wiped away my tears as if handling a precious treasure, then placed a kiss on my forehead. “Of course, because you’re worth it.” “Oh right, you said you had something to discuss. What is it?” Tears of happiness kept rolling down. I suddenly felt that maybe I could wait a bit longer to tell Jack about the surgery. At least before our wedding anniversary, I shouldn’t make him worry. “I was wondering if you had any plans for Lily’s graduation ceremony. By the way, how’s Emma doing?” Pretending not to know, I smiled and changed the subject, putting the tickets back in his pocket. “Of course both parents will be there for Lily’s graduation ceremony.” “As for Emma, she’s out of danger and under observation in the hospital. I hired a caregiver for her.” Over the next few days. Without Emma as a topic, our home returned to normal. However, what I didn’t expect was that the onset of my illness was unpredictable. I had nosebleeds in front of Jack several times. Today, on my way to pick up our daughter from school, I suddenly felt a sweet and salty taste in my throat. The next moment. My clothes were stained with large patches of bright red. Afraid of being discovered, I had to notify Jack to pick up Lily while I secretly went to the hospital for a follow-up. The doctor frowned as he looked through the examination report. “Leukemia itself doesn’t cause vomiting blood, but you have gastritis, which can easily lead to complications like gastric bleeding. We need to move up the surgery date.” “Can’t we wait a little longer?” “The longer we delay, the more you’ll suffer.” I shook my head, “I’m not afraid of pain.” Yet tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. In fact. I’m quite afraid of pain. In kindergarten, I was punished by teachers. In elementary school, I was bullied by older kids. As I grew older, my parents’ relationship deteriorated, and they took out their frustrations on me. Long-term exposure to pain and hurt, Led me to develop a habit of crying at the slightest discomfort. Jack says I’m delicate, suited to be kept in a greenhouse, and fortunately, he can be that greenhouse. Thinking of Jack’s concerned expression and our daughter’s anxious face. My heart ached even more. After much debate, the surgery was finally scheduled for the day after our wedding anniversary. Lost in thought, I pushed open the door. Emma was hugging Lily on the sofa, showering her with kisses and embraces. Jack, busy cooking in the kitchen, occasionally chimed in. The scene was so warm that I felt out of place entering at that moment. It was Emma who reacted first, walking to the door to greet me with delight. “Oh, Zoe’s back. Why don’t you come in?” Her familiarity made her seem more like the lady of the house. “It’s good you’re back. I was planning to leave after dropping off some things for Lily, but Jack was busy cooking, so I stayed to help her with homework.” Lily clung to Emma, reluctant to let go. “I want Aunt Emma to tuck me in.” “That won’t do, sweetie. Only family can live together. Auntie has to go back to her own home.” Lily tightened her grip on Emma’s hand and turned to ask me. “Why can I only have one mom? Why isn’t Aunt Emma my family? Then Aunt Emma could live with us all the time.” Emma smiled and told me not to overthink it, so I smiled along with her. But the hand holding my medicine dug its nails deep into my flesh. “Oh, right,” she suddenly turned back before leaving. “Zoe, I saw you at the hospital.”

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CHAPTER Is that me? Being burned alive feels exactly how you’d imagine—a scorching, all-consuming agony that burrows into every inch of my body. I should be dead. But I’m not. Not exactly. I hover, weightless, watching the scene unfold beneath me. Watching her. “Our Evelyn is so beautiful. Tomorrow is your birthday party! Mom bought you this dress.” My mother’s voice is soft, affectionate—a voice I never knew she was capable of. She holds up a shimmering dress. I’ve seen that dress before. My sister once boasted that it cost 10,000 dollars—more than my parents make in a month. Yet, they still bought it for her. They always found a way to meet her demands. When the fire left scars on her fingers, they scraped together the money to have them removed. But when I burned? I got nothing. Not a hospital visit. Not a touch of comfort. Not even a second glance. Because in this family, only one daughter mattered. This cramped, two-bedroom apartment was purchased for her. My parents took out a loan to move closer to a better school. One bedroom belonged to them. The other? Hers. I never had one. “Sis, my classmates will laugh at me if they see how small my room is. Why don’t you sleep in the living room instead?” I was twelve. She dragged me to the couch, tossed me a blanket, and slammed the door in my face. I wanted to protest. I wanted to tell my parents. But all they said was, “It’s just the living room. We used to sleep under bridges, and you can’t even handle this?” So, I stopped complaining. I slept on that couch for five years. And in that time, I learned: I was nothing more than a shadow in this house. Once, I was cleaning her room and accidentally brushed against her bed. My mother’s voice had cracked like a whip. “Your hands are filthy! Do you want to dirty my daughter’s bed?” My daughter. Not her daughters. Just one. From that day forward, I never stepped foot in her room again. And yet, standing here, looking down at the family that ignored me in life, I still hoped—stupidly, desperately hoped—that my death would shake them. That they’d grieve me. That they’d miss me. But instead— “Mom, I’m inviting my friends to celebrate my birthday at a restaurant tomorrow!” My parents exchange hesitant glances. I can see the deep lines of exhaustion on their faces, the weight of financial stress. They can’t afford this. They shouldn’t. But then my mother smiles. Soft. Loving. Indulgent. “Of course, Evelyn! Mom won’t forget your birthday. Everything’s set—you’ll be the most beautiful girl there.” The most beautiful girl. Not a single mention of the daughter they just lost. Not a single flicker of sadness. And then— “Damn it, Big Sis had to die at the worst possible time. What bad luck.” Bad luck. Not tragedy. Not grief. Just inconvenience. My chest clenches with something sharp, something suffocating. I was nothing to them. I had always been nothing. When I was little, I believed that even if my mother was unfair, she still loved me. That my father’s beatings, his cruel words—they meant he cared. “Beating is affection. Scolding is love,” he used to say. So, I endured it. I remembered every lesson. I never made the same mistake twice. The neighbors praised me for being such a “sensible child.” And sometimes—just sometimes—my parents would smile. But as I watch my sister now, dry-eyed and unbothered by my death, I finally understand. I was never their daughter. I was never anything. “Big Sis was so capable,” she sighs, voice laced with insincerity. “But she died in the fire.” Then, as if on cue, she forces out a few fake tears. I stare at her perfect, unmarked face. At those cold, soulless eyes. A surge of hatred curls in my gut. I want to reach out. I want to rip them out. ________ CHAPTER

I remember now. I remember everything. I could have escaped that fire. The flames had been closing in, smoke thick in my lungs, but I had a way out. I was almost free. But then I heard my parents’ voices in my head. “Protect your sister, no matter what.” I turned back. I found her—Evelyn—trapped in the blaze, her terrified eyes locked onto mine. I grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the exit, toward safety. We were almost there. Almost free. And then— She ripped herself away. Before I could react, she shoved the door closed and locked it. I pounded against the wood, screaming her name. She didn’t look back. She left me there to die. My sister. The one I had protected since childhood. And now, as I watch her calmly discussing my death over dinner, I wonder— Had she ever loved me at all? Had they? “That dead girl,” my mother says dismissively, scooping soup into my sister’s bowl. “If she were still alive, she could’ve earned at least 3,000 dollars a month. We could’ve used that money to buy you nice clothes.” They weren’t mourning me. They weren’t even sad. I was nothing more than lost income. Something sharp twists inside me. I think back to all the ways they had stolen from me. All the things I had given up, convinced it was my duty as a daughter—as a sister. When I finished middle school, I begged to continue my education. But my parents refused. “You’re stupid anyway,” they said. “And you already repeated a year.” But that wasn’t my fault. They had made me repeat a year so I could stay in the same class as my sister. “She’s still young,” they told me. “We don’t want to leave her alone in elementary school. Stay with her. Protect her.” And like an idiot, I agreed. I let my parents rob me of my future. I let them take away my chance to learn, to grow—to be more than a shadow. We were struggling financially back then. I did everything—tutored my sister, cooked, cleaned, helped with the farmwork. And because of that, my grades slipped. I begged for tutoring. I wanted a chance to catch up. But my parents scoffed. “The school already teaches you everything. If you’re not learning there, why waste money on extra classes?” And yet, when she struggled, they didn’t hesitate. They spent money on her tutoring. Paid for her dance lessons. Sent her to piano classes. She became refined. I remained a simple country girl. But despite it all, I worked hard. I fought for my education. And finally—finally—I became the top student in my class. For once, I thought they’d be proud of me. I held up my award, heart pounding, waiting for their approval. Waiting for them to say, “Well done, sweetheart. We’re proud of you.” Instead, they turned to her. “Don’t worry, darling,” my mother soothed, stroking her hair. “Your sister is only good at studying. But you? You have talents—dance, piano. Your grades will catch up soon.” They dismissed my success like it was nothing. As if being smart—being capable—wasn’t enough. It was never enough. Because no matter what I did—I would never be their daughter. Not like her. __________ CHAPTER

“It’s such a shame your sister died,” my father sighed, pouring himself another drink. “I had already arranged a good marriage for her. We could’ve started preparing for the wedding next month.” “What a waste,” my mother agreed, stirring her soup. “I’ll ask around about a ghost marriage. Maybe we can still make some money off her.” A ghost marriage. They were planning to sell my dead body off to a stranger. Even in death, they still saw me as nothing more than a transaction. The realization settled over me like a thick layer of ice. I was never their daughter. I was currency. And now that I was gone, they were desperate to squeeze every last bit of value out of my corpse. Tomorrow was Evelyn’s birthday party. She slept soundly, curled up in her bed, looking peaceful, unbothered—alive. I sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her. I was no longer human. I didn’t know why I hadn’t disappeared. Maybe it was unfinished business, or maybe it was pure, unfiltered hatred that tethered me here. I wasn’t sure yet. But I had time to figure it out. If nothing else, I could learn how to make her suffer. I reached out, trailing cold fingers over her cheek. She shivered in her sleep. A notification lit up her phone on the bedside table. I glanced at the screen. 【Give money!】 The message was from an unknown number. I frowned. Who was Evelyn supposed to give money to? Was she in debt? Or was she paying someone off? My mind spun with possibilities, but before I could process them, my mother entered the room. She pulled the blanket up over Evelyn’s shoulders, tucking her in with careful hands. A soft, loving gesture. The kind I had never received. I remembered all those nights I slept on the cold, hard sofa, my body trembling from the chill. No one had ever come to cover me with a blanket. I watched her move, hovering near the ceiling, unseen. “Is the air conditioner too low?” she mumbled, rubbing her arms. I smirked. No, Mother. That’s just me. The next morning, I witnessed something I hadn’t seen in years. A real home-cooked breakfast. The table was filled with steaming dishes—both Asian and Western. My mother bustled around the kitchen, her movements fluid, almost graceful. I never knew she could cook like this. When had she learned? Then, it hit me. She had to. Because after I was gone—after I was sent away to work—there was no one left to cook for Evelyn. She must have struggled at first, forcing herself to get better, to take care of her precious youngest daughter. The daughter that mattered. I watched as Evelyn stretched, rubbing sleep from her eyes before skipping over to the kitchen. “Mom, your cooking is delicious!” she beamed. “I love eating the food you make!” My mother smiled warmly, reaching up to smooth her hair. The scene before me was perfect. A cozy home. A warm meal. A loving family. Anyone would envy this life. And for a fleeting moment, I wondered— Was it my fault? Had I been too cold, too quiet, too difficult to love? Had I pushed them away? Had I done something wrong? I thought back to the younger version of myself, desperate for affection. I remembered standing in this very kitchen, eager to help, eager to please. I remembered the way my mother had shoved me aside, irritated. “Don’t bother me! You annoy me just by being here!” That was when I learned the truth. I was only welcome if I was doing something for Evelyn. That was the only way to earn their approval. And even then, it was never enough. I wanted to leave this suffocating house. To get as far away as possible. But whenever I moved more than ten meters from Evelyn— I was pulled right back. Like a leash. Like a curse. Like I still belonged to her. __________ CHAPTER

Evelyn’s birthday party was lively. My parents had gone all out, renting a banquet hall to celebrate. The room glittered with chandeliers, laughter filled the air, and the guests—most of them wealthy and influential—sipped on expensive champagne, smiling as they mingled. I floated through the crowd, unnoticed. Unseen. But I wasn’t surprised. I had spent my entire life like this. From the corner of the room, a familiar face caught my eye. Caleb Martins. He was here. Evelyn’s former classmate. One of the only people who had ever shown me kindness. I remembered the last time he attended one of her birthdays—last year. “Sis, I want a seafood feast for my birthday.” I had spent hours preparing a lavish spread for her, making sure every dish was perfect. But when we went grocery shopping, she wrinkled her nose. “The market’s selection is disgusting. Go to the supermarket instead.” And I had listened. I always listened. Because my father had said, “You’ve been working for years. Can’t you spend a little money to make your sister happy?” That year, I had paid for every single expense. But Evelyn never even acknowledged my efforts. It was Caleb who had noticed. When she cut the cake, she handed him the second slice. But instead of keeping it, he had placed it in my hands. “This should go to the one who worked so hard to make tonight special. Let’s thank her together.” He had been the only person who ever truly saw me. When I was rushing around, drowning in tasks, he had helped. And later, we had exchanged numbers, keeping in touch through quiet messages. But then Evelyn had smashed my phone. “Sis, don’t be ridiculous and try to pursue Caleb!” I never had. But she had already decided I wasn’t worthy of even speaking to someone like him. “You? A middle school dropout talking to someone from a prestigious university? Have some self-awareness!” After she told our parents, they hadn’t hesitated to take her side. “If you want to get married, we’ll find you a rich man. You’ll be set for life.” A week later, my mother dragged me to a blind date. The man was older than my father. I had fled the city after that. I never thought that the next time I returned… I would be nothing but a charred corpse. The shrill ring of a phone cut through the party’s music. “Hello, your daughter’s body—” My father hung up immediately. “What a terrible omen! Today is Evelyn’s birthday, and you’re talking about my daughter’s corpse? Are you cursing her?” The phone rang again. I wanted him to answer. To acknowledge me. But he silenced it once more. My death meant less than a murderer’s birthday. In his eyes, I was already gone. Irrelevant. I hovered near my mother, listening as she sighed. “I feel a chill, dear.” “You must not be wearing enough layers.” She had no idea I was standing inches away, watching her. The phone rang again. This time, she hesitated before picking up. “If you don’t come handle your daughter’s body in River Creek Village, we’ll dispose of it ourselves,” the voice on the other end warned. My mother’s response was instant, her voice detached. “Handle it yourselves. I’m busy.” Then she turned, beaming at Evelyn. I wanted to scream. To grab the phone and beg the person on the other end to bury me. I didn’t want to be cremated. I had already burned once. I didn’t want to go through that agony again. But when I reached for the phone— My hands passed right through it. I was nothing. And yet, they were smiling, laughing, moving on as if I had never existed. “Mom, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Caleb Martins!” I turned sharply. Evelyn clung to his arm, her eyes sparkling with feigned innocence. Caleb? Her boyfriend? A strange feeling twisted inside me. I didn’t know what it was— Only that something inside me cracked. I looked down at my hands. They were fading. Then re-forming. What was happening to me? I lifted my gaze, watching my parents glow with pride. The same parents who once shamed me for even talking to him. “You? A toad trying to eat swan meat?” But now that Evelyn was with him, they adored the match. “They’re perfect for each other,” my mother gushed. “A match made in heaven.” And then— Caleb looked around, frowning slightly. “But where’s Evelyn’s sister?” For the first time that night— Someone remembered me. _________ CHAPTER

Since my phone had been broken, I had lost contact with Caleb. I never expected him to still remember me. Every year on Evelyn’s birthday, I had been there—either cooking, serving tea, or making sure everything was perfect. I had been so consumed with her celebrations that I had forgotten my own birthday. The only time I had ever celebrated it was when my grandmother was alive. She had cooked me a simple bowl of longevity noodles. That was it. And now, even in death, I was here again. Watching. “Big Sis died in the fire, and it’s so tragic that she’s no longer with us. But today is Evelyn’s birthday, so let’s not dwell on sad things.” Evelyn’s mother had tears in her eyes. Evelyn, ever the doting daughter, handed her a handkerchief, her expression sorrowful. I stared at them in disbelief. I had never seen that woman cry. She was always smiling, always cheerful. So why hadn’t she shed a single tear when I actually died? Not even a pretense of mourning. “Sis always attended my birthday parties, but this year… something unexpected happened.” The mother-daughter duo exchanged sorrowful glances, taking turns dabbing at their tears. It was picture-perfect grief. A textbook display of the deep mother-daughter bond they shared. I had never experienced it. Maybe I had been too dull. Maybe I had never learned how to please my parents like Evelyn did. Maybe that’s why they never loved me. Maybe it was because I didn’t know how to cry. Because if I had, maybe they would have paid attention to me. “The fire was too big,” my father sighed heavily. “We could only save Evelyn. Every night at midnight, I wake up, haunted by the image of Big Sis begging us for help. I’m sorry, Big Sis.” I drifted toward him, my cold, dead gaze locking onto his face. He was the one who slept the most soundly in that house. The one whose lies were always so smooth. If he had truly loved his beloved daughter, maybe he would have been heartbroken to know she was a murderer. But he didn’t care. He just didn’t want people whispering about it. Caleb wore a forced smile as he listened, pretending to be saddened by my death while also comforting my so-called grieving family. I clenched my fists, but my fingers simply passed through my dress like mist. A waiter rolled out a towering three-tiered cake, and the mood instantly shifted. Evelyn was radiant, standing in the center of her admirers. Beautiful. Elegant. Graceful. She basked in their praise like it was oxygen, her lips curling in satisfaction. I had seen this scene too many times before. From childhood to adulthood, she had always craved admiration. Always loved being flattered. I had learned early on that if I wanted to avoid a beating, all I had to do was praise her in front of my parents. They would get so distracted with their perfect daughter that they’d forget about me completely. Evelyn took the first slice of cake and held out the second piece to Caleb. But before he could take it, he turned to her with an unreadable expression. “This one should go to your sister.” The room stilled for a fraction of a second. Evelyn’s hand tightened around the cake server. Her perfect smile wavered. Then, in an instant, it was gone. “I’ll give you this first slice instead,” she said sweetly, pressing the fork into his hands. She had always liked being first. And now, she had decided he belonged to her, too. As guests enjoyed their cake, her friends continued to fawn over her. “Evelyn, if it weren’t for you, I’d never have gotten to eat at such an expensive restaurant.” “Evelyn, your family is so rich. Your parents and sister spoil you so much! This birthday party is amazing! And your boyfriend is so handsome!” Evelyn smiled, her tone light. “Yes, my sister was always good to me. Whatever I wanted, she gave it to me.” But her eyes gleamed with something else. Mockery. Yes. Whatever you wanted, I gave it to you. You even took my life. The room’s atmosphere shattered when the doors swung open. A police officer strode inside, his uniform crisp, his badge gleaming. “Evelyn Brooks,” he announced, his voice steady, “you are under investigation for murder. Please come with us.” The party froze.

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A sudden fire broke out at the company. To save Jack, I found myself trapped in the flames. But Jack turned and ran towards Emma, his dream girl assistant who was crying in fear. As I lay there barely breathing, Emma looked at Jack with coy affection. “Hmph, why did you save me? I don’t want to be seen as some pushover!” Jack stroked her head, comforting her. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. How could I let your precious self be in any danger?” He quickly took Emma to the hospital, completely forgetting about my existence. After being rescued, I lost all my previous stubbornness and immediately texted my brother. “Remember that friend you mentioned? I agree to go on a blind date with him.” When Jack found out, he cried and begged me, but it was too late – we were over! After the firefighters rescued me and rushed me to the hospital, I was finally out of danger. Just as I was about to start oxygen therapy, Jack walked by with some test results. Seeing me weak in the hospital bed, he suddenly remembered. Jack looked surprised, then quickly tried to cover it up as he hurried to my side. “Lily, things were so chaotic earlier, I forgot to check on you. But I just asked the doctor and he said you’re fine.” “Look at you, why did you have to be so reckless? Don’t be so impulsive in the future.” I silently looked at the man in front of me, at a loss for words. During the fire, I had pushed him out and ended up trapped in a small space, nearly suffocating to death. The doctor said if I had been brought in any later, I wouldn’t have made it. Yet he hadn’t given me a second thought because of Emma. Now he was making up excuses to pretend he cared. But I no longer believed his false affection. A message from my brother came through. I glanced down at my phone. Thinking it was time to end things completely, to cut all ties. I looked up at Jack and said, “Can you take me home?” Jack was momentarily taken aback and was about to speak when his phone rang. “Jack! My puppy is missing, come help me find him quick!” Emma’s urgent voice reached my ears. I kept a blank expression, pretending I hadn’t heard. Jack glanced at me, then responded anxiously. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right there.” Jack hurriedly hung up the phone and looked at me to explain. “You should take a cab home later. Emma’s dog is lost, I need to help her look for it.” Watching his retreating figure, my heart felt like it had been stabbed, aching terribly. Jack and I had been together for five years. Everyone envied our love. But in the end, it was no match for his dream girl. Ever since Emma appeared, everything changed. He used to firmly oppose nepotism, but he specially arranged an assistant position for her. Emma was constantly late or left early, but it was never counted against her attendance. The company seemed to have special privileges just for her. Years ago, I had worked so hard just to become a formal employee so I could work with him. Jack’s favorite thing to say was, “We need to lead by example.” It turns out the impartial man I thought I knew was nothing more than this.

After replying to my brother’s message, I dragged my exhausted body home. But at the front door, I saw traces of blood and a trail of small paw prints. My heart instantly leapt into my throat. Ignoring my physical discomfort, I followed the blood trail and found Cola barely clinging to life. Cola was a stray cat I had rescued a few years ago. She was timid and sweet, but very intuitive. She would quietly keep me company when Jack was busy, and comfort me when I was upset. Jack was a germaphobe, but because of this little cat, he had even set up a cat bed in the house. He said as long as it made me happy, it was fine. But now, as I prepared to take her away, she was dying. I quickly picked her up to find the first aid kit, but when I entered I saw Jack and Emma. Emma was bandaging her pet dog, while Jack was comforting her. “Don’t cry, it’s okay. I’m sorry, I’ll take care of it right away.” Hearing his words, I immediately rushed over and shouted angrily. “Who are you going to ‘take care of’?” Jack was startled by my appearance. But when he saw the dying cat in my arms, he started scolding me instead. “Throw that thing out! Ungrateful stray, it’s learned to scratch people now!” Emma put on a pitiful act, looking wronged and sad. “Jack, that nasty little street cat is so mean. If my brave puppy hadn’t fought back, I could have been hurt today.” Hearing her words, I felt like my whole world was shattering. Cola’s belly was trembling, her breathing weak, blood still seeping from the wounds on her body. I had no time to argue and quickly searched for the first aid kit. But all the bandages had already been used on Emma’s dog. Jack saw my frantic state and seemed at a loss. “Lily! What are you doing? It’s lost so much blood, it clearly won’t survive!”

Hearing his words, Cola closed her eyes for the last time. I could no longer hold back my tears. I raised my hand and slapped Jack hard across the face. In his shock, I finally collapsed, passing out. In my dream, I seemed to return to when I first rescued the little cat. Jack would care for me then, loving what I loved. It turns out, it was all just a dream. When I woke up, it was already light outside. Jack was by my side taking care of me. He brought over a glass of water, looking at me somewhat helplessly. “Get up and take some medicine. You’re being too emotional – it was just a cat. If you like, we can get another one, can’t we?” Hearing his words, I took the water and threw it in his face. Jack immediately stood up, looking at me angrily. “Lily! You’ve really gone crazy! Emma was right, what a worthless cat. It deserved to die!” With that, he stormed out. I slowly got up, hugging the cat’s body, and found a place to bury her. Looking around this home, familiar yet strange, it was time to end things once and for all. In all our years together, Jack had given me many things. A dusty photo album in the drawer stirred up memories. It was a book Jack had specially made when he was pursuing me. Inside were our chat records. He said keeping these things would ensure we never forgot our initial sweetness. I picked up the album, about to throw it in the fire pit. But I discovered many new photos hidden in a compartment of the album. Behind my back, Jack had so many interactions with Emma. The places I had most wanted to visit, he had gone to with Emma. On the back of the newest photo was written a touching love message: “After traveling mountains and seas, I will make you my wife.” He had never let go of Emma in his heart, yet pretended to love me every day. How ridiculous. I threw the album and everything he had given me into the fire pit. The flames blazed high. Opening the closet, I searched for the last gift my mom gave me before she passed away, but couldn’t find it anywhere. In a panic, I was about to message Jack, when I saw Emma’s social media post. “Handmade DIY clothes. Though ugly, they keep my puppy warm and cozy.”

She had posted a photo of her pet dog, wrapped in that very nightgown. It felt like my heart was being carved out bit by bit. I accidentally fell to the ground, blood flowing from my leg. In a rage, I dragged my injured leg to the company to confront them. Jack was hugging that dog, coaxing Emma. In the trash can were the cut up sleeves of the nightgown. I rushed over and slapped Jack across the face. His eyes went wide. I coldly looked at him and asked, “Where did this nightgown come from?” Jack was stunned by the slap. He yelled loudly. “What are you going crazy about in the middle of the night?” Tears fell as I turned to Emma and demanded, “Who gave you permission to touch my clothes!” Emma looked at me innocently. “It’s just a piece of clothing. Big sis is being too stingy.” Jack gritted his teeth, looking at me with fury in his eyes. “It’s just an old nightgown you never wear. I gave it to the dog. Why are you targeting Emma?” Emma looked at me, then put on a pitiful act. “Lily, last night Jack saw my puppy had no clothes, so he gave it to him. If you’re that attached to it, I can take it off and give it back?” I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. Emma stood there stunned, her eyes welling up with tears. Jack saw this and lost it. Without thinking, he forcefully slapped me back. My face stung fiercely, but it didn’t hurt nearly as much as my heart. He clearly knew that nightgown was a birthday gift from my mom before she passed away when I turned 20. I had never worn it, just kept it on the top shelf of my closet. I never imagined it would end up on Emma’s dog. My face throbbed from his slap. He shielded Emma behind him, afraid she had been wronged. “Unreasonable! Lily, I never knew you could be so vicious!” I shakily picked up the tattered nightgown, tears streaming down. This nightgown was the only memento I had left from my mom before she died. But now, it was torn beyond recognition. Jack saw my emotional state and softened his tone slightly. “If you like it that much, I can just buy you a new one. Are you trying to embarrass me on purpose?” “Lily, you’ve really gone too far this time!” Emma looked at me, acting wronged. “I’m so sorry, Lily.” Emma quickly walked over and clung to my arm. I forcefully raised my arm, causing her to tumble down the stairs. “Waaaah…Jack, don’t blame big sis…” While I was in shock, Jack slapped me hard across the face again. My face stung fiercely. I felt like my eardrum would burst. “Lily! How can you be so petty? Picking on her over an old piece of clothing! What’s the point? Your mom died years ago!”

“Lily! Apologize to Emma right now!” Jack’s voice was like thunder in my ears. I never imagined the man I had loved for so many years could be so despicable. Back then, I had insisted on being with him against my family’s wishes. For him, I even missed the chance to see my mom one last time. Now Jack was so disrespectful to a deceased elder. I felt utterly drained of strength, but Jack kept pressing on relentlessly. He had no intention of letting me off. Emma tugged at Jack’s arm, her voice trembling. “It’s okay, Jack. Big sis didn’t mean it. Please forgive her!” He reached out and forcefully grabbed my neck, as if wanting to choke me to death. No matter how I tried to explain, Jack wouldn’t believe me. “Apologize!” I bit down hard on his arm, drawing blood. He finally let go when he felt the pain. “Mad dog!” Jack shoved me hard. The back of my head hit the wall, blood trickling out. But I endured without making a sound. I just wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. “Jack, let’s break up!” I turned to leave, but Jack let out a cold laugh. “Don’t think using this trick will make me forgive you. If you don’t apologize to Emma, don’t bother coming back!” Hearing his words, I suddenly remembered something. I took off the ring on my finger and threw it at his feet in front of him. “Jack, I wouldn’t come back even if you begged me.”

Jack stared at the ring for a few seconds, then frowned. “Lily! Do you know what you’re doing? Using this to threaten me?” So Jack still remembered – that ring was the one he had personally put on my finger when pursuing me. I had once fantasized about wearing that ring as we walked down the aisle together. He had also promised that once the ring was on, it would be for life. Now, I no longer cared for him at all. I left the company without looking back. Jack kept sending me messages defending Emma. The wound was hurting badly, so I immediately went to the hospital. Unexpectedly, I ran into Ryan there. He was my brother’s friend and a well-known surgeon. Seeing me in such a sorry state, Ryan was surprised. “Miss Lily, let me help bandage that for you.” Ryan had a faint pleasant scent. As he bandaged me up, I unknowingly dozed off. I hadn’t slept so peacefully in days. In my daze, I felt him carefully changing the dressing on my wound. Seeing I had trouble moving, Ryan offered to rent a wheelchair for me. I had just sat down in a chair in the hallway when a grating voice rang out. “How can big sis be so intimate with another man? How can you face Jack?” I turned to look. Emma had bandages on her hand and was clinging tightly to Jack’s arm, looking very close. She was really overstepping her bounds, trying to lecture me now. “If you have nothing to say, then shut your mouth!” I glared at Emma. Her face turned pale and she shrank back into Jack’s arms. Seeing my forceful attitude, Jack’s expression darkened. He seemed angry, as if I had cheated on him. His eyes were full of fury. “Lily, are you that desperate for attention? How can you be so shameless?” His voice was very loud, attracting stares from people around us. Everyone was pointing and whispering, with various harsh criticisms. I ignored him and struggled to stand up and walk away. Jack glared at me with a gloomy expression. “Lily, I’m giving you 10 minutes. Go home right now!”

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In my previous life, while watching a movie, my husband found a bag. He repeatedly reminded me to verify the owner’s identity before returning it to avoid any problems, then left. Soon, the owner came looking for me. I thought my husband’s advice was right, so I spent half an hour verifying before returning the bag. Not long after, the owner found my house and kicked me flying. He cursed, “It’s all your fault for dawdling and not wanting to return the bag. My son died from a heart attack because he couldn’t find his medicine!” When I tried to explain, I was accused by my female neighbor who was live streaming: “I was the ticket seller at the cinema that day. I saw with my own eyes that Mia kept making excuses not to return the bag because she wanted to keep it for herself!” “Although we’ve been neighbors for years, I can’t stand by and watch her selfishness cause the death of an innocent child!” I was not only sued by the owner but also attacked by everyone online. The day before the trial, I was pushed off a tall building by angry internet trolls and died a horrible death. My female neighbor became a viral internet justice warrior, making a fortune from live streaming. My husband not only didn’t seek justice for me but happily married the female neighbor. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day we found the bag at the cinema.

“Honey, this bag looks expensive. We can’t let someone claim it falsely. Make sure to check the information carefully. Only give it to someone who can describe every item inside!” Jack’s voice came through as I looked down at the all-too-familiar leather bag in my hands. My body still ached as if my limbs had been torn apart. As Jack walked away, I surveyed the familiar cinema, finally realizing what had happened. I had been reborn to the day we found the bag at the cinema. Remembering what happened in my previous life, I decided to get rid of this troublesome bag first. “Excuse me, I found a leather bag,” I said to a staff member. But the person in front of me kept their head down, pretending to be deaf while playing on their phone. They didn’t respond to me at all. I felt something was off. “So you’re the one who found my bag? Hand it over!” Ryan ran over, rudely extending his hand towards me. In my previous life, I remembered my husband’s reminder and asked him what items were in the bag. He stammered for a long time, unable to answer a single question. I still patiently asked for other information, and it took half an hour to confirm the bag was really his. Now that I think about it, it was very suspicious. I made sure nothing was missing from the bag, secretly turned on my phone to record everything, then tossed the bag to Ryan. Now, there shouldn’t be any problems. In my previous life, my husband, who was always busy with work, rarely took me to the cinema. After the movie, Jack found a men’s leather bag. He repeatedly reminded me to carefully verify the owner’s identity before returning it, then hurriedly left. I followed his advice and spent half an hour verifying the owner’s identity before returning the bag. Unexpectedly, not long after, the owner found my house and accused me of not returning the bag containing his son’s heart medication in time, resulting in his son’s death from a heart attack! When I tried to explain, I was accused by my female neighbor who was live streaming: “I was the ticket seller at that cinema. I happened to be working that day and saw with my own eyes that Mia kept making excuses not to return the bag because she wanted to keep it for herself!” “Although we’ve been neighbors for years, I can’t stand by and watch her selfishness cause the death of such a young child!” With these words, all the blame fell on me, and I was branded a murderer! I was not only sued by the owner but also attacked by everyone online. The day before the trial, I was pushed off a tall building by angry internet trolls and died a horrible death. My female neighbor became a viral internet justice warrior, making a fortune from live streaming. My husband not only didn’t seek justice for me but happily married the female neighbor. In this new life, I won’t let the tragedy of my past life repeat itself! Early the next morning, there was a violent knocking at the door. I wondered who it could be. Unexpectedly, Ryan forcibly broke open the door and came in, kicking me to the ground. “You’re the bitch who killed my son!” “When you returned the bag, you secretly took out my son’s medicine, causing him to die from a heart attack!” “I’m going to make you pay with your life!” I was stunned. Why was this life unfolding the same way as the previous one? I had clearly checked that nothing was missing, so why was he saying he couldn’t find the medicine? Ryan was putting all his strength into stomping on me, with no intention of communicating properly. Suddenly, I realized that neither in my previous life nor in this one had Ryan mentioned his son’s heart condition when he came to claim the bag! Otherwise, I would have done everything to save the child first. “I heard everything from inside. How could you be so vicious?” “Just because you couldn’t keep the bag for yourself, you had to cause someone’s death? Is the little money in that bag worth more than a human life?” Jack came out of the neighbor’s house, angrily accusing me. My heart ached. It was Jack who had told me to carefully verify the owner’s identity, and now that something had happened, he was blaming me? Hearing the commotion, Olivia also came out of her house, trying to persuade me kindly: “Mia, you really did wrong this time. A life has been lost, such a poor little child! Let’s apologize to the family and ask for leniency, okay?” Olivia was wearing sexy pajamas, with many visible kiss marks on her body. I snorted coldly: “You two aren’t even trying to hide it anymore? Ever since I got married, you’ve been constantly asking my husband to come over to fix things around your house.” “I thought you were a single mom and life wasn’t easy for you, so I put up with it even though I was uncomfortable. I didn’t expect you two to become so blatant!” “You’re so generous, why don’t you go confess? I won’t admit to something I didn’t do!” Jack, embarrassed and angry, slapped me: “How dare you spread rumors and ruin Olivia’s reputation?” Olivia hid behind Jack and said sarcastically: “Mia, the facts are clear. Even if you try to slander us to divert attention, it won’t work!” Ryan immediately caught on and grabbed my collar menacingly: “Don’t try to change the subject! Wait until the police come, and we’ll see how you can still deny it!” 3 “Officer, my poor grandson had such a miserable fate!” Ryan’s mother came with the police, wiping non-existent tears as she complained: “My poor grandson, so young, died of a heart attack because of this wicked woman. Now he’s lying in a cold coffin, about to be buried.” “He was the only heir of our Thompson family. We can’t let this vicious woman get away with it!” Ryan rolled up his sleeves, making a gesture as if to hit me: “That’s right! We don’t want anything else, we just want you to pay for this murder with your life!” The police stood between us, trying to calm Ryan and his mother. Ryan kept saying he didn’t want compensation, only my life. But from what I heard Mrs. Thompson say earlier— The child was about to be buried, yet neither of them was attending the funeral, instead coming here to deal with me first? If they really cared about the child, why weren’t they going to see him one last time? Olivia suddenly spoke up: “Officer, Mia has always been selfish and likes to take advantage of others. She must know she’s wrong now!” “Mia, I pretended not to notice when you stole my takeout from my doorstep and the sausages downstairs. I thought as longtime neighbors, we should get along and share things. But now someone has died, and you still won’t admit it?” “Mia, why are you still being stubborn? Apologize quickly! If you delay any longer, I won’t be able to help you!” I noticed Olivia discreetly pointing her phone’s rear camera at me. In my previous life, this was when she secretly started live streaming, causing my reputation to be ruined. I coldly grabbed her wrist, and the live stream comments came into view: “Oh my god! She’s been immoral all along, and now she can even harm a child? Is she even human?” “Facing death and still not apologizing? This woman is rotten to the core!” “Doesn’t anyone feel sorry for the streamer? She misjudged someone, forgave so many times, and can only advise her neighbor to turn back now. How kind!” I squeezed her wrist hard and said: “When did I ever steal your things? You’re just pretending to be nice! If you really cared about me, why are you secretly live streaming?” Jack slapped my hand away: “Olivia is righteous and kind-hearted. Of course she wants to expose a scumbag like you publicly!” “I’ve had enough of you for a long time. You’re selfish at home, never do any housework or work, and you’re always beating and scolding me. If it weren’t for my sense of responsibility as a man, I would have divorced you long ago!” I no longer had any feelings for Jack and slapped him back: “You’re willing to do housework, but only at Olivia’s place!” The police coughed twice, signaling us to be quiet. “The surveillance footage we obtained from the cinema shows that Ms. Johnson was the only person who touched the bag.” Jack eagerly said: “The evidence is clear, what else do you have to say for yourself?” “I was truly blind to have married such a vicious woman. How come you haven’t learned any kindness from Olivia after being neighbors for so many years?” I couldn’t help but laugh coldly inside. He’s supposed to be my husband, yet he’s the most eager to convict me. I didn’t rush to present my evidence for self-defense; I still needed to draw out more clues. I tentatively said: “But the surveillance footage also doesn’t show me taking anything out. How can you prove you’re not deliberately slandering me?” “Bah! You murderer, still trying to argue? You even dare to turn this on us? I’ll beat you to death!” Ryan spat at me and rolled up his sleeves, coming to hit me. Mrs. Thompson pretended to stop him but secretly kicked me twice, while still acting pitiful: “Ryan, don’t do anything stupid! We’re all law-abiding citizens. The police will surely bring this menace to justice and send her to prison!” The police struggled to separate the three of us and controlled Ryan with a headache. “Ms. Johnson has a point. The evidence is insufficient. This case needs further investigation!” But my husband wouldn’t have it and blurted out: “Evidence? What more evidence do you need?” “Officer, I’m her husband. I know her best. She’s just bitter about losing her own children and can’t stand seeing other people’s kids. Her mind is twisted, and she wants to take revenge on society!” 4 My heart skipped a beat. I remembered my three daughters from before! The first two died shortly after birth, before I could even see them. I was extremely careful with my third daughter, raising her like my own life until she was three years old. Once, when I returned from a business trip, my mother-in-law told me my daughter had been hit by a car and was already buried. She refused to tell me where the grave was. Those days I was close to a breakdown, but Jack was now tearing open my deepest wound! Remembering the past, I choked up and questioned him: “When I was pregnant with our third daughter, I asked you – your mother has always favored boys over girls. If you were worried that I might not be able to have a son after being hurt, we could divorce!” “You disagreed and sweet-talked me into keeping the baby. Do you regret it now?” Jack, embarrassed and angry, raised his hand to hit me but was stopped by the police: “Sort out your personal matters in private. Regarding this case, Mr. Wilson’s words are not sufficient evidence. Please come with us to the police station to make a statement—” Olivia suddenly interrupted the police with a serious expression: “At this point, I must speak up!” She walked in front of me and made a show of bowing: “I’m sorry, Mia. Although you told me not to say anything, I really can’t bear to see such a young child die innocently.” I frowned, realizing this two-faced woman was stepping on me again. “I was the ticket seller at the cinema that day. I saw with my own eyes Mia secretly taking out the medicine from the bag behind the cameras before reluctantly returning it.” “She originally wanted to give the bag to me, to frame me, but I couldn’t do such a thing! With my conscience, I can’t cover up for her anymore.” I understood now that the staff member who ignored me earlier was Olivia! Mrs. Thompson held Olivia’s hand, full of gratitude: “Ms. Parker is truly impartial and righteous!” “On behalf of our grandson, I thank you for coming forward to testify. Officer, can you arrest her now?” Ryan raised his eyebrows at me triumphantly, but I felt increasingly strange. I was certain that this mother and son didn’t care about the child’s life at all! They just wanted to send me to jail! I kindly reminded Olivia: “Do you know the consequences of perjury?” Jack stood in front of Olivia, extremely concerned: “Mia Johnson, you brought this on yourself! If you knew this day would come, why did you do it? Threatening Olivia now is useless. Just wait to go to jail!” Ryan broke free from the police’s control and urged: “We have both witness testimony and physical evidence now. Hurry up and arrest her! Don’t delay my business!” Olivia looked at me provocatively: “Mia, I’m really sorry, but I just want to give everyone justice and fairness.” I took out my phone and sneered: “How did you forget to ask if I have any evidence?” In front of everyone, I pressed play. The video clearly showed that all items in the bag were intact and I threw it back to Ryan.

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