I thought Ryan had given me a second chance at life when he helped clear my family’s debts after our bankruptcy. We were together for nine years, seemingly deeply in love. Until Emma returned from abroad, and I discovered their past connection. To please Emma, Ryan was willing to use me, who’s afraid of water, as a bet in a pool game. Later, when I wanted to break up, Ryan laughed arrogantly, “Without me, what could you possibly achieve?” But in the end, he was the one who broke down. I smiled and said, “Can you not be so emotional?” 0On the rooftop pool. The Emperor’s Game. As night fell, under the dark blue lights, Ryan stood in his suit, bending over to explain the rules while holding a ring toss. Behind him, his friends were opening champagne and watching the show. “Everyone stand back,” he said, pointing to the pretty girls in swimsuits in the pool. “Each person only gets one chance, and can only ring one person…” I looked away, clutching the Basque cheesecake in my hand, and asked softly, “Ryan, come eat some cake first. You’ve been waiting for a while, right?” Emma saw me and enthusiastically called out, “Lily, you’re here! Do you want to play too?” Emma was Ryan’s childhood sweetheart. She had just returned from abroad a few days ago. Ryan had been away for several days since then. We had a big fight because of this and had been giving each other the cold shoulder for days. Until tonight when he called and asked me to bring a Basque cheesecake. In my eyes, this was a sign of reconciliation. So I carefully applied my makeup and changed into a pure white dress that he liked. Carrying the Basque cheesecake he wanted. I shook my head and walked over to open the cake box, “I’ll pass. I’m not good at ring toss.” Emma looked at me as if she had heard the biggest joke ever, and said mockingly, “Who said anything about ring toss?” She turned her head towards the girls in the pool and gestured, “It’s over there.” “Ryan, what do you think? It must be fun!” Emma’s words became increasingly sarcastic, and no one dared to interrupt her. I gripped the ribbon of the cake box tighter, staring blankly at Ryan. “Ryan, you know I can’t…” I can’t swim. “Go change.” Under everyone’s gaze, Ryan turned and grabbed a swimsuit from the sofa and threw it at me. The cold fabric hit my face. Seeing that I didn’t move, he frowned and turned to look at me, speaking earnestly. “Lily, it’s just a game.” “Don’t be such a poor sport.” “Yeah, Lily, it’s just for fun,” Emma chimed in. I looked at him, my eyes unfocused. I guess he had hidden it for so long that I almost forgot he was always a playboy at heart. Emma cut a piece of cake, picked it up, tossed it around, and threw it onto someone’s shirt nearby. “How convenient.” “Come on, play! This one’s got some weight to it.” I touched the burn mark on my left index finger, watching them carelessly waste the cake I had spent the whole afternoon making. My heart was as tangled as a ball of yarn that had been clawed by a cat. The sky darkened, and the wind on the rooftop became chilly. After a long while, I trembled, suppressing the sourness in my heart, and walked over to put the swimsuit on the sofa. “You guys play. I’m leaving.” As I was heading back, Emma caught up with me and smiled, trying to comfort me, “It’s okay, Lily. If you don’t want to, forget about it…” The next second, catching me off guard, she pushed me hard into the pool. A huge splash erupted. “Ah!” The girls in the pool desperately tried to dodge. I’m afraid of water. Water rushed into my throat, making me feel suffocated. I struggled to stand steady, my skirt floating up due to buoyancy. Everything was exposed. Vaguely, I heard someone exclaim. “Holy shit…” Emma cried out from the edge, “Oh my, Lily, how could you be so careless?” I kept thrashing in the water, trying to find my balance. On the platform, Emma urged Ryan to distribute the rings. “Hurry up, Ryan!” “I want to throw!” Ryan handed out the rings. In an instant, all the rings flew into the water. And I was casually ringed by Lucas. I was soaked from head to toe, not even having the chance to wipe the water from my face or the wet hair sticking to it. The ring landed around my neck. “Ryan, I…” Lucas nervously rubbed his hands, waiting for Ryan’s “rescue.” Lucas’s family business wasn’t big, and he always followed Ryan’s lead. In recent years, Ryan’s family had been flourishing, riding the wave of the entertainment industry. Living a life dependent on others’ favor, Lucas naturally didn’t dare to make any mistakes. Even though everyone knew Ryan had no real feelings for me. He had even just used me as a bargaining chip, a commodity. But I was still his nominal girlfriend after all. Ryan extinguished the cigarette in his hand and passed the ring to Emma. He squatted down and looked at me. His expression was dark. After a long while. “Take her away then.” 0

Those careless words silenced everyone around. With just three short words, I understood their game. I struggled to shore, not caring if my dress was see-through. I threw on a bathrobe and headed for the exit. “What’s she playing at? If it weren’t for Ryan, she’d probably be in some old baldie’s arms right now.” “It’s all because Ryan values loyalty.” Behind me, all sorts of hurtful comments kept coming. Constantly chipping away at the hard shell I had rebuilt around myself. Yes, if it weren’t for Ryan. I should be drowning in millions of debt now, a rat that everyone would chase down the street. That pampered Miss Lily who grew up as the center of attention was long gone. It was Ryan who saved me. So, in their eyes, I should be eternally grateful to him. What’s a little pool game compared to that? Ryan seemed to have had enough and shouted harshly, “Shut up!” I composed myself, took a deep breath, turned around with a smile, and looked at Lucas, inviting him, “Shall we go?” Lucas froze in place, dumbfounded. The place instantly fell silent, you could hear a pin drop. Ryan’s face turned ashen as he rushed over, wrapping the bathrobe tightly around me, grinding his teeth, “You wouldn’t dare!” Ryan forcibly took me home. I developed a high fever on the way. When we got out of the car, Ryan climbed into the passenger seat to carry me. I pushed him away in my hazy state, “Don’t touch me!” He slapped my waist, his face grim, “Lily, stop making a fuss!” “Can’t you take care of yourself?” “Are you trying to anger me to death?” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh sarcastically, “Isn’t this all thanks to you?” Wasn’t it him who knew I was afraid of water yet still made me get in? Ryan’s face turned ashen, and he wordlessly hoisted me up. In the night filled with cicada sounds and wind, an “I’m sorry” blew past my ear. Ryan fed me medicine. He tucked in the blanket corners and went to the kitchen to make porridge for me. When he brought it to me, the porridge was still steaming hot. “Have some porridge, it’ll warm your stomach.” I closed my eyes and kept my lips tightly shut, not making a sound. He let out a long sigh, scooped up a spoonful of porridge and blew on it. “Honey, be good, okay?” “When you’re better, I’ll take you to the Maldives. Didn’t you want to go for a long time?” Ryan coaxed me, this was his usual style. Going to the Maldives was a promise we made before Emma came back. After Emma returned, Ryan’s attention wandered, we had a big fight, and the trip was forgotten. As we were at an impasse, Emma’s call came through. “Ryan, take me home!” “Otherwise my dad will scold me again. He feels at ease when you take me.” Under the dim table lamp, Ryan remained silent for a long time, put down the bowl, and glanced at me. “Ask Lucas to take you. I’m a bit busy.” Ryan rarely refused Emma. “I don’t want that. I want you to take me!” I stared at the dark ceiling, my head throbbing and my nose sour, and said in a low voice, “Go then.” “Don’t keep her waiting too long.” 0

The next day was Grandpa Harrison’s birthday banquet. Ryan and I attended. All the notable people in the city were there. Emma was no exception. Ryan went to a private room with his friends to discuss business. I was bored and went to the dessert table. “Harrison really doesn’t know better, inviting all sorts of riffraff. Isn’t he afraid of bad luck?” “Well, when your parents die leaving a mountain of debt, it’s all settled. If it were me, I’d have followed them long ago. Where would I have the courage to hook up with Ryan?” Behind me, several familiar voices rang out. “Wow, of course she has to hold on tight. After all, Ryan is probably the best catch among all the eligible options.” Emma, imagining something, added, “But, Ryan said she’s really boring in bed.” “Well, she used to be a good little rich girl, it’s not surprising she can’t satisfy someone as free-spirited as Ryan.” My face flushed red, my hand holding the macaron froze, trembling involuntarily. Listening to them casually sketching out my past, slandering me at will. “Enough!” I turned around and slapped Emma with all my might. The wine glass in her hand slipped and shattered on the floor, splattering wine on her skirt. “Clean your mouth before you speak.” The hall fell eerily silent. I smoothed my skirt and looked up, saying, “If you’re so capable, then make him dump me and be with you.” “Stop stirring up trouble here.” Emma didn’t expect me to fight back. Covering her face, she screamed hysterically, “Lily, what’s wrong with you?” “Do you think you’re still that high and mighty young miss?” “Wake up!” Ryan came at the sound, gently pulling Emma’s hand away, “Let me see. Does it hurt?” I hadn’t held back earlier, and Emma’s right cheek was already red and swollen. Ryan turned around and looked at me coldly, “Lily, apologize.” “Don’t go too far.” He wasn’t furious or agitated, but I knew he was extremely displeased now. “Ryan, it hurts,” Emma started her act again, sobbing, “I don’t know what I did wrong for her to hit me like this.” “It’s okay, don’t be afraid. I’ll take you to the hospital.” Ryan’s voice was gentle. I was tired of watching this drama of mutual affection, and tired of arguing with a habitual liar. “I wish you two a hundred years of happiness and an early child.” “My tongue is sharp, so I’ll spare you the nasty words.” I turned around and went home amidst the whispers and scrutiny of the guests. 0

I used to be one of them. Ryan and I were sworn enemies. I was well-behaved, he was wild, neither of us could stand the other. Emma was Ryan’s little fangirl, following him around calling “brother, brother” every day. When I was seventeen, my parents committed suicide after a failed investment, and I fell to rock bottom overnight. All my friends in the circle avoided me. Only Ryan, despite his parents’ opposition, used all his money and even borrowed money to fill my bottomless pit. Ryan, who always loved freedom and excitement, sold his Lykan and Porsche. He bought the mansion that my family was auctioning off. He said he couldn’t let me be without a home. Even though we later lived elsewhere, that house was never sold. A nouveau riche tried to humiliate me with money, boasting “If you’re with me, I’ll give you endless money to spend.” Later, he was also beaten up by Ryan. And now, it was also Ryan who put Emma first, trampling on my dignity without hesitation. Back then, I thought Ryan was my salvation. Little did I know, he always had Emma in his heart. But he helped me out of friendship, and developed feelings that shouldn’t have existed. I stayed at home for five days. When I finally calmed down and went out again. The streets were full of pink billboards. But it wasn’t some celebrity endorsement, it was Emma and Ryan’s wedding photos. The wedding ceremony venue they chose was my home. That Chinese-style mansion that had been empty for a long time. I walked in incredulously. The stone lions at the gate were wearing ill-fitting pink collars. The well-maintained lawn inside was full of holes dug to plant Juliet roses, with soil everywhere. On the central axis, a heavy gold nanmu wood frame was set up, with their huge wedding photos hanging on both sides. Even the rooms were in a mess. Broken vases, family photos carelessly thrown on the floor, walls drilled haphazardly for decorations… The home in my memory was turned upside down. A sharp pain came from my chest, like a knife stabbing in and out repeatedly. “Where’s Ryan?” I held back the tears in my eyes. Now I just wanted to find him and ask what was going on. Emma casually kicked the family photo by her feet, shattering the frame. In the photo, my parents smiled kindly, holding me. I hurriedly crouched down, brushing off the dust on the photo. Tears fell uncontrollably onto it, blurring the image. “What do you want with him? Still clinging on? Wake up, Lily.” “Look at yourself, what do you have left? Still dreaming of marrying him?” She hissed, pointing at the decorations in the yard, then changed her tone, “Lily, don’t get cocky. What you care about, what you cherish, hasn’t it all become mine now?” “I just mentioned that I liked him, and both families couldn’t wait to start preparing for the wedding.” “I just said this mansion looked nice, and he used it to arrange the wedding.” “And you?” “You’re just his dispensable entertainment, understand?” Ryan walked in carrying a wedding dress, frowned when he saw me, “Lily, what are you up to now?” “Come to see your blessing come true with your own eyes?” Looking at his face, my eyes gradually reddened, my throat choked up, and I pointed at his nose and questioned loudly, “Why did you turn my home into this?” “You can do whatever you want, but why did it have to be this mansion?” He knew this was my last refuge. Ryan’s expression was cold as he knocked my hand away, “Lily, can you not be so emotional?” “The deed has my name ‘Ryan’ on it, not your ‘Lily’. I’ll transfer the place you’re living in now to you.” “I don’t want it! I just want my home!” Ryan smiled wickedly and said, “If you want this house, fine.” “Lily, apologize to Emma.” “I might consider giving it to you.” This time, he finally became that person who humiliated me with money. I laughed lightly, spat at him, and said, “Ryan, you really disgust me.” At seventeen, I saw him as my salvation and support. At twenty-six today, he had become unrecognizable.

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The day after I died, my sister’s wedding went on as planned. She wore a wedding dress and married my boyfriend. My mom called several times but no one answered. She angrily cursed me as an ungrateful brat. My brother sent a message scolding me: “Are you really that petty, holding onto something from two years ago?” My usually quiet dad said coldly: “Tell her if she doesn’t come home today, we’ll act like we never had this daughter.” They didn’t really want me to come home. They just didn’t want my sister’s wedding to be imperfect without my blessings. But I was already dead. From a very young age, I knew I wasn’t liked in this family. When Mom went on a business trip, she brought back two new toys and gave them to Ryan and Emma. As she was about to leave, I stopped her and gently reminded her: “Mom, what about me?” “You want one too?” Mom frowned impatiently, “They’re expensive. I didn’t bring enough money. I didn’t count you.” I was only five years old then, but I already had a vague sense of other people’s emotions. Especially when that person was my own mother. And now. At my sister’s wedding venue, after exchanging pleasantries with some relatives, Mom walked to a corner, turned her back, and kept dialing my number over and over again. No one ever answered. On the third try, the call was directly rejected. She looked like someone had grabbed her throat, her eyes widening in disbelief: “Lily, I’m your mother!” Ryan came over and patted her back reassuringly: “Mom, don’t be angry. Lily’s not worth it. You know what she’s like.” Mom’s irritation and frustration finally found an outlet with her beloved youngest son. “Of all three of you kids, I put the most effort into Lily. When she was born, it was supposed to be boy-girl twins. Even the doctor said she stole her brother’s nutrients to survive…” This sentence, from childhood to adulthood, I had heard her repeat countless times. In the end, it would usually result in me being punished and locked in my room, watching them – a family of four – go out to relax. “Mom, don’t be upset. Don’t worry, I’ll drag her back here today even if I have to tie her up,” Ryan said, comforting Mom. He then turned and sent me several messages on SnapChat. “Lily, you’d better show up within an hour.” “How can you be so selfish? You know Mom has a weak heart, yet you still want to upset her.” “Is a man really worth holding a grudge over until today? Besides, isn’t Emma still your sister?” After sending this message, his fingers paused over the keyboard. A few seconds later, he put away his phone and turned to help greet the guests. Yeah, even he didn’t believe it himself. Emma was his good sister, Mom and Dad’s good daughter. How could she be my sister?

I floated upstairs and saw Emma sitting in the makeup room. The makeup artist was touching up her slightly smudged eye makeup. She clutched Dad’s hand, her eyes misty with tears: “Dad, is Lily really not coming? She’s my sister. On my most important day, I really hoped to have her blessing.” Dad, who had always been stern and cold towards me, patted her shoulder and said softly: “She will. I’ve asked Ryan to contact her. We won’t let you have any regrets.” He found Ryan in the hallway and said coldly: “Tell Lily if she doesn’t come today, we’ll act like we never had this daughter.” “Dad, she’s not even replying to my messages. She won’t even answer Mom’s calls,” Ryan said through gritted teeth. “I knew it. Someone like her is born heartless. She agreed to come at first just to give us hope, wanting to ruin Emma’s most important day.” Today was Emma’s most important day. She was about to walk down the aisle in her wedding dress to marry James, the man she had been dating for two years. Two years ago, when I brought James home, Emma fell in love with him at first sight. I still remember how her eyes lit up when she saw James. That night, she made an excuse to ask me out for a walk. She bought me a bubble tea and swayed her arm linked with mine: “Lily, I really like guys like James. You’re so amazing, you can definitely find someone even better. How about letting James be with me?” I refused. But not long after I returned to school, James broke up with me. I kept asking for a reason, and he probably got annoyed with me. He shook off my hand roughly. I fell to the ground, my palms scraped raw by the rough surface, stinging with pain. But he was indifferent, only looking at me with disgust. “Still trying to hide it from me? Even your family couldn’t stand it anymore and told me.” On a morning when Mom suddenly called me out to go grocery shopping with her. My brother, Ryan, pulled James aside and told him some “truths” about me. Bad character, stealing money from home, bullying classmates. Promiscuous, had an abortion in college. In the end, righteous Ryan sighed: “Lily is my sister, and I really want to side with her, but… I can’t just watch you fall into a fire pit.” My scraped palm was still stinging. I sat on the ground, looking up at James, listening to him recount what he had been told. As the last word fell, I suddenly laughed. He frowned: “Do you still want to explain something?” I shook my head and said with a smile: “They’re right about everything.” James didn’t have very deep feelings for me to begin with, let alone when the ones telling him how bad I was were my own family. My dearest, most beloved family. When I was alive, none of them cared about me. Of course, no one knew about my death either.

As we were talking, James arrived. Wearing a suit, he had styled his hair, making him look even more handsome. He kissed Emma’s cheek and asked softly: “Lily still hasn’t arrived?” Emma nodded, tears in her eyes. “Forget about her,” James’ face darkened. “Someone like that would only dirty our wedding if she came. Emma, you’re the bride today. Don’t cry over someone who doesn’t deserve it.” Emma took the opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck, looking up with a sad expression: “No matter what, Lily is still my sister.” Her expression seemed genuinely sincere. Just like three years ago, as an outstanding graduate, the school had proposed that my parents attend the graduation ceremony to say a few words on stage, which would also be convenient for the school’s promotional photos. I carefully chose my words and called home, timidly making the request. Mom agreed. But on the morning of the ceremony, she called to tell me she and Dad couldn’t make it. “Emma is sick. We’re not comfortable leaving her alone at home.” In the video call, Emma, with a slightly pale face, looked at me apologetically: “I’m sorry, Lily. I’m not feeling well… You’ve always been so independent. I’m sure you can handle things well even if Mom and Dad don’t go.” “Lily, congratulations on your graduation.” Congratulations on my graduation. How could I be happy? On the day of my graduation ceremony, I apologized to the teachers, to the college, to the staff in the activities department. As I passed by a camera, I happened to overhear someone complaining: “We’ve rehearsed the whole process, and now we have to redo everything. What a waste. And she’s supposed to be an outstanding graduate.” At the end of the ceremony, I took out my phone and saw that Emma had posted on Instagram. “It’s just a small cold, but Mom and Dad are taking such good care of me. Little happiness in life~” The photo showed the three of them together. The background was Emma’s bedroom. They hadn’t even gone to the hospital. What a severe illness indeed.

Soft piano music played in the banquet hall. Emma, wearing a long mermaid wedding dress, walked towards James holding a large bouquet of white roses. After Mom and Dad gave their speeches, it was Ryan’s turn. Standing on the stage, he jokingly waved his fist at James: “I only have one sister, and she’s the treasure of our whole family. If you dare to mistreat her, the whole family won’t let you off.” James gazed at Emma’s face, his tone deeply affectionate: “I wouldn’t dare.” Applause erupted from below. The stage was a picture of warmth. My soul stood on the flower arrangement at the edge of the stage, watching them woodenly. I thought I would feel heartbroken. But perhaps I had already experienced all the pain of a lifetime before I died. I only coldly observed all this, my heart empty and hollow, as if a wind was blowing through it. At one table, people were whispering: “Hey, I remember the Williams family has three children. Why did Ryan say he only has one sister?” “It’s because of their second daughter, Lily. Tsk, what’s the use of good grades? The most important thing in life is character…” Thanks to my parents. My bad reputation had spread far and wide among relatives on both sides. Actually, when I was young, there was an aunt who was quite nice to me. When she came to visit during New Year, she gave me a plush dolphin toy. Only I got one, neither Ryan nor Emma did. Ryan was used to getting his way. He asked me to let him play with it. When I refused, he directly cut the dolphin to pieces with scissors. Not long after, the aunt returned to pick up a scarf she had forgotten. She happened to see the pieces scattered on the floor. To protect the reputation of her beloved youngest son, Mom told the aunt: “Lily didn’t like the toy. She insisted on cutting it up with scissors, saying she didn’t want to see it.” The aunt’s expression changed immediately. After that, whenever she came to visit, she would skip me even when giving out red envelopes. After this incident, Mom probably felt a bit guilty and was nice to me for a while. But that soon faded away. In our family, Mom and Dad’s favoritism had a clear division of labor. The year Emma was born, Dad’s business had a big breakthrough. He believed Emma brought good luck, so he doted on her the most. As for Mom, she loved Ryan the most because he was the son she had longed for after having three children. As for me. I was born chubby and healthy, but my twin brother didn’t even survive 24 hours. They all thought I was unlucky. When I was young, I could never understand. Why was it that whatever Ryan and Emma wanted to eat, it would appear on the dining table the next day? But even though I was allergic to seafood, just because Emma said she wanted to eat crab on my birthday, Dad set the venue at a seafood restaurant. When I was twelve, there was an earthquake in the neighboring county. The whole family was taking an afternoon nap at home. Mom and Dad, without a second thought, each grabbed Ryan and Emma. I stumbled down the stairs, watching the shaking ceiling, crying my heart out. But no one came to save me. It was like this when I was twelve. It was the same when that driver grabbed me by the throat and dragged me into a desolate mountain forest.

In the afternoon, the wedding came to a perfect end. After seeing off the guests, Dad immediately darkened his face and told Mom to keep calling me. Emma’s eyes were red, the few rhinestones at the corner of her eyes reflecting tears. She held Dad’s hand, her tone understanding: “Let it go, Dad.” “Lily is still a child, maybe she’s just throwing a tantrum. I’m her sister after all, I shouldn’t hold it against her.” Sure enough, a trace of pity flashed in Dad’s eyes. Ryan said dissatisfied: “Sis, you’re thinking too highly of her. You treat her like a sister, but has she ever treated you like one?” Emma bit her lip, looking like she was about to cry. I stood beside them, looking at her, feeling nothing but irony. Emma was always like this. The family’s favoritism towards her was already so obvious it couldn’t be more clear, but she still felt it wasn’t enough. I knew it was because she hated me. Actually, at the very beginning, although Mom didn’t like me, she wasn’t that bad to me. On my birthday, she would bring back a cake to celebrate with me. But just as she lit the candles and I was about to make a wish, Emma suddenly cried. She wiped away her tears and smiled bravely: “It’s nothing, I just suddenly remembered that there should have been two people celebrating their birthday today.” With one sentence, Mom’s expression changed. She looked at me with a coldness I was very familiar with. She roughly pulled out the candles: “Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating! Lily, do you know your brother died because of you? Do you have any heart?” I was scared, staring at her blankly. Mom got even angrier and directly swept the cake into the trash. After she went into the bedroom, I looked at Emma with tears in my eyes. With no one else around, she finally revealed her true emotions to me. Ten-year-old Emma, still wearing a gentle smile, spoke words as sharp as a poisoned knife. “Lily, why were you born?” She brushed her warm fingertips across my face, then suddenly pinched hard, “Originally, Mom and Dad only loved me. Now you’ve taken away their love. You should have died with your brother.” I never understood why she hated me so much. Yet after Ryan was born, she was so good to him. The year I took the college entrance exam, Ryan was about to start his last year of middle school. It was a crucial year, but Dad’s business was too busy for him to get away, and Mom was also at a critical point for a promotion. Mom demanded that I apply to a local university so I could conveniently take care of Ryan on weekdays. I didn’t agree. She looked at me with cold eyes: “Lily, don’t you know the situation at home? How can you be so inconsiderate?” After I left for college. Twenty-two-year-old Emma suddenly wanted to learn piano. Mom had someone throw away my bed and wardrobe, packing my clothes into the storage room. My bedroom became Emma’s piano room. She posted a video on Instagram of her sitting at the expensive new piano. Sunlight poured in. And she smiled serenely. I called home. Mom was still angry that I didn’t listen to her, her voice very cold: “Anyway, you’ve grown wings now and won’t listen to anything I say. You don’t plan to come back to this home, so what’s the use of keeping your room?” Emma took the phone: “Lily, don’t make Mom angry, okay? When you come home, you can sleep in my room. The family won’t leave you without a place to stay.” Even though she tried her best to hide it, there was still a hint of glee in her voice. I had only been gone for a month, and she was already eager to drive me out of this home. And Mom chose to acquiesce and indulge her.

In the afternoon, Emma went back to her new home with James. As for me, I followed behind Mom, Dad, and Ryan. Ryan was driving, with Mom and Dad in the back seat. The empty front passenger seat had always been reserved for Emma. I sat there, listening to them discussing my wrongdoings one after another. “She hates me so much, hates this family so much that she won’t even come back for her sister’s wedding.” Mom leaned tiredly on Dad’s shoulder, “I feel like I’ve really failed in my parenting.” Dad patted her comfortingly: “An ungrateful brat not worth raising, don’t waste your energy on her.” I turned my head, carefully observing their expressions. Trying to find even a trace of concern. But there was none. My sudden disappearance only made them feel annoyed and hateful. Not one person, for even a second, suspected. That maybe, something had happened to me. Even though I was just a soul, I could still cry. I cried and laughed at the same time, asking: “Mom, did you really, really ever love me?” “If you hate me so much, why did you give birth to me?” I had asked the same question a long time ago. It was when I was in my last year of middle school, a very stressful year for studying. Dad was out of town negotiating business, Ryan was still young, and Emma had just started her freshman year of college. Mom got kidney stones, and I was the one running between school and hospital every day to take care of her, losing a lot of weight. Mom seemed to be touched. That month, she gave me more pocket money than Ryan. When we met neighbors, she praised me several times, saying I was sensible and filial. When I was bullied by classmates, she even went to school to stand up for me. It seemed like everything was developing in a good direction. Until that afternoon, as we were crossing the street together, she somehow linked her arm with mine. This kind of mother-daughter intimacy was so foreign to me. I almost instinctively shook off her hand, causing her to stumble back two steps. It was just at dusk. The green light turned red. A car whooshed past us. Mom’s eyes slowly changed as she looked at me. It was a coldness I was very familiar with. She said flatly, with a straight face: “Sure enough, an ungrateful brat that can’t be raised well.” That night, I was almost consumed by regret and bewildered helplessness. I used a compass to poke several holes in my arm. Even the pain couldn’t alleviate the despair and anxiety rampaging in my heart. Finally, I walked into Mom’s room and asked her: “Mom, if you don’t love me, why did you give birth to me?” Mom closed her eyes and said nothing. But I knew she wasn’t asleep. She wouldn’t deign to answer me when I was alive. Now that I’m dead, she can’t hear me, let alone respond.

After dinner, Ryan called my phone again. This time, surprisingly, it was answered. His pent-up anger finally found an outlet: “Lily!! Are you an animal? You don’t come home for your sister’s wedding, making Mom and Dad sad. Do you think you’re so great? Is it fun to play us like this?” A moment of silence. A hoarse male voice came from the other end of the phone. “I’m her boyfriend.” “She says your whole family is quite disgusting, and she won’t come back to see you.” “Don’t call again.” The call ended. Ryan stared in disbelief, and after a moment, he suddenly kicked over a chair in a rage and cursed. But I was already stiff all over, having lost all my strength. The moment that voice sounded, I was forcibly dragged back into that memory. Before I died, I missed the last high-speed train due to overtime work. I had to take a taxi to the bus station. The driver was a young man with a pale face and a somewhat gloomy look. He seemed a bit familiar, but my brain was so exhausted that I just hugged my things and rested against the car window. At first, everything was normal. He chatted with me casually like all drivers do. At this time, Emma suddenly called. As the bride-to-be, even on the eve of her wedding, she didn’t forget to stimulate me one last time. “Lily, I’m marrying James tomorrow. I’m really a bit too excited to sleep.” She said softly, “Thank you for bringing him home.” I pressed my lips together, my voice filled with suppressed anger: “Emma, how many more times do you want to play these disgusting games, use these dirty tactics before you get tired of it?” She seemed completely oblivious. Her tone became even more light and sweet. “So it’s settled then, you must come to the wedding tomorrow, okay?” I hung up the phone, unable to help my rapid breathing, my chest heaving violently. The driver suddenly spoke: “Had a fight with your family?” I frowned and looked up, only to realize that the car had somehow been driven to a desolate wild area. My heart suddenly started racing. I forced myself to calm down and asked him: “How much do you want?” But he didn’t want money. Consecutive overtime had left me extremely tired, my limbs weak. I couldn’t escape the strength of a young man. He covered my mouth and dragged me into a small grove. The night wind was still, the moonlight falling gently. He tightly gripped my throat with one hand while slapping me hard with the other. He said, you bitch, don’t you regret leaving me now? Who do you and that rich guy think you are to look down on me? Beg for mercy, bark like a dog, and I’ll let you go. But I didn’t even know him. Who are you? Who are you? His hand suddenly loosened from my throat. He began to gently caress my face. He said, I’m your man. I always felt that he wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. But I just couldn’t remember where I had seen him before. I struggled with all my might and actually managed to reach my phone. The speed dial would call the most recent number. Ring, ring. After two rings. Emma hung up without hesitation. The man discovered what was happening. He laughed cruelly, put the phone in his pocket, then broke every finger on my right hand. In his pocket, there was also a switchblade. While I still had consciousness and sensation, I felt the blade cut into my left wrist, being slowly pulled and sawed off. The knife tip sliced open my cheek, tearing off a pitted and uneven piece of skin. He said: “Bitch, let’s see how you use this face to seduce others now.”

I don’t remember if I died from the pain or from blood loss. I only remember the wind of the wilderness that night. Howling as it blew across my exposed flesh and bones. Maybe people recall some beautiful things before they die. Vaguely, I thought of the time before I was five. To give birth to Ryan, Mom sent me to the countryside. Only my aging grandmother lived there originally. She was the kindest person to me in this world. She gave me all the warmth in my life. The tenderest buds from the tree, she would pick them, blanch them in water, and stir-fry them with eggs for me to eat. Mom called, saying Emma wanted to eat the tree buds, but they couldn’t be found in the market. Grandma said, “Oh my, there’s been too little rain this year, the buds haven’t grown out yet.” After hanging up the phone, the mischievous old lady winked at me and smiled. I always remember the taste that lingered on my tongue that night. But when I was five, Grandma passed away from illness. Ryan was only a year and a half old, so Mom was forced to bring me back home. She resented me for this. She whispered to Dad: “Is there something wrong with this child? How could she even cause her own grandmother’s death?” I looked at her woodenly. Actually, a five-year-old child doesn’t really understand life and death. I only knew that there was no one left in the world who would resolutely choose me among several people. From then on, I was the child who would never be favored. The moment my breathing stopped, my soul was pulled out of my body by the wind. I saw that man take out an axe from the trunk of the car and chop off the bones connecting my limbs. I saw the train speeding through thousands of miles under the starry sky, passing through the silent fields. I saw in one of the high-rise buildings, a little girl suddenly waking up from a nightmare, only crying out once before being hugged by her parents who rushed into the room, patting her back to comfort her. At the very end. I saw Emma yawning as she woke up, getting ready under Mom’s urging, changing into her going-out outfit. I came back. After death, I still returned to this home. I attended Emma’s wedding.

That man raped me, killed me, dismembered me, and took my phone. Ryan didn’t realize this. He just told Dad coldly: “Lily won’t even answer my call. She just had her boyfriend tell me that she finds our whole family disgusting.” Dad was furious. He slammed the table and cursed me as a beast. It seems that businessmen tend to be quite superstitious. He liked Emma because after she was born, his business developed rapidly, and his assets doubled in just two years. As for me, after I was born, his factory faced a crisis and nearly went bankrupt. So it’s understandable that he disliked me and thought I brought bad luck. Dad controlled the family’s finances. So Emma could attend a joint Sino-foreign university costing over $20,000 a year. Ryan could take tutoring classes at $100 an hour. While I, studying at a university in a first-tier city, had a monthly living allowance of just $200. For the next few days, I stayed in this house. Coldly watching them live their normal lives. Watching Mom call Emma, asking what she wanted to eat when she visited her parents after the wedding. Emma whined that she wanted seafood. When Mom went to the early market to buy it, she happened to run into our childhood neighbor, who was out shopping with her daughter, Meng Meng. Meng Meng and I were classmates from childhood to adulthood, and later we even worked at the same company. We weren’t very close friends, but at least we were quite familiar with each other. Mom enviously said: “Raising a daughter like Meng Meng is really heartwarming. She comes back and helps you buy and carry groceries. Unlike our inconsiderate Lily, who won’t even come home for her sister’s wedding, and even finds a boyfriend to scold us.” “Huh?” Meng Meng was a bit surprised, “Auntie, Lily doesn’t have a boyfriend.” Mom was stunned for a moment, looking at her. “She’s in the marketing department of the neighboring company, always so busy. Where would she find time for a boyfriend?” She said, “And Lily cares about you a lot. Last month when she got her bonus, we went shopping, and she bought a gold bracelet, saying she’d give it to you when she came home for her sister’s wedding.” A bewildered expression flashed across Mom’s face for just a moment, quickly fading back into the cold mockery I was familiar with. She said: “Lily just acts nice in front of others. You don’t know how she treats us at home.” Seeing this, Meng Meng and her mother couldn’t say anything more and politely said goodbye. Mom bought a lot of seafood that Emma loved and carried two big bags of groceries home. Standing at the door, she took out her keys to open it. Her phone rang. It was my number. “Is this Mrs. Lily’ mom? We’ve arrested a suspect in a series of brutal serial killings. We found this phone on him, and judging by the contacts, you should be the phone owner’s mother.” “The suspect has already confessed to the burial location. Could you and your family come to our City?”

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I Have Cancer, But My Boyfriend Doesn’t Know He once gave up his dream university for me. He also rushed to another woman at a car accident scene, leaving me injured behind. I died on the day he was setting off fireworks abroad with his female secretary. On the day I found out there was a tumor in my brain, Lucas proposed to me. My mind was in chaos. For a moment, I suspected he knew everything. After hesitating for less than thirty seconds, he stood up from the ground, put the ring box back in his pocket, and glanced at me with an indifferent look. “It’s my parents’ request. If you don’t agree, forget it.” I felt a sense of relief. As expected. He was always fond of joking with me. I guess this time he also thought I was using his parents to pressure him into marriage. So he came up with this proposal to humiliate me. I silently put down my outstretched hand and smiled at him, “What if I agree? Will you marry me?” He looked at me without saying a word. The answer couldn’t be clearer. To be honest, it was quite hurtful. “If you don’t marry me now, you might not have the chance in the future,” I said huffily, suppressing the heat in my eyes. Lucas was unfazed. He took off his jacket and placed it on the back of the sofa, with a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth, “Are you sure that day will come?” He was always prophetic. Indeed, I wouldn’t live to see that day.

At night, I sat on the bed lost in thought. Lucas closed his laptop, closed his eyes to relieve his sore eyes for a moment, then got up and lifted the covers to get into bed. He habitually turned his back to me, leaving enough space between us to fit a pillow. Sleeping posture never lies. We’ve been together for eight years, yet he still can’t get used to sleeping in the same bed with me. I’ve always been thick-skinned in front of him. Even if he’s unwilling, I would sneak over when he’s asleep, press tightly against his back, and hug his waist. Even our first time was something I begged for shamelessly. At that time, I was twenty years old. I vaguely remember it was raining heavily that day. The dense raindrops pattered against the window panes, and the air was cold and damp. I took off my little jacket and slowly walked towards him… Hugged him. And he stood still without moving. The waist under a man’s white shirt was so thin and narrow. Unlike me, his body temperature was very high. I was trembling all over with shame, thinking that if he rejected me, I might just want to die. I looked up and smiled at him with all my might, but tears blurred my vision. At that time, I was so afraid of hearing words like “shameless,” “cheap,” or “disgusting” from his mouth. After all, I was still a young girl, with mindless courage but no ability to bear the consequences. He looked at me coldly. As if he would push me away the next moment. I fumbled with his buttons with shaking hands, my legs trembling so much I could barely stand. “What are you doing?” he asked. I stammered, unable to speak. He lowered his head and kissed me, with a bitter taste mixed with tears, “You don’t even know how to seduce someone, silly.” I smelled a faint scent of alcohol. His girlfriend had moved on to someone else, and he was in a bad mood. I took advantage of the situation, and from then on, he had a piece of flypaper he couldn’t shake off. In the pitch darkness, I stared at the vague outline of the chandelier on the ceiling. Perhaps when death is approaching, one’s mindset becomes more peaceful. The person I once wasted my youth chasing after, the feelings I once tore my heart out for, now seem less important than whether I can see tomorrow’s sunrise.

When I woke up the next morning, the early sunlight fell on my face, causing me to feel a bit confused. The doctor said the tumor might be pressing on my optic nerve, so it takes me a while to focus when I look at things now. Lucas was leaning against the headboard reading a financial magazine. In the past, when we lazed in bed together on weekends, I would cling to him like a koala, with at least one of my limbs on his body. This was an unconscious reaction of my body. Lucas looked down, “Awake?” I smiled at him, “Good morning.” He glanced at my shoulder, with an indecipherable look, “You slept quite obediently last night.” I still smiled. He suddenly frowned slightly, “What nonsense were you talking about in your dream just now?” I touched my face, it was wet. Did I cry? Worried that he would delve deeper, I sat up halfway and looked at him seriously, “I dreamed that I went to Norway and saw snow and the Northern Lights.” “I really want to go.” “Can we?” I looked at him pleadingly, with a hint of begging. Lucas ignored me, “No time.” I opened my mouth, then slowly smiled, “Alright then.” Perhaps my reaction was too calm, he turned his head and looked at me for a while, then said indifferently, “How about next March? I can’t make time this year.” I nodded. We should still have time.

Actually, I dreamed of twelve-year-old Lucas. He wasn’t like this before. He used to be a very good brother. I was born picky with food, disliking this and that, but afraid of being scolded by adults. He could eat what I left without any disgust. Unlike now, when he won’t touch a water glass I’ve drunk from. When I was bullied at school, had my hair pulled, and my homework scribbled on, he was always the first to stand up for me, beating up those annoying boys, explaining to the teachers for me, and giving me his new notebooks. I was very introverted as a child, and from a single-parent family. Without his protection, I probably would have been severely bullied. Later, when my mom died, I cried until I nearly fainted. I said, “No one wants me anymore.” He said, “That’s not true.” I repeated, and he repeated. I sat on the ground crying all night, and he comforted me all night despite his toothache. The next day, his whole cheek was swollen. After that, I told him I liked him and threw myself at him half-naked. His face was cold. He said I was being cheap.

On Monday at work, Lucas left his spare phone at home, so I went to his company to deliver it to him. On the way, someone called. I looked at the contact name: Z Z. How intimate. All these years, he has only ever called me by my full name. Vivian, Vivian. When my mom named me, she probably hoped I would live a peaceful and worry-free life. Regrettably, I got brain cancer before turning 30, failing to live up to her expectations. Come to think of it, my family has a history of tumors. My mom, my aunt, and my great-grandmother all died of cancer, and they all passed away very young. When I arrived at the company, Zoe stopped me, distant but polite, “The CEO is in a meeting, please wait for a moment.” Zoe was his university classmate and became his secretary after graduation. She handles all of Lucas’s affairs, big and small. The two of them spend more time together every day than I do with Lucas. What bothers me is that they dated briefly during university. Although it wasn’t for long, it has always been a thorn in my heart. In Lucas and my shared social circle, everyone thinks I’m willful and possessive in front of him, not allowing any girl to get close to him. But I don’t dare to even suggest firing Zoe. I still vividly remember how reluctant Lucas was to break up with Zoe. At that time, Lucas was utterly dejected, looking at me coldly with an expression I had never seen before, “Do you only know how to use my parents to force me?” His voice was hoarse, and I even thought I saw tears in his eyes. Did he like her that much? That time, I was stunned for a long while. He’s usually so reserved, I had never seen him care about someone so much before. In the past, I might have thrown a tantrum, waiting until the meeting was over to see Lucas come out, then deliberately show affection in front of Zoe. But this time, I handed the spare phone to Zoe, asking her to return it to Lucas after the meeting. I nodded slightly to her and turned to leave. There was a hint of surprise on Zoe’s face.

Lucas’s parents moved back to their quiet old house after retirement. I go back to see them every month. But Lucas is reluctant to go. “My parents have always liked you more than me,” he said casually while reading a contract. “You can go by yourself.” My mom got pregnant before marriage, and I don’t know who my father is. Lucas’s mom and my mom were best friends. After my mom passed away, they raised me. I’m very grateful to them and have always tried to be well-behaved. You could even say I was trying to please them. Pleasing Aunt, pleasing Uncle, pleasing Lucas. Lucas doesn’t have a good relationship with his parents, and I’m a big part of the reason why. He doesn’t know that I’m actually the one who’s dependent on others. Back then, Lucas’s parents didn’t approve of him being with Zoe because they found out Zoe was being kept by someone at that time. When the photographic evidence was presented to Lucas, he didn’t care. Zoe had her reasons, he said. So Aunt, exasperated, pointed at me, “Rather than letting you go for those unsavory girls out there, why not choose Vivian? At least she’s a pure and innocent girl!” Lucas smiled faintly, “If you like her so much, why don’t you marry her yourselves?” Snapping out of my memories, I coaxed him, “Let’s go together, they’ll be happier.” Lucas’s tone remained unchanged, “As long as you’re happy.” I gave in. After looking at him for a while, I got up and took my bag, “There’s food in the kitchen, remember to eat.” He didn’t look up, “Okay, be safe on the road.” It takes a three-hour drive to get to the old house. I’m good with words, and within a few sentences, I had the old couple laughing heartily. I helped Aunt loosen the soil and fertilize, sowed radish seeds, and set up frames for the pea shoots. I worked up quite a sweat and unknowingly fell asleep on the stone table in the vegetable garden. When I woke up, it was already dusk. Uncle’s jacket was draped over me, and my arms had several mosquito bites. The sunset was as fierce as fire, carrying warmth. After dinner, it was time to leave. Aunt asked me to take good care of Lucas. I said I would. Uncle said, “Take care of yourself too, you look a bit haggard.” Sometimes tears can be triggered by such a casual show of concern. I held back the lump in my throat and smiled, “I won’t stay up late next time.” On the way back, I realized that I probably couldn’t drive alone anymore. The headaches were becoming more and more frequent.

Ryan is my attending physician. He suggested I be hospitalized for treatment, as the frequency of headaches might increase in the later stages, and some people even experience persistent epilepsy. I shook my head, “By that point, I would have probably taken my own life. You know I can’t stand suffering.” He frowned at me for a while, and finally sighed. I didn’t dare to drive, so he sent me home. On the way, Ryan looked at me through the rearview mirror, “He still doesn’t know?” He, obviously referring to Lucas. I made a sound of agreement, “I haven’t figured out how to tell him yet.” He was silent for a moment, “I can hardly imagine his reaction.” I laughed, “He’d probably be relieved that he’ll be free for the rest of his life.” The biggest regret in Lucas’s life must be touching me in his sophomore year. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been held responsible for me by both me and his parents. Ryan glanced at me and shook his head, “When I lied to him that you got drunk and agreed to be with me, and I happened to have your clothes from the night before on my arm, he misunderstood that something had happened between us and was furious.” I said, “He was angry because his parents were forcing him to break up with Zoe.” Ryan clicked his tongue, “Whatever you say.” The sky gradually darkened. As we passed by the sports square, a group of energetic young people were sweating it out on the basketball court. There was a moment of blankness in my eyes. “Stop for a bit,” I said to Ryan, “I don’t want to go back yet. Don’t you play basketball? I want to watch.” “Me?” Ryan hesitated, “I play table tennis, but I haven’t touched a basketball in years.” After my soft persuasion, Ryan rolled up his sleeves and reluctantly joined the game. He’s tall with long arms and legs, and after a bit of getting used to it, he didn’t drag the team down. A beautiful three-pointer, and I couldn’t help but cheer. Ryan wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to look at me proudly. Not far away, I saw a familiar figure. He was wearing a shirt and trousers, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, looking at the basketball court with a bland expression. I knew that on the outside of his arm, there was a long, ugly scar. That was left when he saved me in a car accident. A 20-centimeter wound, broken bones, steel pins. After that, due to nerve damage causing impaired finger movement, he could no longer play his favorite baseball or basketball. He couldn’t even hold a glass of water steady.

That hand once blocked a fatal flying stone that had broken through the windshield for me. I felt guilty about it for a long time. One game ended, and Ryan high-fived his teammates, walking towards me drenched in sweat. I handed him his jacket, “Let’s go.” He pouted, “We won, and I don’t even get a sip of water?” “I only have what I’ve drunk from.” He reached out, “Give it to me.” Lucas had left at some point. I hesitated, “Let’s go buy you some water.” When I got home, Lucas had already showered and was lying in bed wearing his pajamas. I showered, got into bed, and he turned off the lights. We didn’t speak all night. The next day, our planned weekend date suddenly had an extra person. “The company is planning to do an amusement park project, I’m bringing Zoe along to check out the site,” Lucas explained indifferently. I didn’t say anything. We walked for a while, and Zoe seemed to have caught a cold, coughing incessantly. Lucas frowned, “Why didn’t you say you were sick?” Zoe smiled, “I’ve had this cold for several days. I thought it would be fine after taking some medicine, but coming out in the wind made it worse.” Lucas took off his jacket and handed it to her. Zoe wrapped herself tightly in the jacket, “Thank you for your concern, boss.” It was an overcast day, and the wind was strong, showing no signs of letting up, making my face sting. Lucas found a coffee shop, but unfortunately, it was full at lunchtime with only seats by the door left. He let her sit in the seat against the wall, out of the wind. Perhaps due to the cold wind, my head started to ache again, and I broke out in a cold sweat all over. My legs went weak, and I instinctively grabbed Lucas’s arm. He looked down at me, “Are you sick too?” His tone couldn’t be described as caring. If anything, it had a hint of mockery. I struggled to stand steady, letting go of his arm, “I didn’t eat much breakfast, just a bit of low blood sugar.” He didn’t say a word. I said, “I’m going to the restroom.” He made a sound of acknowledgment. I turned around, took a deep breath, the headache making it almost impossible to think rationally, and something hot flowed out of my nose. A few customers coming towards me looked surprised. I had a nosebleed. I quickly covered my nose and mouth, lowering my head as I hurried to the restroom. After locking the bathroom stall door, I called Ryan to ask for treatment advice. The call went unanswered for a long time, and a wave of nausea came over me. I bent over the toilet and vomited until I was dizzy. The stomach acid burned my throat. After throwing up, my head didn’t hurt as much. I leaned against the wall, taking quite a while to recover. I splashed some cold water on my forehead, washed my face, and left through the coffee shop’s side door. When I came back, I found Zoe coughing quite badly, with Lucas gently patting her back. My eyes suddenly felt a bit sore. Probably out of jealousy. I walked over and put some ambroxol and cough syrup in front of her, “I asked at the pharmacy, they said these might help with the cough.” Zoe took them with some surprise, “Thank you, Miss Wu.” Lucas’s gaze remained focused on her, not sparing me even a glance. “You… don’t look too well either?” Surprisingly, it was Zoe who noticed something was off with me. Lucas’s gaze finally turned to me, slightly scrutinizing. I smiled, “My stomach’s a bit uncomfortable.” He said flatly, “Let’s go home early after we finish our snacks.” I nodded. In the car, Ryan called me back, “Sorry, I was just getting lectured by the chief and didn’t have my phone. What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” I glanced at Lucas in the driver’s seat and said softly, “Just a bit of stomach discomfort, wanted to ask you what medicine to take. It’s fine now, already better.” Ryan was silent for half a second, “Let’s talk when you get back then.” I couldn’t help but smile a little. He’s always been so smart. Lucas turned to Zoe, “I’ll take you to the hospital for an IV drip.” Zoe hesitated for a moment, then agreed. Lucas then looked at me through the rearview mirror, “What about you? Do you need to go to the hospital for a check-up?” I shook my head, “Just drop me off, I’ll take a cab home.” He had no reaction, “Suit yourself.” I looked out the car window at the passing scenery. Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder, if Lucas knew I was dying, would he regret treating me this way? But then I immediately realize, what does it have to do with him? It was my choice to keep it from him. A few minutes later, Lucas dropped me off at an intersection. Zoe looked at me with a slightly apologetic expression. The car quickly drove away. I stood there for a while, then hailed a cab.

I didn’t go home. I bought a pack of beer from a convenience store and went to the riverside, drinking in the river breeze. I didn’t intend to torture myself, only drinking half a can, holding the rest in my hand. Because I was afraid of the cold, I also bought a shawl from a roadside clothing store. Ryan once asked me why I didn’t tell my family about my illness. Before my mom died, I had been taking care of her. Her appearance on her deathbed, emaciated, with atrophied blood vessels, unable to even insert a needle, became my deepest impression of her. Whenever I recall it, it’s like a dark cloud pressing on my heart. In the middle of the night, that sense of despair and desolation of watching a loved one being tortured by illness lingers. My death doesn’t have to be like that. Rather than having them accompany me through futile treatments, witnessing me gradually becoming weak and unsightly, It’s better to let them remember me as healthy and beautiful. After that, Ryan can tell them that I passed away with dignity, that modern medicine is advanced, and that I didn’t suffer much. I stayed alone for a long time, hugging my knees and dozing off for a while. Before I knew it, it was almost dark. I opened my phone to find many missed calls. I randomly chose one to call back. Lucas’s tone was angry, as if he wanted to eat me alive, “I called you so many times, why didn’t you answer?” I was stunned for a moment before coming to my senses, instinctively feeling I had missed something, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?” He was silent for a while, his breathing heavy, as if trying to control his emotions, “Where are you?” I looked around, “Lakeshore Pier.” He said, “Stay there, don’t move. I’m coming to get you.” I wrapped the shawl tightly around me, obediently waiting for him where I was. Lucas arrived faster than I expected. After parking the car, he walked quickly to me, his gaze rapidly scanning me for any issues. After realizing I was fine, he calmed down. “What are you doing here?” he asked. I was about to answer when I sneezed. His expression darkened as he took off his jacket and wrapped it around me. I actually didn’t want it, considering this jacket had been on Zoe’s shoulders at noon. Faintly, I could still smell Zoe’s perfume. I followed behind him, secretly taking off the jacket. Lucas opened the car door and suddenly turned to look at me, frowning, “What’s wrong?” I said softly, “Zoe wore it.” I don’t want anything she’s worn. Call me petty if you want. I’m dying soon anyway, so I don’t need to be so understanding anymore, right? “Who said that?” He grabbed the jacket and wrapped it around me again, his brow relaxing, “Even if she did wear it, you still have to. Isn’t your body bad enough already?” In the car, he turned on the heater. I said, “It’s hot.” He said, “Serves you right.” 9 After that car accident, Lucas became very cautious when driving, taking over ten minutes to drive five kilometers. As we were entering the house, he suddenly grabbed my hand and lowered his head to smell the alcohol on me, “How much did you drink?” “One can.” He clearly didn’t believe me. I wanted to explain, but as soon as I opened my mouth, I sneezed several times in a row. He put his palm on my forehead to check my temperature, “Do you have a fever?” Maybe it was because I sneezed too hard, but something started flowing from my nose again. Lucas frowned, “What’s wrong with you?” I shook my head, covering my nose with my hand, “Maybe it’s just inflammation.” The blood gushed out like a poorly closed faucet. Lucas’s expression changed abruptly. He told me to tilt my head back and pinch my nostrils tightly, then went to the bedroom to find some medical cotton balls to stuff into my nostrils. He stared at me intently, his movements gentle and careful. The nosebleed gradually stopped, but my face and neck were sticky with blood. Lucas brought a warm towel to wipe me clean. When he wiped my chest, his hand paused slightly. I tugged at his sleeve, where there was a blood stain about the size of a spot, “It got on your clothes.” He didn’t mind, focusing on my face, his brows furrowing again, “You get a nosebleed just from sneezing, are you made of porcelain?” I nodded, frankly admitting, “I’m just relatively weak.” I was telling the truth. He looked me over, “Have you lost weight?” He could still remember my weight? Lucas went to the kitchen and cooked a fragrant bowl of noodles. Then he watched me eat the entire bowl. I hadn’t been this full in a long time. My belly was even a bit rounded, so full I couldn’t move. He brought pajamas and crouched down to change my shoes. As he lowered his head, his bangs covered his eyes, making him look patient and gentle. For a moment, I thought we had returned to the past. Back then, when I was malnourished due to being picky with food, he no longer indulged me and forcibly corrected my eating habits. Actually… there are many things I want to ask him. Back then, he had such good grades, he could have gone to a top five university in the country. Why did he stay at our mediocre school? At that time, he said it was because it was far from home, so he wouldn’t be bothered by his family. Was that the truth? Or was it because he was afraid I would be bullied if I went to school in another city alone? But in the end, I didn’t ask. Lucas received a phone call. He stood up and walked to the side, his tone and demeanor very gentle, “Mm, she’s been found.” Some things are destined by fate. If he hadn’t come to our school, he wouldn’t have met Zoe. Although Zoe later couldn’t withstand the pressure and ended up with another guy, after all these years, these two are still kindred spirits. Lucas, I don’t have much time left. After you accompany me through this last stretch, you’ll be free.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295841”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller

Her body was wheeled out, covered with a white sheet. He stood far away, smoking by the window, wearing a black fisherman’s hat. From start to finish, he never went over to look. As if the person under the white sheet had no connection to him. People around whispered, staring at the direction the body transport vehicle left. “What a tragic death. I heard she was tortured to death?” “Seems to be related to her boyfriend.” “What a sin! Getting involved with that kind of man, imagine how heartbroken her parents must be.” October 1, 2018. I broke up with my boyfriend of three years. He still doesn’t know that I’ve found out about his cheating, and keeps begging me to come back. Too bad I don’t have time for his performance. The next day, I quit my job, spent most of my savings on a used Jeep Wrangler, and set off alone on a road trip to Colorado. The highway was jammed, so I exited and followed the GPS onto winding mountain roads. However, the mountain road was backed up for miles, and my phone lost signal. Worse than the traffic was the need to pee. Guys could at least use an empty bottle, but what could I do? The line of cars inched forward. Finally seeing a farmhouse, I hurriedly got out to borrow their bathroom. But they charged for using the toilet. I had no cash, my phone had no signal, and the farmhouse had no WiFi. At that moment, I realized how a single dollar could defeat even a hero. A man wearing a black fisherman’s hat next to me noticed my predicament. With a wave of his hand, he generously paid five dollars, solving my dilemma. “Thank you.” The man didn’t speak, just waved his hand to say “you’re welcome,” then walked out of the farmhouse without looking back. The cars continued to crawl at a snail’s pace. Time passed, and darkness fell. The river of headlights winding down the mountain was quite a spectacular sight. About half an hour later, the speed gradually increased a bit. Not fast, maybe 15-20 mph, but it felt like flying compared to before. I saw that fisherman’s hat guy again. He was running. I honked and slowed down beside him, “Need a ride?” He flashed me a dazzling smile, “Yes.” In that instant, I was struck by his smile. Natural, pure, without a hint of impurity. Turns out it’s not just men who like purity, I like it too, haha. He got into my passenger seat. He said after using the bathroom, he thought he’d walk a bit to stretch his legs. Who knew the traffic suddenly cleared, and his family’s car passed without seeing him. He ran to catch up, but the car kept going faster and faster. Plus there was no signal here so he couldn’t call them. I smiled and said no problem, once we have signal you can contact them and I’ll drop you off wherever. He said thanks. “No need to thank me, I’m just repaying a favor.” “Ha! You’re really returning a drop of kindness with a gushing spring.” His voice was very pleasant. Not overly deep, but magnetic. Perfect for voicing the male lead in an audio drama. With no signal for GPS, we could only follow the road signs to a nearby small town. Once in town, he contacted his family. They had only just realized he was missing. Our two cars had taken different forks in the road and were now heading in opposite directions, about 60 miles apart. “I’ll catch a ride to meet up with them. Thanks for giving me a lift, otherwise I’d be wolf food in the mountains by now.” I shrugged, indicating it was no big deal. He tried calling several cabs by the roadside, but they all said it was too late and too far to go. Just as I was debating whether to offer to exchange contacts, the heavens intervened and it started to rain. He came back to my car, “Looks like I can’t leave tonight. Let me treat you to dinner, and I’ll meet up with them tomorrow.” “Sure.” I smiled, without a hint of hesitation. We found a bright restaurant and sat down. He pushed the menu over and asked what I wanted to eat. “I have choice paralysis, you order.” As he studied the menu intently, my inconsiderate ex-boyfriend tried video calling me. Looking at him seriously pondering the menu, an idea struck me. “Can you do me a favor?” “?” “My ex cheated but thinks I don’t know. He’s still pestering me. Can I say you’re my new boyfriend to get rid of him?” He smiled silently after hearing this, looking at me. I felt a bit unsure if he had seen through my ulterior motives. The video call automatically disconnected after ringing for a long time. He moved from across the table to sit beside me, draping his arm over the back of my chair. “Call him back.” He was very close. I could smell the pleasant lime scent on him. My heart started beating faster. The gloomy mood caused by my ex’s betrayal seemed to dissipate with his care. I took a deep breath and called the video back. This time, my ex answered immediately. When he saw me and the fisherman’s hat guy sitting close together in the video, the devoted love on his face instantly turned to furious anger. “Chloe Parker, I really underestimated you! Tell me, how long have you been cheating on me?” “Guess.” My ex pulled out a diamond ring, his eyes full of nauseating sincerity, “Chloe, I was about to propose to you, and this is how you treat me?!” Ha, as if he was completely innocent. “Well then, I should thank you for the favor of not marrying me.” “You…!” My ex was about to start cursing. The fisherman’s hat guy suddenly leaned close to the camera, squinting his eyes, “I think I know you.” “Of course you know me, you bastard! I’m your grandfather!” The fisherman’s hat guy took off his hat, “Look, recognize me?” !! His hair was so short! Even shorter than a buzz cut. Forgive my bluntness, but guys with this hairstyle are either in the military or just got out of prison… But they say a buzz cut is the ultimate test of a handsome guy, and he truly passed with flying colors! He was an incredibly good-looking guy! “Hayden Wilson?” “It’s me.” The corner of his mouth turned up slightly, with a hint of provocation. “After all these years as brothers, you steal my girlfriend?” “Heh… Since when were we brothers? Just letting you know, stop bothering my girlfriend from now on.” “Who wants her, you can have my sloppy seconds.” How dare he call me sloppy seconds! Just as I was about to roll up my sleeves and start cursing, Hayden’s large hand pressed on my head, “Don’t talk to trash.” Then he pointed at my ex-boyfriend in the video, “Your father failed in raising you. It pains me to see what a piece of work you turned out to be.” “Hayden Wilson, fuck your grandfather!” “If you don’t, I’ll look down on you.” I don’t know what the deal was with his grandfather, but my ex muttered “psycho” and hung up the video call. I gave him a salute, “Many thanks for coming to my rescue, hero.” My gesture made him burst out laughing. He called the waiter to bring me a bottle of strawberry milk. “Drink this milk and forget about that jerk.” I opened the strawberry milk, “Cheers, big brother!” He clinked his iced tea against my bottle. He asked where I was road tripping to. I said westward, to Colorado. His hand paused while picking up food, “But this is the road to Wyoming.” “…” I opened the map app. Good grief, I was now 120 miles further from Colorado than when I started this morning. He leaned in to look at the map too, “You started from Denver?” I nodded. “You have two options now. One is to backtrack here and get back on the highway to Colorado.” He pointed on the map. “Two is to just go with it and continue to Wyoming.” “Well, since I’ve come this far, maybe I’ll just go to Wyoming.” “But Wyoming has high altitude. For you alone, altitude sickness could be trouble.” “Then I guess I’ll go back to the highway.” “We’re retracing the Long March route – Yellowstone, Grand Teton… Are you interested in coming along with me?” Although he was very handsome, I have social anxiety. Suddenly joining a big family group… “That doesn’t seem appropriate.” “Afraid to meet my family?” While that’s not wrong, it sounds so awkward when he puts it that way. “N-no, not at all.” I stubbornly denied. “Then tell me your answer before we part ways tomorrow.” He used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of fish for me. This means he plans to stay with me tonight too? Hehe. “Okay.” Since we arrived in this small town unexpectedly, I hadn’t booked a hotel, and of course neither had he. We drove around, everywhere was fully booked. We finally found one place, but they only had one standard room left with two beds. “How about you take this room, and I’ll find an internet cafe to crash for the night?” he said. “It’s a standard room! Two beds! Are you afraid I have ulterior motives?” He smiled, dimples faintly appearing on his cheeks, “You stole my line.” The small hotel had no elevator. He carried my suitcase up for me. My suitcase was huge and super heavy, but he lifted it easily with one hand. “How are you so strong?” “This is nothing. I could carry you and sprint for 20 miles.” “What military unit are you in?” He raised an eyebrow at my question, “You catch on so quick, are you a spy?” I rolled my eyes at him and stopped talking. “Infantry.” He smiled. “That’s all I can say.” I couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. I took my things to the bathroom to wash up. At least he’s not fresh out of prison.

Early the next morning. His bed was empty, the sheets smoothed out as if no one had slept there. Had he already left? I was dazed for a while, feeling a bit groggy from just waking up but also disappointed. Oh well, was I really expecting a romantic encounter on my travels? I shook my head, trying to clear out the unnecessary thoughts. I took my things to the bathroom. I sat on the toilet, scrolling through my phone. The bathroom was near the entrance. When he came in carrying breakfast, I heard the sound and turned my head to stare at him blankly… My first thought wasn’t to scream, but… thank goodness I wasn’t pooping… By the time I reacted, my face had turned bright red. He calmly closed the door for me, “You really don’t see me as an outsider.” “…” I came out of the bathroom with a red face, “I thought you had left.” “Do I look like the type to love ’em and leave ’em?” “…” He handed me the breakfast he brought back, beef noodle soup. I slurped a mouthful – it was piping hot and flavorful. “How do you write the two characters in your name, Chloe Parker?” “The ‘Chlo’ in Chloe, and the ‘e’ in Parker.” “Oh, so Chloe as in the octopus, and Parker as in parking lot.” “Hey!” I punched his chest, but it only hurt my hand. “I’m Hayden Wilson. Hayden as in ‘hey’, and Wilson as in ‘will’.” “…Oh.” “You can call me Big Fish.” “…Then together we’d really be an octopus, wouldn’t we?” A muffled laugh came from his chest, “Are we shipping ourselves already?” “…” His family came to pick him up. Right downstairs at the hotel. We exchanged contacts. As I packed up to go down, his parents, uncle (referred to as “Big Uncle”), and little sister were standing next to a Grand Cherokee. I finally understood why my ex-boyfriend backed down so quickly when he heard about Hayden’s grandfather. Although he smiled at me, there was an aura of authority emanating from within that formed a barrier around him, making people instinctively fearful. “Your uncle is in the military too, right?” I asked him quietly. “Little octopus has sharp eyes.” “Another secret identity?” “Are you sure you’re not a spy?” I punched him again. He introduced me to his family, only saying my name was Chloe Parker and that I was also from Denver. His family nodded, not asking further questions. But his mom and sister looked at me with particularly eager eyes. He cut off their curiosity, pushing them back into the car, “I’ll ride with Chloe, you guys go ahead.” And just like that, I inexplicably joined their family trip. My Jeep Wrangler followed behind the Grand Cherokee, like a little duckling trailing after mama duck. Today he drove while I focused on taking photos of the scenery from the passenger seat. Sometimes when I took selfies, he’d be in the frame. I asked if I could post the photos on social media, but he said it’s best not to. So I heavily blurred him out. But the more I tried to hide it, the more it piqued my friends’ curiosity. They all commented saying I was hiding a secret boyfriend. That night, I roomed with his sister. “Big sis, I’m Jenny Wilson. You can call me by my nickname, JJ.” The siblings had names related to famous battles… “Does your family have someone named Leo too?” “Big sis, how do you know my uncle’s name?!” “…” The Long March, Huai-Hai Campaign, Liaoshen Campaign – every American knows about these famous WWII battles… “Big sis, how long have you been dating my brother?” “We just met yesterday.” “Ah… Well… Big sis, even though liking my brother is tough, please don’t give up!” “???” We arrived at Yellowstone. He said, “On May 29, 1935, the Red Army marched 80 miles day and night. The 2nd company commander and 22 brave soldiers crossed the burning hot iron chains under heavy gunfire to capture the bridge.” … When we reached Grand Teton, he said, “82 years ago, a troop in tattered clothes and terrible condition passed through this marsh and snow-covered grassland. This is where the Red Army suffered the most casualties during the Long March.” It was the army that emerged from here that fought the Japanese and established a new China with unwavering determination. This is the only grassland named after the Red Army. … At the Long March memorial in Jackson Hole, he said there are 609 steps from the bottom to the top, symbolizing the 609 battles the Red Army fought during the Long March. … His voice had a magical quality. I felt like I was suddenly transported back to that era of war, witnessing our ancestors charging towards gunfire with their flesh and blood during China’s most perilous time. A line from some TV drama echoed in my mind: “Who will remember my sacrifice? 400 million compatriots will remember!” My eyes unconsciously welled up with tears, my heart pounding in my chest. “If you keep talking like this, I’m going to develop suspension bridge syndrome for you,” I said. Note: Suspension bridge syndrome refers to mistaking increased heart rate from external stimuli as romantic feelings for someone nearby. He looked at me, a soft light in his obsidian eyes, laughing heartily. In that moment, I fell into the depths of his gaze. I hadn’t planned on falling in love again so quickly. But like my unplanned trip, he crashed into my world without rhyme or reason. When we returned to Jackson Hole, he got a phone call saying his leave was over and he had to report back immediately. He left that night. Before leaving, he seemed to have something to say but hesitated. I encouraged him with my eyes, but he just smiled and sighed, “I’ll tell you next time I’m on leave.” He took a few steps, then came back to me, “Don’t forget about me.”

I didn’t see him again until five months later. We had no contact during that time. By then, I had finished my aimless travels and found a new job as a magazine editor. He suddenly appeared outside my office building. He wore a plain black T-shirt, black pants, and a black fisherman’s hat, blending into the night. I almost didn’t notice him. He ran up to me, “Little octopus.” I stared at him blankly for several seconds. “Forgot me so quickly?” “Hayden Wilson.” “Present!” He quickly responded, then bent down to look up at me with a smile, “Any orders, commander?” He only had 48 hours of leave. His base wasn’t in Denver, so it took 8 hours just to come see me, plus another 8 hours to get back. We only had 32 hours together. Subtract 8 hours for work tomorrow and 8 hours for sleep, we were left with just 16 hours. As someone who usually takes things slow, I felt pressed for time for the first time. We walked along the river. At some point, he had taken my hand. There were calluses on the first knuckle of his index finger and the second knuckles of his middle, ring and pinky fingers. Hmm, the hand of someone who handles guns. “What’s little octopus pondering now?” “Wondering what exactly you do.” “If I say I can’t tell you, would you be mad?” “Are you a criminal?” “No.” “Then it’s fine.” I smiled, walking backwards in front of him. He flicked my forehead with his finger, “You believe everything I say?” “Well, what reason would you have to lie to an ordinary civilian like me? To take advantage of my youth? My love of bathing?” “What are you talking about…” Though he didn’t get my reference to a new TV show, he still laughed. His laugh was clean and pure, making my heart skip a beat. I took a day off work and spent 32 hours with him in a hotel. I could guess some things about what he did based on the guns, military service, and secrecy. But since he didn’t say, I didn’t ask. We didn’t do anything more intimate than kissing in the hotel, just cuddling together to watch movies or play games. Actually, even that first kiss was an accident. I tripped on the hotel carpet and happened to fall right on top of him as he sat on the couch. My lips smacked against his teeth, making me wince in pain. He said he’d kiss it better, and the “better” kisses turned into more kisses. … But even if we did nothing, time wouldn’t slow down for us. When he was leaving, he asked, “Next time I come back, can I submit the paperwork?” “You haven’t even properly confessed yet, and I haven’t checked the goods!” I buried my bright red face in the blankets. He hugged me along with the blankets, “Ah! Little octopus! If you’d said you wanted to check the goods earlier, I wouldn’t have had to hold back for so long!” His tone was extremely frustrated, like someone who won the lottery but lost the ticket. I pushed him from inside the blankets. “Go, go, hurry and leave!” “Next time I’m back, we’ll check the goods, meet the parents, then I’ll submit the paperwork when I return!” My third time seeing him came quickly, just over two months later. Except for when on leave, he couldn’t use his cell phone. So for those two months, he could only call me for 10 minutes each weekend from a landline. If I missed his call, calling back wouldn’t reach him. So on weekends I kept my phone clutched in my hand at all times, trying to answer within the first second it rang. One time when his call came, I was crying after being angered by my roommate. She had people over for a party, left the living room a mess without cleaning up, and even let a stranger sleep in my bed. I used him as an emotional trash can, complaining for over 9 minutes. In the end he only had time to tell me to wait for him to come back. He was standing outside my office building again. He had gotten very tan somewhere, dark as soy sauce. “Why didn’t you call me? I could have taken time off.” I felt a bit angry, realizing I could have seen him earlier. For some reason, I felt overwhelmed with grievance. He smiled and planted a kiss on my lips, “We don’t have much time. Let’s not waste it being angry, okay?” Sigh… His time is so limited, I can’t even get properly mad. “Then hurry up and give me a hug, and we’ll make up.” He hugged me tightly. The lime scent on him smelled so good. He had driven here. I got in the passenger seat, “Where are we going?” “To meet the parents, remember we agreed last time.” “Your parents or mine?” “Yours of course. You’ve already met mine, haven’t you?” “Uh… about that… I haven’t mentioned you to them at all…” “It’s not too late to tell them now. Based on this traffic, we’ll reach your place in about 30 minutes.” “But you haven’t even asked if I want to marry you…” He took one hand off the wheel to stroke the back of my neck, “Oh no, I’ve proposed to you hundreds of times in my dreams, and you said yes every time. I think I got dreams and reality mixed up.” Damn. That was smooth. He brought lots of gifts, filling up the entire trunk. “It looks like you’re stocking up for Chinese New Year.” “I haven’t visited anyone’s parents in so many years, gotta make up for it, right?” “We’ve only known each other for a year, what do you mean ‘so many years’?” He ruffled my hair with his hand, “Counting from when you became an adult.”

I called my mom to say I was bringing my boyfriend over. She stopped her dance practice and rushed home with my dad. But in their hurry, they realized at the front door that they had dropped the keys somewhere along the way. I hadn’t lived with my parents for a while, and since this was a last-minute visit, I didn’t bring keys either. In the end, he showed off his skills by opening the lock with a $5 bill. Because of this lock-picking ability, my dad looked at him with scrutiny. My mom pulled me into the kitchen while my dad interrogated him in the living room. “What does Hayden do for work?” I brought out some fruit from the kitchen and sat down next to him. I secretly squeezed his palm. He smiled at me, “It’s okay, I got approval in advance to disclose some things.” My dad listened in confusion. Hayden continued speaking to my dad, “Uncle, I’m in the military, Special Forces. The details of my work are classified, and I can’t say which unit I belong to.” “Then what can you say?” My dad’s expression seemed to say, is that little bit even worth getting approval for? “I can say that I love Chloe very much and want to marry her. Due to the nature of my work, experiences, and strong personal conviction, I will especially cherish this relationship.” “Can you Special Forces guys retire?” “We can, but I’m not injured or disabled now. The country invests a lot to train a Special Forces soldier. For me to retire at this age would be a waste of national resources.” “…So you’re saying if you get injured or disabled, I should let my daughter marry you?” After leaving my house, he said my parents seemed pretty nice. “How so?” “Although they’re not very satisfied with me, they’re trying to accept me because you like me. Pretty open-minded.” “Don’t you Special Forces guys have to study psychology too? Can you see right through people at a glance?” He thought for a moment then shook his head, “I can’t see through you.” “Why not?” “Probably because the ‘like’ factor throws off my judgment.” He paused. “When I talk to others, I can usually predict what they’ll say 3-4 sentences ahead. But you always seem to be outside my expectations.” “That doesn’t count as a proper confession.” I pouted. “See, I didn’t anticipate that response either. I thought you’d say ‘We’ve only met three times, how much can you like me?’ But you said this doesn’t count as a confession. You didn’t doubt the authenticity of me liking you at all.” “Why would I doubt it? I know how lovable I am.” He put his arm around me and said, “Yes, yes, you’re right about everything.” After leaving my parents’ house, he took me to an apartment downtown. He said, “I’m sorry, when you need me, you never know where I am.” I said, “You’re protecting the world.” He smiled, a bit bitterly. Luckily I’m sweet, just right to balance out his bitterness. “I don’t have much money now, but I bought an apartment for you first.” “For me?” “Yes.” He handed over a property deed with my name on it. Although I don’t know how he managed to buy me a house without alerting me, and although it’s just a small apartment that I could afford myself, a warm feeling rose from my stomach. “This is my salary card. The PIN is your birthday. If you need money in the future, just take it from here.” “How much is in it?” “After buying the apartment, there should be close to $100,000 left.” “So much?! I thought soldiers were supposed to be dirt poor.” “This is all your husband’s bonuses, injury compensations, and salaries from the past six years…” “So you make over $1000 a month on average, that’s not bad… Ow!” He flicked my forehead again. “My monthly salary is just a few hundred dollars. The rest is mostly bonuses and injury pay. Think about me a little, will you?” “But if you give me all your salary, what about you?” “Even if I had money, I don’t have time to spend it. Please do me a favor and spend more.” “You got it!” While I was showering, I heard the sound of the door opening. I quickly poked my head out of the bathroom, “You’re not suddenly leaving, are you?” “I’m not leaving, just going downstairs to buy something.” His smile was very telling. I immediately knew what he was going to buy. I went back under the shower with a red face. Gosh, I’m suddenly feeling nervous. I lay alone in bed. The sheets had gone cold, and he still hadn’t returned. I called his phone, but it was turned off. I sent messages on SnapChat, but got no reply. Now I finally understood what his sister Jenny meant when she said liking her brother was tough, but to never give up. This isn’t just tough. It’s downright miserable. A month later, I finally got a call from him. He explained that he had suddenly received a mission that night and had to rush to the mission location. It was a classified mission, so he couldn’t tell me about it. I stayed silent on the phone. “Little octopus, we only have 10 minutes to talk each week. Are you going to use it all to be angry?” “You can’t always use that tactic to threaten me.” “Who says it works so well? Haha.” “Even though I’m talking to you now, I’m writing it all down in my grudge notebook.” “Great, come get your revenge next time we meet!” “I used your money to buy a house.” “What do you mean my money? Don’t you know how to talk? That’s our money.” “Oh.” “Where did you buy? Was it enough?” “In the tech district. I added some of my own money too.” “Then I’ll work harder and try to get another bonus by the end of the year to make up for what you put in.” “It’s all ours together anyway.” “Right, it’s ours together.” He sounded really happy. I could hear people around him teasing and calling me “sister-in-law”. He told them to go away several times, then said into the phone, “Little octopus, I want to ask you, can I submit the marriage application report now?” “Hayden Wilson, I still haven’t checked the goods yet.” He laughed, “Got it, I’ll submit the application first then.” “?” “Absolutely Grade A goods.” “Oh, get out of here.”

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CHAPTER “Gabriel, my heart hurts. Can you take me to the hospital?” My voice was weak as I spoke into the phone, my fingers tightening around it. A tired sigh filtered through the speaker. “Julia, I have a meeting with some clients. Can you go on your own? I’ll come find you later.” I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “Okay. Don’t overwork yourself.” Hanging up, I hailed a taxi to the hospital, pressing a hand to my chest as the pain pulsed beneath my ribs. It was bearable—because Gabriel was working hard for our future. Or so I thought. — Test results in hand, I stepped out of the doctor’s office—only to freeze in place. A familiar silhouette walked past the hospital corridor. My heart lurched. Gabriel. He… came after all? A flicker of warmth bloomed in my chest. Maybe he had finished his meeting early. Maybe he had rushed here the moment he could— The thought died the second I saw her. A delicate woman was tucked under his arm, her small hands gripping his coat like she belonged there. Gabriel wasn’t just standing next to her—he was looking at her. Not with duty. Not with indifference. But with tenderness. Love. A kind of love I had never seen from him. A kind of love that was never meant for me. I didn’t think. My body moved before my mind could catch up. “Gabriel Hall!” My voice cracked through the air as I marched toward them. His expression flickered with shock before settling into something unreadable. “Julia? What are you doing here?” My nails dug into my palm. “I told you I wasn’t feeling well. You said you were busy with work, but now you’re here?” My voice wavered, the betrayal stinging sharper than my aching heart. He sighed, as if I was being unreasonable. “I just finished up and came to accompany Harper. She’s been feeling unwell.” I turned my gaze to the woman pressed against his side. She smiled sweetly at me, but I didn’t miss the flicker of hatred that flashed in her eyes before she masked it. “I’m not your sister-in-law,” Harper murmured, her voice soft and fragile, yet laced with something deliberate. “Just Harper Jenkins. Gabriel and I grew up together.” A childhood sweetheart. I forced myself to breathe. “Gabriel, do you even hear yourself? It’s not that you have a childhood friend that bothers me— “It’s how you treat us differently.” His expression faltered. “You say she’s just a friend. But the way you look at her? The way you hold her?” I let out a bitter laugh. “You never looked at me like that.” For the first time, Gabriel had nothing to say. — Back at home, he helped me onto the couch, rubbing small circles on my back. “Are you jealous?” He teased, like this was some kind of joke. I lifted my head, searching his gaze for a single ounce of regret. I found none. I forced a smile. “I’ll go take a bath.” Turning away, I swallowed down the lump in my throat. But as I stepped into the bathroom, the pain in my chest flared up again. Was it my illness? Or was it him? — That night, my phone rang. “Julia, you better come tomorrow night. If you ditch me again, I swear you’ll regret it,” my best friend, Sophia Patel, huffed over the line. I tried to sound normal. “Alright, I’ll be there.” A pause. “Julia… something’s off. What’s wrong?” I hesitated, then exhaled. “I’m just a little sick.” Her tone immediately turned sharp. “Sick? Where’s Gabriel? Tell him to bring you water and medicine.” The words struck something deep inside me. Because in five years of marriage… Every time I was sick, every time I needed him— Gabriel always had an excuse. Always had something more important to do. And yet, for her, for Harper Jenkins— He always had time. The thought sat heavy in my chest, suffocating and undeniable. Maybe I had been blind for too long. Maybe love had been nothing but an illusion. *********** CHAPTER

The bar pulsed with energy, a mix of neon lights and deep bass vibrating through the air. The scent of alcohol, sweat, and desperation lingered, thick enough to choke on. Bodies moved together on the dance floor, strangers clinging to each other as if the night would never end. I pushed through the crowd, my gaze sweeping the room until I spotted Sophia at the bar. Her red dress clung to her curves in all the right places, her dark hair cascading down her back as she swirled her drink with a lazy smirk. Her eyes were sharp, scanning the room like a predator searching for its next conquest. “Julia, over here!” she called, waving me over. Sliding onto the stool beside her, I exhaled. Sophia grinned. “Look around, babe. So many handsome men, and you’re wasting your time on Gabriel. Pick one, and I’ll go get him for you.” I laughed, shaking my head. “Sophia!” She rolled her eyes. “I’m serious. Why are you still hung up on that bastard? What’s so great about him?” I tensed at the question. Sophia sighed dramatically. “I swear, I should just set you up with someone. Maybe then you’d finally realize how shitty he is.” “I need to use the bathroom,” I muttered, avoiding her gaze. Slipping off the stool, I made my way through the bar, the dim lighting and flashing strobes making it difficult to see clearly. But as I walked past a private VIP lounge, a familiar voice stopped me cold. Gabriel. Heart hammering, I edged closer, peering through the small crack in the door. What I saw made my stomach lurch. Harper was perched on Gabriel’s lap, her delicate arms draped around his neck, her lips curled in satisfaction. His friends lounged around them, laughing, drinking—egging them on. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” someone chanted. Gabriel smirked. And then he leaned in. Bile rose in my throat. My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms as rage and heartbreak warred inside me. As if sensing my gaze, Harper suddenly turned—and smiled. A slow, smug, knowing smile. Like she had won. “When are you divorcing Julia?” Lucas Ross, one of Gabriel’s closest friends, asked, swirling the liquor in his glass. Gabriel chuckled, his voice dripping with amusement. “Divorce her? Please. You think I ever loved her?” Something inside me snapped. “She was just a means to an end.” My breath hitched. “If it weren’t for her family’s company, I wouldn’t have even looked at her.” The room erupted into laughter. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. “I used to hate the way she looked down on me,” Gabriel continued, his tone darkening. “Thinking she was better than me. I wanted to tear her down, make her beg for my mercy.” Lucas whistled. “Damn, so she was just a pawn?” Gabriel smirked. “She’s been under my control for years.” I staggered back, my chest tightening like a vise had wrapped around my ribs. Five years. Three years of marriage. It was all a lie. I turned, shoving past the crowd, my vision blurring as I rushed out of the bar. The cool night air slapped me in the face, but it wasn’t enough to ground me. I stumbled forward, my breaths coming out sharp and uneven. Above me, the sky loomed dark and endless. And then, as if mocking my pain— It started to rain. Cold droplets soaked through my clothes, drenching me to the bone. But I barely noticed. I was too busy trying to hold together the pieces of my shattered heart. *********** CHAPTER

I stepped into the apartment—the same place Gabriel and I had shared for three years. The warm, inviting home I had painstakingly decorated now felt like nothing more than an illusion. The walls, once filled with laughter and love, now mocked me with their silence. I had designed this place to be a home—for both of us. But in the end, I had just built a gilded cage for myself. A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I collapsed onto the couch, exhaustion pulling me under. — When I woke up, the apartment was still empty. Gabriel hadn’t come home. Not even a text. What was I expecting? I let out a sharp breath, shaking off the weight in my chest. After making myself a simple breakfast, I decided to head to the office. But the moment I stepped out of the building, I froze. Gabriel was standing there—with Harper. I met his gaze, my expression unreadable. “Gabriel, have you sunk so low that you’re actually bringing your mistress home now?” Gabriel sighed, looking bored. “Harper has nowhere to stay. What kind of man would I be if I left her on the streets?” Harper clutched his arm, her eyes welling up with crocodile tears. “Maybe… maybe I should find somewhere else to live. I don’t want to cause problems between you two.” Her trembling voice was laced with just the right amount of pity. Gabriel’s expression softened instantly. “No, you’re staying with us. Julia has no right to refuse.” I arched an eyebrow, amusement flickering in my eyes. “No right to refuse?” I repeated, crossing my arms. “Gabriel, do you need a reminder? This apartment was bought with my money. You don’t get to decide who lives here.” His jaw tensed, and before I could react, he lifted his hand. As if he was actually going to slap me. I didn’t even flinch. I met his gaze, unshaken. “Go ahead. Hit me. I dare you.” Gabriel hesitated. But before anything else could happen, Harper grabbed my hand, her delicate fingers trembling. “Julia, please don’t fight with Gabriel because of me,” she whimpered, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’ll leave. I’ll go somewhere else.” And then, suddenly— She collapsed. Right there, at my feet. Her hand flew to her chest, her breathing ragged. “Gabriel… my heart… it hurts…” Gabriel’s face drained of color, panic flashing in his eyes. He turned on me instantly. “Julia, if anything happens to Harper, I’ll never forgive you.” I stilled. And then— Harper looked up at me, a smile curving at the edges of her lips. A smile meant only for me to see. Slowly, my fingers curled into fists, my nails biting into my palms. But I felt nothing. Not pain. Not anger. Just emptiness. This was the man I had loved for five years. The man I had shared a bed with. And now, I was just someone to blame. A sharp pain bloomed in my chest, but I swallowed it down, forcing myself to stand tall. I watched as Gabriel scooped Harper into his arms, his concern never once faltering. He didn’t spare me a second glance. I didn’t move. I just stood there, watching them walk away— My eyes as still and lifeless as a stagnant pool of water. ********** CHAPTER

The test results were grim. Harper Jenkins had a severe heart condition and needed a transplant immediately. But there was no matching donor. And Gabriel? He had been obsessing over finding one, neglecting everything—including his company. Just as desperation started clawing at his patience, someone approached him. “I know a way to get Harper Jenkins a heart transplant. But it depends on whether you’re willing to accept the proposal.” Gabriel’s eyes darkened as he studied the stranger—a man dressed in a long coat, his face obscured by a hat and mask. “And why should I trust you?” Gabriel asked, skepticism lacing his voice. The man pulled down his mask, revealing sharp, chiseled features. “Because I’m Dr. Benjamin Wright. A leading heart specialist from M Country.” Gabriel’s breath hitched. Dr. Wright? The name alone was enough to shake the medical world. Dr. Wright pulled out an ID and handed it over. “Verify it if you must.” Gabriel studied the identification, his mind racing. He didn’t have time for doubts. He had to take the chance. “What’s your solution?” Gabriel asked, his voice low and urgent. Dr. Wright leaned in slightly. “There’s no suitable match in the donor database. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a match outside of it.” Gabriel’s brows furrowed. “Explain.” Dr. Wright’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Your wife, Julia, had a recent heart exam. Her heart is in perfect condition. And… it’s a perfect match for Harper Jenkins.” The air around them turned suffocatingly heavy. Gabriel’s expression hardened. “There’s no other option?” Dr. Wright shook his head. “Either she consents… or you wait for another donor. But Harper’s time is running out.” Gabriel’s jaw tightened. “Prepare for the surgery. I’ll take care of Julia.” — That evening, Gabriel did something he never did. He cooked. The aroma of braised pork ribs filled the apartment as he set the table with practiced ease. The moment I stepped inside, my senses went on high alert. Gabriel turned to me with an easy smile. “Welcome home. Wash your hands and eat. I made your favorite.” I arched an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “Drop the act. Just tell me what you want.” His smile faltered. He set down the chopsticks and walked over, his expression grave. “Julia, Harper is dying. She needs a heart transplant, but there’s no available donor.” My lips curled into a smirk. “And what does that have to do with me?” Gabriel’s eyes pleaded with mine. “Your heart is a match.” A silence stretched between us. Then, I laughed. Actually laughed. His brows knitted. “Julia, please. Help her.” I tilted my head, feigning innocence. “Give up my heart… for your mistress? Why would I do that?” His patience snapped. “Because Harper Jenkins’s life is on the line!” I sighed, shaking my head. “Not my problem.” His hands curled into fists. “You’re really this selfish? You’d let her die?” I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. “And what about me, Gabriel? Have you ever thought about my life? My well-being?” Slap. The impact sent my head snapping to the side. The sharp sting spread across my cheek, but I didn’t flinch. Gabriel’s voice was low and venomous. “You’re willing to watch Harper die, but you won’t take a risk for her?” I met his gaze, my eyes cold, unyielding. “And what if I refuse?” His lips curled into something dark. “Then don’t forget—I control the NovaTech Inc.. If you don’t agree, I’ll make sure you lose everything.” Something inside me snapped. I inhaled slowly, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. Then, I gave him exactly what he wanted. “Fine.” His eyes gleamed with triumph. I smiled. Gabriel Hall… you have no idea what you’ve just set in motion.

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I’ve been in love with my childhood friend for ten years, and he’s been annoyed with me for just as long. Finally, one day, I slept with him and left two hundred dollars on the nightstand. My childhood friend felt utterly humiliated and “hunted” me down everywhere. But he couldn’t find me anywhere. I avoided him for three years, until my father passed away, leaving me an orphan. His parents said, “From now on, our home is your home, and this boy is your brother.” I looked at my childhood friend’s face, flushed with anger and embarrassment at the sight of me, And cheerfully called out, “Hello, big brother!” 0 I had been avoiding Ethan Collins for exactly three years. The reason I remember it so clearly is because the night I seduced him was New Year’s Eve during my freshman year winter break. And today is New Year’s Eve of my senior year winter break. I was dragging my suitcase, planning to buy some fruit before going upstairs. Unexpectedly, I ran into Ethan Collins. He hadn’t changed much, still fair-skinned and unforgettably handsome. —You couldn’t tell at all that he was a bit of a player. A beautiful player. The moment he entered the store, I instinctively turned away, lowering the brim of my cap. “Ethan, buying fruit again?” The young male shopkeeper’s eyes lit up at the sight of Ethan Collins. “We’ve got some great new pomelos. Why don’t you take a couple home for your parents to try?” Ethan said, “I don’t like sour things.” “Then how about some cherries? They’re guaranteed sweet.” “I hate sweet things even more.” …I wanted to tell him, eat it or don’t, just get lost. But the shopkeeper’s enthusiasm didn’t wane. When Ethan was checking out, he even insisted on stuffing a few apples into his bag. This was Ethan’s special treatment. With his good looks, he was the center of attention wherever he went. When he was ten, Ethan could go out empty-handed and come back with his pockets full of snacks. It made me green with envy back then. Now at twenty, the neighborhood had changed faces many times over. But he was still the focal point. The shopkeeper asked, “Ethan, are you going home alone this year?” “Mm-hmm.” “I heard from the neighbors that you were planning to bring a girlfriend home this year.” Ethan has a girlfriend? I couldn’t help but prick up my ears. 0

Ethan laughed softly. His laugh was particularly pleasant, making one’s ears tingle. On New Year’s Eve three years ago, I had heard it up close. Not only did it make my ears tingle, but if I heard it too much, my heart would flutter too. “That’s not true,” he said. The shopkeeper: “I knew a good-looking boy like you would have high standards. It’s not easy for you to find a partner. What’s your type? I have a sister who’s quite a beauty.” “I don’t like girls who are too beautiful.” “Well, she’s not that beautiful…” “I also don’t like girls who aren’t beautiful enough.” The shopkeeper was at a loss for words, forcing an awkward smile: “Ethan, you should hurry up and find a girlfriend to put your parents at ease.” “Don’t worry, I have a girlfriend,” Ethan said, “I just haven’t decided which girlfriend to bring home.” Shopkeeper: … Such an outrageous statement, coming from a player’s mouth, somehow seemed reasonable. After a while, the store was quiet. I figured Ethan must have left. I went to grab the last honeydew melon. A long, fair hand suddenly appeared, intercepting the melon midway. “Sorry, I got to it first.” The young man’s voice sounded behind me. He said sorry, but there wasn’t a hint of apology in his tone. “But I might consider letting you have it.” Ethan’s voice was now drumming against my eardrums— “Could you turn around?” 0

My ill-fated connection with Ethan Collins could be traced back twelve years. My dad brought me from the county to the city. He and Ethan’s father were war buddies, but after retiring, one ended up in heaven and the other on earth. My dad was the one on earth. City living was expensive, and he drove a bus, barely making ends meet. As for why we had to live in the city, my dad said the education was better here, and I could get into a good university. City housing prices were also high, and thanks to Ethan’s father, we were lent two rooms to live in. Ethan’s parents were very kind to me. My dad was often away, so after school, I’d go to Ethan’s house for meals. I practically ate, lived, and went to school with Ethan. But he didn’t like me. Ethan’s friends were mostly handsome, beautiful, or from wealthy families. I was a country bumpkin, dark-skinned and chubby. I insisted on following him around, which annoyed him greatly. Once, he deliberately left me at an amusement park, nearly causing me to get lost. Ethan got a severe beating for that incident. He still has scars on his bottom because of it. He hated me even more after that, always trying to find ways to tease me. But back then, I was naive. I always thought Ethan was different from the boys back home. He was so good-looking, with such fair skin. When he smiled, it seemed magical. I stubbornly followed behind him, hiding my budding feelings. Looking back now, Ethan’s annoyance with me was undisguised. One spring, when all the flowers at school were in bloom, Ethan’s friends asked him which flower he liked best. Ethan said, “I don’t have a favorite, only one I hate the most. I hate gardenias, they’re too sweet and cloying, absolutely awful.” As he said this, he glanced at me from the corner of his eye. I immediately understood that these words were meant for me to hear. Because that morning, I had just picked two gardenias for him. The year we graduated from high school, another incident occurred. I asked Ethan, “Where are you planning to apply for college?” Ethan thought for a moment: “London.” Excited, I filled out applications for schools in London. The day the acceptance letters came, I found out. Ethan was going to New York. He had lied to me, just to get away from me. What a cruel reality. 0

During the first semester of freshman year, if I didn’t initiate contact, Ethan wouldn’t reach out to me either. He had his own life, his own circle of friends. He was outstanding, leading his major, and even voted campus heartthrob. His photos always featured beautiful girls. I visited him in New York once. His friends asked, “Ethan, who’s this chick?” Ethan said, “The daughter of my dad’s friend.” I was stunned at that moment. After knowing each other for ten years, in the end, I didn’t even count as an ordinary friend. Suddenly, I felt utterly disheartened. But I wasn’t ready to give up just like that. I planned for a long time, and on New Year’s Day during the winter break, I seduced Ethan. We had both been drinking that day. Ethan couldn’t hold his liquor well and quickly became tipsy. I, however, was unusually clear-headed. When I got close to him, he didn’t push me away. I asked, “Ethan Collins, do you know how long I’ve liked you?” He didn’t say anything. Feeling that taking advantage of him wasn’t right, I asked again, “Do you know who I am?” He said, “Lily Knowles.” When he said my name, it sounded low and enchanting. I said, “Are you going to reject me?” He shook his head and instead wrapped his arms around me tightly. That night, Ethan was very gentle. After the impulse passed, we lay in bed, and Ethan said to me, “I’m sorry for lying about the college applications.” I didn’t respond. He held onto my arm, sighing helplessly, “I promise I’ll apply for grad school in London, okay?” As if I cared anymore. I had already decided to let go. Tonight, I was just giving myself closure. After all, I had been foolish for so many years. If I didn’t get him once, it would feel like a loss. Now that I had, I wouldn’t dwell on it anymore. Early the next morning, before Ethan woke up, I ran away. Oh, right. He had paid for the hotel. I didn’t want to take advantage of him, so I left two hundred dollars. But this gesture seemed to cause some misunderstandings… I deleted all of Ethan’s contact information and completely cut ties with him. I heard from high school classmates that Ethan felt utterly humiliated and was “hunting” me down everywhere. He even came to my university. Several times, but never saw me. The most memorable was during sophomore year. My roommate relayed to me: That day, Ethan was like a volcano about to erupt, desperate to catch me and tear me to pieces. He stopped my roommate and fiercely asked, “Where has Lily Knowles gone again?!” My roommate said, “Oh, don’t you know? Today’s May 20th.” “—She went out to celebrate with her boyfriend.” At that moment. It was as if a torrential rain had suddenly extinguished the volcano. Ethan stood there, stunned, for a long, long time.

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CHAPTER Five years ago, my husband, Alpha Brooks, vanished without a trace in the Boundless Forest. They never found his body. Now, on the night of the full moon, the Pack doctor called me personally. His voice was urgent, shaking. Alpha Brooks has been found. The good news? He’s alive. Healthy. Breathing. The bad news? He’s getting married. Beta Julian had spent the entire ride trying to talk sense into me. I refused to listen. I won’t give up. I was the one chosen by the Moon Goddess. The one Brooks spent two years chasing, five years cherishing, and proposed to twice. How could he forget me so easily? My fingers brushed the ring still sitting on my hand—a cold, bitter reminder that once upon a time, he was mine. The journey was grueling, the roads uneven. My stomach churned with nausea, my body aching after hours of travel. It took ten long hours before we finally arrived in the small town near the Pack. “We’re here,” Beta Julian murmured. His tone was cautious, hesitant. “He doesn’t remember anything, so you have to—” I barely heard him. My entire body tensed as I stared at the wooden door in front of me. My breath hitched. He’s behind that door. When Beta Julian pushed it open, the sound of seashell wind chimes filled the air, ringing out in soft, melodic tones. The courtyard before me was nothing like the world Brooks and I once shared. A pebble-lined path led to a cozy-looking house. A massive wooden swing sat in one corner. A golden retriever lazily stretched under a tree, surrounded by cats. So many cats. My breath caught in my throat. Brooks hated cats. The beaded curtain at the entrance shifted, seashells clicking together as someone stepped outside. A man. Tall. Lean. Familiar. I went still, my pulse hammering as my gaze locked onto him. Brooks. I had seen men who looked like him before—men with golden hair and fair skin. But this man was sharper. Colder. His features were more defined, his jaw stronger, his entire presence commanding. A red string hung around his neck, and just beneath his left eye was a tear-shaped mole. My heart stopped. “Alpha… Brooks,” I whispered, my voice trembling, thick with unshed tears. His piercing gaze met mine. And there was nothing. No recognition. No flicker of familiarity. Nothing. “Who are you?” His tone was flat. Distant. I sucked in a sharp breath. “Brooks, it’s me…” His expression darkened. His voice grew colder. “Sorry, ma’am. You’ve got the wrong person.” No. I knew it was him. I could feel it in my bones, in my soul. He was mine. Beta Julian quickly stepped in, his voice steady. “Apologies for disturbing you. We’re travelers looking for a place to stay. Do you have any rooms available?” Brooks—or whoever he thought he was—studied us for a moment before lifting a brow. “How many rooms?” “Two.” Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the house, not sparing me a second glance. A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I wanted him to look back. To recognize me. But his gaze had passed right through me, as if I were a stranger. The man I loved—the one who once swore to protect me, cherish me—was standing right in front of me. And yet… He didn’t even know my name. Tears blurred my vision as the truth crashed down on me. Alpha Brooks didn’t remember me. CHAPTER

“ID. Are you from the Pack?” Alpha Brooks’s voice was calm, unreadable, as he took our identification cards. Beta Julian handed them over, offering a stiff greeting. I barely heard him. My gaze was locked on Brooks—Liam, as they called him now. He moved toward the cabinet, and that’s when I saw it. His left pinky finger. A piece of it was missing. And his right leg… he walked with a slight limp. A sharp gasp escaped me before I could stop it. I lifted a hand to my mouth, my heart hammering. What happened to him? Beta Julian must have noticed too. He grabbed the room keys quickly, his grip firm as he ushered me away. I sat in my room for a long time, my mind spinning. Five years. Five years, I had imagined seeing him again. Five years ago, I had dreamed of slapping him for forgetting me—for choosing another woman. But now? Now, all I wanted to do was hold him. Beta Julian’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Ava, get some rest.” His brows were furrowed, his concern evident. I nodded numbly. He lingered for a second before leaving, and I knew—he had seen it too. Brooks… Liam… whoever he was now… he wasn’t the same. Doctor Reynolds came to check on me later, but my mind was elsewhere. Laughter drifted from the backyard, the warm sounds of conversation mixing with the clinking of wine glasses. Carefree. Happy. I stepped outside, my gaze immediately finding him. Liam. He stood at the grill, flipping skewers with practiced ease, laughing with Beta Julian like they were old friends. The sight of them together unsettled me. Before I could look away, a plate appeared in front of me. “You okay?” Beta Julian. I nodded stiffly. He turned toward Liam. “Liam, let me introduce you to Ava.” I forced a smile, extending my hand. I could feel my fingers trembling. I shouldn’t be trembling. “Nice to meet you,” I said. Liam’s warm hand briefly grasped mine. “Nice to meet you too.” Too formal. Too distant. It felt like a punch to the gut. My mind flashed back to the day he first proposed to me. He held me so tightly, whispering, “Luna, nice to meet you.” Now? Now, I was just some woman at his table. Swallowing the knot in my throat, I forced casual conversation. “This place is beautiful. Are you living well here?” Liam expertly flipped a skewer. “Yeah, it’s okay.” I studied him as he moved—his familiar gestures, his calm demeanor. How could he forget everything? A piece of grilled chicken slipped off the grill, and Liam called out, “Tudou, come here!” My breath caught. Tudou? I turned sharply as the golden retriever wagged its tail and trotted toward him. My hands clenched at my sides. “You named him Tudou?” Liam raised an eyebrow, his lips curving slightly. “Yeah. It’s fat and round. What else would I call it?” I turned away, blinking back tears. Only he would come up with such a ridiculous name. I sat down, grabbing a glass of wine and downing it in one gulp. The bitterness coated my tongue, but it wasn’t enough to dull the ache in my chest. My gaze drifted back to Liam. The tear mole beneath his eye. The red string around his neck. It’s him. It has to be him. Just then, someone handed Liam a plate of food. I glanced at it absently—then froze. Mushrooms. No. “He can’t eat that!” I blurted out before I could stop myself. The table fell silent. Eyes turned to me, some confused, some curious. My stomach twisted. But before I could explain, a figure leapt onto Liam’s back, arms wrapping around his shoulders, face nuzzling against his neck. “Liam! I missed you so much!” Liam bent slightly, adjusting the person’s grip. “Get down,” he muttered, his tone firm—but there was something else in his voice. Affection. The woman giggled, holding on tighter. Beta Julian cleared his throat, “Ava, this is Lily.” I stared at her—his wife. The world tilted. And for the second time that day, I felt like the ground had disappeared beneath my feet. CHAPTER

I still held the mushrooms, my fingers tightening around them as my mind reeled. Lily’s bright smile felt like a blade to my chest. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. “His wife.” She turned to me, beaming. “Hello! I’m Lily, Liam’s wife. Welcome to our home.” Her words rang in my ears like a cruel joke. The others greeted her one by one, their casual conversation grating against my raw emotions. Lily was warm, talkative—too talkative. She complimented nearly everyone, her energy infectious. When it was my turn, she gasped. “Ava, you’re so beautiful! Your figure is amazing—I’m so jealous! And your hair, oh my God, it’s gorgeous! Unlike mine, which is thinning from stress.” I managed a stiff smile, swallowing the lump in my throat. Lily suddenly turned to Liam, pouting. “It’s definitely because of you always blowing on my hair! Be careful, or I’ll be a bald bride at our wedding next week!” Liam chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Okay.” I froze. “Wedding.” The word felt like a slap. One of the pack members—pretending to be a traveler—feigned surprise. “You’re getting married?” “Yes!” Lily clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Next Wednesday. We hope you can all come!” I grabbed another beer, downing it in one long gulp. Lily reached for one too, but before she could take a sip, Liam snatched it away. His voice was quiet but firm. “You can’t drink.” Lily pouted. “Just one sip.” Then, without hesitation, she leaned up and kissed him—right in front of me. My fingers clenched around the cold can. “Liam, just one sip, please!” she coaxed, her voice playful. Liam exhaled, handing her a cup with rose petals floating inside. “Drink this instead.” Lily wrinkled her nose. “Rose tea? Liam, I’ve told you a hundred times I don’t like flower tea. Why do you always forget?” Liam hesitated. “I… I just do.” My breath hitched. I turned away, my chest tightening. Brooks used to brew me tea. He always worried that I didn’t drink enough water. In the winter, he’d make apple water and snow pear soup. Every time I drank more, he’d reward me with a pink thermos. I swallowed hard, shoving the memory away. Lily’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Look, Ava finished a whole can of beer! Maybe that’s the secret to her gorgeous hair!” I forced a small smile. “My mate never let me drink. He said I’d down the whole bottle if I started. He was strict about it.” Lily giggled. “That’s so strict! Doesn’t he get mad when you drink now?” I glanced at Liam, my heart hammering against my ribs. I shook my head. “He doesn’t care anymore.” Silence. For a moment, Lily looked like she wanted to say something, but she hesitated. Instead, she obediently sipped her rose tea, finishing the entire cup. I, on the other hand, had barely eaten. Between the alcohol and the suffocating tension, my head was starting to spin. Excusing myself, I pushed away from the table. As I turned to leave, Lily’s laughter trailed after me. I looked back just in time to see her climb onto Liam’s back, giggling, clinging to him like she belonged there. Liam sighed but didn’t push her away. Instead, he continued cleaning the table, as if her affection was something he had grown used to. Something he accepted. That should be me. I turned away, my stomach twisting. Biting the inside of my cheek, I forced myself back to my room. The moment the door closed behind me, I ripped open my bag, fumbling for my medication. The pills rattled in my hand as I swallowed them dry. Slowly, my pulse steadied. By the time Doctor Reynolds entered, I had forced myself into calmness. “I thought you’d make a scene,” he said, his voice measured. I gazed out the window. The moon was high, bathing the courtyard in silver light. “I considered it,” I admitted quietly. “But then… I felt sorry for him.” Doctor Reynolds’s gaze sharpened. “You brought a lot of things with you. Are you planning to help Alpha regain his memories?” I glanced at the open box beside my bed. Inside were ten years’ worth of memories. His first love letter. Our first photo together. Our wedding pictures. I reached out, brushing my fingers over the faded edges. Then, I closed the box. “No,” I said. Doctor Reynolds frowned. “Why not?” I exhaled slowly, my grip tightening. “I don’t want him to experience the pain of losing loved ones twice.” And if forgetting me meant he would never have to relieve that pain… Then maybe it was better this way. CHAPTER

The next morning, I slept in late. By the time I packed my painting supplies and stepped out of my room, the afternoon sun was already high in the sky. Laughter echoed through the courtyard. “Ava! We saved you some food!” I looked up to see Lily waving at me from the wooden table where everyone was gathered. Reluctantly, I approached. She handed me a container, her smile warm. “We don’t have many relatives, so we’d love for you to come to our wedding.” My fingers tightened around the envelope she offered me. A wedding invitation. I didn’t dare open it. It felt too heavy, as if the weight of my past and my shattered heart were pressed between its pages. Lily didn’t seem to notice my hesitation. “I’ve heard you’re really talented! Can you take a look at our wedding invitation design?” She practically beamed as she spoke. The thin paper in my hands might as well have been stone. Before I could respond, Doctor Reynolds reached over, smoothly intercepting the conversation. “Let me see. The color is lovely.” Lily nodded eagerly. “Liam picked the orange. I wanted purple, but now I think the orange looks better. Ava, what’s your favorite color?” My throat tightened. I set my painting supplies down and gestured to my orange dress. “This.” I hadn’t had a favorite color before. But one day, Brooks had complimented me on an orange jacket I wore. I remembered how his eyes had softened, the way he ran his fingers over the fabric before whispering, “You look beautiful in this color.” From that moment on, orange became my favorite. Lily clapped her hands. “Wow, you and Liam have the same taste!” I forced a smile, but her words twisted inside me. My family. That’s what Brooks used to call me. “My Luna. My family.” His voice had always been full of warmth when he said it. Doctor Reynolds, sensing the tension, took the invitation from me. “The cartoon design is adorable. Is the wedding at dusk?” Lily rubbed her face. “Yup! That’s what Liam wanted.” She turned to me, eyes bright with curiosity. “But how did you know?” The words left my mouth before I could stop them. “Because someone can’t wake up early.” Lily’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God! That’s exactly what Liam said!” She let out a laugh, nudging Liam playfully as he walked past. “But mostly, he loves dusk.” I swallowed hard. Brooks loved dusk too. He once told me that the Moon Goddess blessed couples who married at dusk—that it was a sign their love would last forever. A memory surfaced. I had been half-asleep when he whispered in my ear, “You sleep too much. What am I going to do with you on our wedding day?” Later, as our wedding approached, I’d wake up to the feel of his stubble against my skin, his arms pulling me close. “Ava, let’s get married at dusk, okay?” I’d hummed my agreement, and he had kissed my forehead, his voice full of quiet satisfaction. The past clawed at me, dragging me under. I stood abruptly, needing air. As I turned to leave, Lily caught my wrist. Her gaze dropped to my hand. She gasped. “Your ring! That’s beautiful!” I twisted the band around my finger. “He said the same thing.” Lily tilted her head. “Wait… are you married?” “Yes.” Her surprise was evident. “For how long?” “Five years.” Her brows furrowed. “Where’s your mate? Why didn’t he come with you?” I didn’t answer. Instead, I looked up—right into the eyes of the man walking toward us. Alpha Brooks. Or rather, the man who used to be him. The man who no longer remembered me.

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I abandoned Lucas Song when he was at his poorest. “Did you really think I enjoyed squeezing into a tiny apartment with you, living in poverty?” When we met again, he had already become a wildly popular author and director. Reporters swarmed to interview Lucas about the inspiration behind his masterpiece, “The Monster in the Apartment.” He looked past the crowd, his eyes meeting mine as he smirked coldly. “The female lead in this book is indeed based on someone real. We had a brief connection once. “However, she’s dead now.” As the end credits rolled, the screen went dark. The lights in the theater gradually brightened. Quiet sobs could still be heard – many viewers hadn’t yet emerged from the emotional impact of the film. My friend Emma nudged me with her elbow as she wiped away tears. “Aria, I’m so glad I dragged you to see this! I loved the novel, but I never expected the movie to be this good and moving!” A complex mix of emotions churned inside me, but I held them back, not responding. Today was the premiere of “The Monster in the Apartment.” The premiere was meant to generate buzz before the official release, with a select audience getting to watch the film a week early. After the screening, the director, lead actors, producers and other key crew members would interact with the audience. The host was preparing to take the stage, and the audience’s attention quickly shifted, an air of excitement building. But most weren’t here for the lead actors. The film’s director and screenwriter, who was also the author of the original novel, Lucas Song, had far surpassed the two leads in fame. Since publishing his debut work “The Monster in the Apartment,” Lucas had consistently topped bestseller lists with his bold realism and gripping prose. His subsequent works were also hugely popular with readers, cementing his status as a literary superstar. With his handsome looks, female fans dubbed him “the genius author who doesn’t rely on his face.” Lucas continued to break new ground, adapting his first blockbuster novel into a film. Even when just the trailer for “The Monster in the Apartment” was released, the hype was so intense that even those outside literary circles knew about it. All these years, I had just been quietly following his career from afar. I met Emma, who also grew up in Muyu City, while studying abroad. We returned to China together, and Emma’s birthday happened to coincide with this premiere. Since she was a devoted fan of the novel, I agreed to accompany her. I clutched the premiere ticket tightly in my hand. The host walked to the center, smiling as he began his opening remarks. Media reporters in the front rows had already raised their cameras and microphones. My mind went blank, my heart inexplicably racing. It wasn’t until Emma excitedly patted me that I realized the key crew members were entering one by one. Excited screams erupted from the audience. “Lucas is even more handsome than in photos!” “I finally get to see my idol in person!” I looked up. My breath caught. I spotted Lucas immediately. Most of the camera flashes were focused on him. He walked calmly to the center. That handsome face now had an added air of coolness. His gaze was no longer as gentle as before, but calm like a deep pool. If my previous impression of Lucas was gentle, sensitive, and passionate… Cold, aloof, and distant would be all the words I’d use to describe him now. Lucas nodded slightly to the media, casting a quick glance over the audience. I was sitting in the back corner, unlikely to be noticed, so I let out a small sigh of relief. The entire venue quieted at the host’s cue, and reporters began interviewing the key crew members one by one. The media’s interest was entirely focused on Lucas. They only asked the male lead a few cursory questions before quickly turning their microphones to Lucas. “Mr. Song, ‘The Monster in the Apartment’ tells the story of young men and women finding redemption in a run-down apartment. The descriptions and details feel so real that many people deeply relate to and are moved by it. “So I’d like to ask, Mr. Song, are these experiences you’ve personally been through? Is the female lead based on a real person?” The venue fell silent for a few seconds as everyone waited for Lucas’s answer. Suddenly, Lucas looked past the crowd, his eyes meeting mine. My heart plummeted. He stared in my direction, smirking coldly. “The female lead in this book is indeed based on someone real. We had a brief connection once. “However, she’s dead now.” His words caused an uproar. “Oh my god, so this work actually has a real-life inspiration? Does this mean the story is Lucas’s way of commemorating this dead love interest?” Emma said. I gave a bitter smile. Only I understood Lucas’s meaning. In his heart, I had died completely that summer day long ago.

After the premiere ended, I said goodbye to Emma. As I waited for a ride by the curb, people around me were still discussing the “dead” female lead Lucas had mentioned. “My friend went to college with Lucas. I think I know who he’s talking about…” “Who is it?” “This girl called Aria Ning. She was broke but liked to pretend she was rich. People found out she was working as a waitress and hostess all over town. “The funniest part is, there were rumors she hooked up with Lucas, but then dumped him because he was poor. “Isabella Locke was the one who suppressed this gossip.” “Isabella Locke? The lead actress who was sick and couldn’t come today?” “Yeah, the wealthy heiress. She’s always liked Lucas, and had a complicated relationship with Aria Ning. I guess they were love rivals… I always thought the female lead was based on Isabella.” “Me too. Isabella is beautiful, comes from money, and is a good actress. She seems like the perfect match for Lucas.” I froze in place. Even after all this time, hearing Isabella’s name made my heart sink. Isabella Locke was the lead actress Lucas personally chose for “The Monster in the Apartment.” She was my nightmare. Isabella had destroyed so many things in my life, including my relationship with Lucas. For reasons I never understood, Isabella had always targeted me. In college, Isabella spread rumors that I was cheating on my boyfriend and had secretly aborted another man’s child. When the rumors came out, combined with my reputation as a goody-two-shoes top student, it spread like wildfire across campus. Isabella, as the student council president, deliberately brought up these rumors, indirectly confirming them. Although there was no direct evidence in the end, I was forced to take a leave of absence due to the pressure of public opinion. After several attempts to argue my case, no one believed me, including my father. My father cut off my bank card and made me stay at home to “reflect.” Furious, I ran away from home and had no choice but to find work to support myself. But then I was accused of pretending to be rich when I was actually broke. It wasn’t until years later, when I worked hard to get back on track academically and successfully applied to graduate school abroad, that my father started to look at me differently. Everyone believed Isabella, just because she was the Locke family’s daughter. Little did they know, she was only my father’s adopted daughter. Though adopted, she was especially doted on by my father. Since she was slightly older than me, my father tacitly acknowledged Isabella as the Locke family’s eldest daughter in public. My birth mother had passed away early on. I took my mother’s surname, so few people connected me to the Locke family. In college, I always kept my head down studying and never deliberately revealed my true identity to avoid attention. Isabella was different, flaunting her status as the Locke family’s daughter. While I was gradually overlooked, as if I were the outsider in the Locke family. Shaking off these thoughts, I realized the driver had arrived. As I got in the car, I suddenly changed my destination. “Take me to Bluespring Lane.” I stared absently out the window. We drove further away from the bustling city center, with more and more low-rise buildings appearing. Despite its pretty name, Bluespring Lane was just a cramped alley among dilapidated apartment buildings. Opening the car door, I stepped onto the damp, muddy ground. The apartment building in front of me had peeling walls, rusty security bars with clothes hanging from them, and a constantly dripping public faucet that seemed impossible to tighten fully, forming puddles where bicycles were parked, with spots of mold and moss growing nearby. The only thing that seemed capable of dispelling all the damp gloominess was the single yellowed light in Bluespring Lane. I walked straight into the alley. Most of the units here were rentals, crammed with confused and lost young people, cheap pots and pans, and noisy arguments. It was also where Lucas and I had once found solace in each other. Back then, I was penniless and desperate. It started pouring rain outside, so I randomly knocked on someone’s door. Lucas opened it. He was the one who took me in. I stood in front of the building entrance and lit a cigarette. My vision blurred in the bluish-white smoke from my fingertips. I vaguely sensed someone passing by and slowly looked up. Suddenly, I found myself staring into Lucas’s eyes. He stood before me, expressionless. I froze slightly, wanting to speak but hesitating. Lucas just said coldly, “Excuse me.” “Lucas?” My voice trembled slightly. He repeated coldly. “Please move aside.” I shifted slightly. Lucas walked into the building without looking back. I turned and called out to him. “You still live here?” Lucas paused briefly, turning his head to smirk. “What’s it to you?” He continued up a few more steps without stopping, just taking out a cigarette. I instinctively followed. But he turned back, his gaze icy. “Don’t follow me.” Seeing I didn’t move, Lucas leaned down, getting close to my face. He had the cigarette between his lips, tilting his head slightly. The glowing ember from my cigarette naturally lit the end of his. I could clearly see his eyes, but couldn’t read the emotions in them. He deliberately blew a smoke ring in my face. I choked, coughing uncomfortably. I still hadn’t gotten used to the harshness of cigarettes, only daring to take tiny puffs. “If you can’t handle smoking, don’t pretend.” Lucas slowly straightened up, saying mockingly. “And don’t act concerned about things you wanted to throw away.” My heart ached dully. My phone rang – it was Ryan, my childhood friend. Since I’d returned home, he’d been pursuing me. “Aria, is the premiere over? I’ll come pick you up.” “I’ve got hot pot ready at home, let’s eat together.” The stairwell was eerily quiet. Ryan’s voice came through clearly from the other end of the phone. Lucas glanced at the ring on my middle finger, his tone flat. “You’re engaged to him?” I hung up the phone, not getting a chance to explain before Lucas gripped my chin. He forced me to look up at him. Lucas sneered, but there was anger in his eyes. “You have a fiancé but you’re here trying to seduce me? Quite the player, aren’t you.” “I…” My eyes stung slightly. The grip on my chin hurt. Lucas suddenly let go and turned to go upstairs without looking back. “Someone who’s already dead to me, “Don’t appear in front of me again.”

Suddenly, footsteps coming down the stairs echoed in the stairwell. “Lucas, you’re back! “My fever’s mostly gone. I’m so glad you let me rest at your old place – I really didn’t want to go to the hospital… “Oh, I was just about to take out the trash. There was a lot of clutter in the apartment, so I helped clean it up for you.” It was Isabella’s voice. “Who told you to touch my things.” Lucas’s voice was ice cold. “Huh? I just thought a lot of that stuff wasn’t worth keeping…” Isabella was taken aback. The next second she put down the trash bag and tugged at Lucas’s hand. “Come on, don’t be mad. I didn’t know you don’t like people touching your stuff.” As Isabella was speaking, she noticed me and her movements faltered slightly. “Aria Ning? What are you doing here?” Isabella frowned, her tone somewhat sharp. Seeing no reaction from me, she suddenly made an “oh” of realization, let go of Lucas’s hand, and walked past him. She crossed her arms and stood in front of me, looking down her nose with a smirk. “Came running to latch onto success, did you?” “Or…” Isabella leaned in close to my ear, lowering her voice. “Ryan isn’t satisfying you?” Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Lucas clench his fist. Isabella continued with a smile. “Should I remind you how you abandoned Lucas back then?” “You go first,” Lucas cut Isabella off. “I already called a car for you earlier, it should be waiting at the alley entrance.” Isabella was speaking to Lucas but looking at me triumphantly. “Then I’ll come find you at your place tomorrow, Lucas.” As she passed by me, she leaned in close to my ear again. “If you dare bother Lucas again, you know what the consequences will be.” I stumbled back slightly from her shove. Not long after Isabella left, it started pouring outside. I stood dazed in front of the building entrance. I took out my phone, debating whether to call Ryan. I had refused his offer to pick me up earlier. But now with the heavy rain, he was the only person I could think of to help me. The stairwell light behind me flickered off and on again. I turned around to see Lucas. His face was hidden in shadow, his expression unreadable. “Come up.” “What?” I was slightly stunned. “I need to go. I was about to call Ryan to…” The name “Ryan” seemed to provoke Lucas. Before I could finish speaking, he gripped my wrist tightly. “Come up.” “Lucas… let go of me…” I struggled to break free. Lucas’s grip only tightened. “Your fiancé doesn’t show up for hours, “You tell him not to come, and he just leaves you alone here? “You’re that eager to go with him?” “I need to go home…” I stubbornly tried to pull away. “Back to the home you share with Ryan?” Lucas’s tone grew increasingly cold. “He’s nothing but a hypocrite. You’re going to marry him?” “Lucas, let go of me!” The pent-up emotions finally exploded. My voice carried a hint of tears. “What does it matter to you… In your eyes, I’m already…” Lucas ignored me, dragging me up to the third floor. He unlocked the door one-handed, pulled me inside the apartment, and kicked the door shut. My wrist was gripped painfully as my back slammed against the wall. The light switch was accidentally hit. In the dim yellow light. Lucas’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse. “It matters to me.”

Outside the window was a rainy night. Inside was a tiny rented apartment. The sound of rain pounded relentlessly on my heart. I leaned weakly against the wall, eyes downcast, lashes trembling slightly. “Lucas, calm down.” I tried to keep my voice steady. But Lucas’s scent was making my thoughts chaotic. The smell of citrus body wash mixed with a faint tobacco scent enveloped me, along with waves of scorching heat. Hearing my words, Lucas’s tightly gripping fingers trembled slightly, as if trying to restrain himself, then loosened a bit. In that brief moment of withdrawal, the temperature and scent nearly dissipated. I instinctively grabbed the front of his shirt. Lucas froze, then his eyes darkened. I quickly pulled my hand back, avoiding his gaze. “I… “I need to go.” I pushed Lucas away, but he caught my wrist with one hand. He propped his right elbow on the wall above me, looking down. “Look at me.” A shadow loomed over me as my chin was gently tilted up, suddenly meeting Lucas’s dark eyes. “Say you like me.”

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I was the most devoted follower of Aria Johnson. For ten years, I transformed her from an unknown talent into a world-renowned pianist. Yet, when she reached the pinnacle of success, I chose to walk away. Everyone called me a fool. Only I knew that it was time to end this decade-long secret love. Later, the internet exploded with videos of the top pianist’s engagement party—Aria Johnson, treading on the shards of her million-dollar wedding dress, searching for me with tear-filled eyes. When I submitted my resignation, Aria’s slender fingers paused on the piano keys. She turned to me, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion: “Why?” Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window of the music room, I struggled to keep my voice steady: “Miss Johnson, I’m not getting any younger. It’s time for me to settle down.” After a pause, I added: “Recently, a relative back home introduced me to a suitable match.” To ensure a smooth resignation, I fabricated a harmless lie. Aria’s fingers tapped lightly on the keys, a habit she had when agitated. Scattered notes echoed in the room, as if telling a story. Seeing her slightly frustrated expression, a bittersweet sense of satisfaction welled up inside me. After a long moment, Aria placed the resignation letter on the piano: “I can give you a vacation. Please reconsider the resignation.” At that moment, my resolve wavered. A voice kept tempting me: “Stay, stay, and you can always be by her side.” But reason told me: “Simon, she’s getting engaged to Xavier. Pining for a married woman is not right.” My hand hesitated in the air for a long time, but ultimately, I didn’t take back the letter: “Being a manager is too demanding. After marriage, I want a more stable life.” “I’ll hand over all my work properly. I’m sorry, Miss Johnson.” With that said, Aria didn’t press further, only saying softly: “I understand. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.” Before I left the music room, Aria had already immersed herself back into her world of piano. To her, I was probably just the most competent among her many staff members. That day, I sat in the break room, staring at her concert photo on the wall, allowing myself to let my mind wander for the first time. In the past, I was always so busy that I barely had time to drink water. I had to handle her performance schedules and take care of her daily needs. I had to be available at all times, ready to rush to her side at a moment’s notice, single-handedly doing the work of multiple people. Of course, she compensated me generously, allowing me to buy a house in the city over the years. Charlie called my name several times before I snapped back to reality. “Simon, Miss Johnson said to go to the club first to set up tonight’s party.” The evening party was to celebrate Yvette Young’s return from the Vienna Conservatory. All the attendees were from Aria’s social circle. The young generation of elite social circles, born with silver spoons in their mouths, had their noses in the air. Logically, their circle should have been exclusive, but there was no helping it—I was simply too capable. A manager who could both take care of everyone’s emotions and arrange events perfectly was truly rare. Upon arriving at the club, I immediately immersed myself in the preparations. From the vintage of the wine to the placement of cutlery, and even the dietary restrictions of each guest, I arranged everything meticulously. “Replace the champagne with sparkling water, Mr. Leaf is on the wagon.” “Turn up the air conditioning, Mrs. Chu gets cold easily.” “Remember to prepare aged Pu’er tea, Miss Han loves it.” As night fell, guests began to arrive. Yvette was the first to arrive, greeting me as soon as she saw me: “When will Aria get here?” I glanced at my watch, answering cautiously: “She’s still rehearsing at the Vienna Concert Hall. She should be here in about an hour.” She slumped onto the leather sofa, fatigue evident in her eyes, her complexion slightly pale. I had the staff lower the music volume and brought over a cashmere blanket: “The autumn night is chilly. Please rest for a while, the others won’t be here for some time.” She took the blanket, joking: “Why don’t you stop working for Aria and become my butler instead? I’ll double your salary.” In this circle, there were too many sycophants, which made my neither obsequious nor arrogant attitude particularly precious. I joked back: “Thank you, Miss Young. At least I’ll have a backup plan if I ever lose my job.” As the night deepened and the lights brightened, all the guests arrived. Aria arrived in a black evening gown, gracefully walking in on high heels, exuding elegance with a hint of coolness. I took her coat, thinking this might be the last time I’d serve her. After several rounds of drinks, I seized the opportunity to announce my resignation to everyone. Raising my glass, I sincerely said: “Thank you all for your care over the years. Until we meet again.” A moment of silence fell over the table, then Yvette raised her glass to break the quiet: “To be honest, at first we thought you had ulterior motives towards Aria. Now it seems we were overthinking it.” Everyone understood the implication of her words. After all, Aria’s previous managers had all been fired for confessing their feelings to her. Later, she simply hired only female managers, but surprisingly, even a male assistant secretly passed her a love letter, which became a joke for a while. Someone teased: “I didn’t think anyone could resist Aria’s charm.” Aria elegantly sipped her wine, chuckling softly: “How boring.” After dinner, a few people gathered to drink and chat. During the conversation, Yvette casually asked: “Aria, I heard Mr. Yang is quite interested in you?” My hand froze, the motion of pouring wine for Aria suspended in mid-air. After a moment, she answered nonchalantly: “It’s just an arranged marriage. Marrying anyone is the same.” In their circle, marriage had always been a bond of interests, with feelings being the least important factor. It seemed she had accepted this arrangement, fulfilling her family’s expectations without question. I had met Xavier Yang. A rising star in the business world, young and promising, indeed a good match. How I wished Aria could have a different ending, but reality often disappoints. The party continued late into the night, with the guests’ drivers waiting for a long time. Only Aria’s driver was delayed due to an unexpected issue. So we stood at the entrance of the club, our shadows elongated by the streetlights. These moments of being alone were the most dangerous, as those suppressed feelings always threatened to burst forth. But Aria just stood quietly, the alcohol making her less aloof than usual. Soon, the driver arrived. Aria turned to look at me: “Want to come along?” I shook my head, putting on a polite smile: “Thank you, Miss Johnson, but my fiancée is on her way here.” She nodded and gracefully slipped into the car. Finally alone, I loosened my tie and leaned against the edge of a planter. For a moment, I didn’t know where to go or what to do. The autumn rain came unexpectedly, fine droplets falling coldly on my suit. I stood by the street waiting for a cab, which was hard to come by in this high-end neighborhood. …… Due to road construction, the driver had to take a detour. Aria didn’t expect to see Simon again. He stood in the rain, his suit jacket draped over his arm, looking somewhat forlorn. She was slightly taken aback, having never seen the usually meticulous Manager Shaw so casual. At the company, he always wore a well-pressed suit, his tie invariably knotted impeccably at his neck. She had encountered too many men who deliberately showcased their charm, loosening their ties, exposing their collarbones and abs, pretending to be casual in front of her. But Manager Shaw was different. His professional competence and perfectly measured demeanor had made her decide to keep him by her side. As the car was about to pass, the driver in the front seat spoke up: “Do you want to give Manager Shaw a ride?” Aria’s gaze remained calm as she replied indifferently: “Never mind.” She had a poor impression of his tardy fiancée. Although Manager Shaw was usually astute, he seemed to lack judgment when it came to matters of the heart. But this was his personal affair, and she shouldn’t interfere too much. In the distance, what seemed to be Aria’s car flashed by, disappearing in an instant. Perhaps it was just my imagination. In such a high-end residential area, people walking like me were indeed rare. The rain had soaked my clothes. My legs were numb by the time I finally hailed a taxi. It was late when I got home, the silence in the apartment suffocating. I always told people that I had a perfect family, a deeply loved fiancée, and many close friends. Others said my life was perfect, enviable. But in reality, I had nothing – no family, no lover, no friends. In middle school, my dad was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer. Shortly after the surgery, the cancer recurred. One ordinary morning, my mom left as usual, never to return. She took all our savings, leaving behind only my critically ill father and young me. Upon learning of this blow, my dad was surprisingly calm, silently accepting treatment. When his condition improved during hospitalization, he would even cook for me. That day after school, I came home to find the table full of dishes, my dad sitting across from me with a gentle smile. For some reason, a sense of unease welled up. The dishes emitted an unusual smell. I noticed the newly bought bottle of pesticide in the kitchen. At that moment, I realized that even terminally ill people could summon incredible strength, rendering me motionless. Taking advantage of his violent coughing fit, I broke free from his grip and fled to the rooftop in panic. My dad, tears streaming down his face, reached out to me, his voice choked: “Son, this world is too cruel. I can’t bear to leave you to face it alone.” “Let’s go together. In the next life, we’ll be father and son again.” Tears blurred my vision. I was exhausted, longing to smell the familiar tobacco scent on my dad’s body once more. Perhaps ending it all wouldn’t be so bad. After all, there seemed to be no hope in living. On the wind-swept rooftop, my dad’s embrace was the only warmth. He held my hand tightly as we slowly approached the edge. Just as we were about to fall, a pair of slender yet strong hands firmly grabbed me. She held onto me tightly, refusing to let go no matter how much I struggled. Swaying in the fierce wind, I only remember those eyes shining with determination. I survived, but my dad was gone forever. The person who saved me was Aria Johnson. She not only gave me life but also gave me a reason to keep living— To repay her kindness. I felt guilty for letting my father down. At that time, I was like a drowning man, desperately trying to grasp at a lifeline. And Aria was my beacon of hope. When the rescue team arrived, I tightly held her hand, looking up and asking: “How can I thank you?” The 14-year-old Aria looked down at me and said seriously: “Just come find me in the future.” From that night when I lost my father, my life seemed to come to a standstill, with only Aria as my driving force to move forward. Tonight, I was once again awakened by nightmares, reliving past events. In the dream, my father questioned why I had abandoned him, and my mother’s cold gaze as she left still pained me. I woke up drenched in sweat, my throat too hoarse to make a sound. The thermometer showed 101.8°F. Usually, I might have just taken some fever medicine and continued working, pretending nothing was wrong. But this time, I decided to take a sick day and really think about the direction of my life. …… Aria arrived at the music room to find that Simon had called in sick. She frowned, her impression of his fiancée worsening. Assistant Lily temporarily took over Simon’s duties, bringing Aria a cup of rose tea. Aria elegantly took a sip, her expression unchanged. The tea was weaker than usual, but she didn’t comment, simply putting down the cup and not drinking anymore. During the morning rehearsal, she made a mistake. Fortunately, she knew this piece by heart, avoiding a bigger issue. The room temperature was slightly high, the humidifier running continuously, causing her throat to feel dry. By the end of the day, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what went wrong, she felt like something was missing. For the first time, Aria seriously thought about Simon. She rarely paid attention to him normally, as he was always so low-key. He handled everything just right, like spring rain nourishing all things, silently and imperceptibly. It was as if she had never been there, yet everything was perfect. She frowned slightly, already the second time today. It was all because of Simon’s unworthy fiancée, who had snatched away her most capable manager. …… After tossing and turning all day, I still couldn’t figure out which direction to take. Like a lost butterfly, unable to find its way home in the dark night. The next morning, I still went to the music room as usual. As I opened the door, Lily nervously approached me, lowering her voice: “Miss Johnson isn’t in a good mood this morning. She didn’t even touch her favorite rose tea.” Yesterday’s cup of tea was still on the windowsill. I gently sniffed it and told Lily: “Use six fresh roses, water at 176°F, steep for three minutes. Not a minute more or less.” I carefully demonstrated each step of making the tea, with Lily observing closely. As the floral fragrance filled the air, Aria walked in. For a fleeting moment, I thought I caught a glimpse of tenderness in her eyes as she looked at me, and a hint of a pout on her lips. The handover of work was far more complicated than anticipated. I had numerous tasks at hand, making it difficult to transfer everything at once. Moreover, Aria had always been demanding, requiring meticulous attention to every detail of her daily life. I decided to get a notebook and record everything from adjusting the temperature in the music room to coordinating her performance outfits. This delay pushed back the originally planned one-month handover, resulting in a situation I had hoped to avoid. Accompanying Xavier Yang to the old mansion. Harboring inappropriate feelings for Aria, I felt guilty facing her future husband, even though I had done nothing wrong. Xavier wore a custom-tailored suit, a understated yet luxurious Patek Philippe on his wrist, his hair impeccably styled, every gesture exuding the aura of a successful businessman. I put on my professional smile and greeted him: “Mr. Yang, Miss Johnson arranged for me to pick you up.” On the way, Xavier kept asking about Aria, understandably nervous about getting engaged to someone he had never met. Sensing his anxiety, I gently reassured him: “Miss Johnson is very kind. You needn’t worry, Mr. Yang. If you have any concerns, feel free to ask me.” He looked at me gratefully. We chatted casually until we reached the old mansion. I had intended to leave after dropping him off. However, Mrs. Johnson, Aria’s grandmother, called me back. She was a renowned iron lady in the music world. Despite being in her seventies, she remained spirited, with piercing eyes. “Simon, where’s Aria?” Aria hadn’t come? I maintained my composure, answering cautiously: “There were some last-minute changes in the rehearsal schedule. Miss Johnson might be a bit late.” Mrs. Johnson snorted coldly, instructing me to make sure to bring her. I had witnessed how Mrs. Johnson punished Aria before, forcing her to practice piano for six hours straight until her fingers bled. Even now, Aria’s fingertips still bore those scars. After leaving, I immediately called Aria, thankfully getting through on the third try. I anxiously asked for her location, but she remained silent for a long time, only softly calling my name: “Simon.” Her voice was a bit slurred, as if she had been drinking. I could hear melodious piano music in the background. I instantly knew where she was and rushed there— I found Aria leaning against a grand piano in a bar, several glasses of whiskey in front of her, her long black hair cascading in the dim light. Hearing footsteps, she looked up slightly, her gaze hazy yet still cool, maintaining a bit of sobriety in her drunken state. “You’re here? Wait a moment, I’ll finish soon.” She patted the piano bench, gesturing for me to sit down: “Keep me company for a while.” The Johnson family’s concert hall stood in a bustling area, its lights glittering in the night, the classical European-style architecture exuding an air of nobility. Aria suddenly spoke: “Do you think it’s beautiful?” My gaze was still fixed on her perfect profile, and I blurted out without thinking: “Beautiful.” I blushed immediately, fortunately, she didn’t notice and continued speaking: “The surface glamour is just decoration for a cage. Even the most brilliant stage can’t confine a truly free soul.” She said this with a smile, but her tone was unusually serious. It was said that the Johnson family’s music business wasn’t entirely above board, with some shady deals behind the scenes, only recently starting to transform. Over the past decade, I had witnessed her step-by-step ascent to the pinnacle of the international piano world. The setbacks and pressures she endured during this time were something outsiders could never know. I couldn’t help but ask: “Are you happy?” The word “happy” seemed to linger on her lips. She chuckled softly but didn’t answer directly. Instead, she looked at me and said: “Your fiancée doesn’t deserve you.” I was stunned. She immediately lowered her head: “I’m sorry, I spoke out of turn.” Finishing her last sip of alcohol, Aria stood up, instantly reverting to the noble and elegant pianist she was known to be. On the way back, I kept pondering the meaning behind her words. After much thought, I still couldn’t understand, just as I never understood why she had appeared alone on the rooftop of that dilapidated apartment building years ago. But none of this mattered anymore. I was about to leave this place. From now on, separated by mountains and waters, we would rarely meet again. It was raining on the day I left my job. The rain in the north is always heavy and sudden, pitter-pattering on the ground as if trying to release all emotions. I sat in the music room, quietly packing up my belongings from the manager’s office. I had spent nearly ten springs and autumns in this position, transforming from a naive youth into a capable manager. I knew that every day at 3 PM, sunlight would stream through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the Steinway piano in a warm glow. I also knew that if I stood in the corner of the music room, I could hear Aria’s breathing as she practiced. These fragments were once the most precious solace in my life, but now, it was time to let go. The debt of gratitude had been repaid. Ten years of time, the days ahead would be for Xavier to protect. Lily watched me with reddened eyes. I ruffled her hair, smiling as I said: “Don’t be like this. We’ll meet again someday.” But deep down, I knew this goodbye was likely forever. This city held too many bitter memories. I needed to find a new beginning. As I left, a part of me still held onto a glimmer of hope, but ultimately, I couldn’t see her one last time. After resigning, I shut myself in my rented apartment and slept for days on end, as if trying to make up for all the sleep I had missed over the years. I bought alcohol and turned the stereo up to maximum volume. The stereo played Aria’s piano pieces. I laughed, laughed like a madman. After laughing, I sat numbly on the floor, staring blankly at the room full of sheet music. When I was young, my greatest wish was to survive. As long as I lived well, my dad wouldn’t jump off the building. Later, after dad was gone, my wish was to work hard so that mom wouldn’t give up on herself. Then mom left too, and I poured all my energy into work, wishing only to contribute to Aria’s music career. Now, I had lost my direction, not knowing where to go. Just as I was lost in thought, the doorbell suddenly rang. Looking through the peephole, I was shocked to see Aria standing outside.

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My husband cheated on me. His mistress brazenly approached me with their love child, mocking me for being a barren woman and telling me to step aside. Later, watching my husband kneel before me begging for forgiveness, I didn’t get angry. Instead, I gently suggested, “Why don’t we register the child under my name?” “The child in this photo is Jack’s and my son.” I calmly observed the young woman sitting across from me. She was pretty and petite, not looking at all like someone who was already a mother. If only her smug and arrogant expression could be ignored, it would be even better. I stared at her delicate face, thinking to myself. The Jack she mentioned was my husband. Being suddenly told that your husband has a child with another woman feels absurd, but I chose not to make a scene. On the contrary, I remained rational. I listened coolly as the young woman across from me recounted how she met my husband, fell in love, and gave birth to the fruit of their love. “So?” Out of politeness, I had patiently waited for her to state the purpose of seeking me out, but she kept going on and on about her love story with Jack Thompson. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I finally couldn’t help but ask. “You… you…” She looked at me in shock, as if she hadn’t expected me to say that. She was completely stunned. Under her shocked gaze, I elegantly took a sip of the coffee in front of me. She quickly regained her previous arrogant demeanor. “Hmph, Jack told me you had a miscarriage before, and you probably can’t have children in this lifetime. “Now that I’ve given Jack a son, what right do you have to still hold the title of Mrs. Thompson when you’re just a barren woman? “If I were you, I’d voluntarily divorce him. You might even get some money out of it. Better than ending up kicked out with nothing, just an old hag that no one wants.” I didn’t expect Jack to even tell her about my infertility. But what she doesn’t know is that I was once pregnant. It was Jack’s and my first child. At the time, I didn’t know I was pregnant. I was busy accompanying him with work and social engagements, and due to overexertion, I miscarried. It damaged my body, and since then I’ve had a tendency to miscarry. I remember Jack swearing to me in front of my parents. “Emma, don’t worry. Even if we never have children in this lifetime, I will love you forever. If I ever cheat on you, may I die a terrible death.” My parents, who had never liked him, weren’t moved by these words. Their expressions only grew heavier. I was the only one who was touched. Thinking about it now, I was so foolish. To believe such words. I chuckled lightly and said, “You want to be Mrs. Thompson? Then you shouldn’t be coming to me, you should go to Jack. It seems he doesn’t know you came to see me, right? “You may be younger and prettier than me, but so what? His success today is because of me, because of my family! “Why don’t you go ask him if he dares to divorce me for you and this illegitimate child? Does he dare?” With that, I took out my wallet, placed some cash on the table.

“I’ve paid for the coffee. You should keep the money you’ve earned as a homewrecker and mistress for yourself.” Having said that, I ignored her murderous glare, picked up my bag, and left the coffee shop. Leaving the cafe, I found myself in a daze at a private hospital. Today was originally the day I was supposed to pick up my medical report. After that miscarriage, I became very concerned about our health. At first, he would accompany me to get the medical reports, but in the past two years he always said he was too busy and let me go alone. He trusted me completely with this task. Now that I think about it, he was probably just too lazy to ask. “Emma, here’s your medical report. There’s nothing wrong, but Jack’s situation isn’t good. Why do you look so upset?” my best friend Lily asked with concern. She’s a doctor at this hospital, which is owned by her family. I wanted to put on a brave face and maintain my dignity. But at that moment, seeing my caring best friend, I couldn’t hold back the hurt in my heart any longer. My voice was choked with tears as I spoke: “Lily, Jack cheated on me. He even had a child with another woman. What should I do? How could he do this to me? “He said he didn’t care if we had children or not, that he would love me forever.” From childhood to adulthood, I rarely cried because my life had always been smooth sailing. Even after marrying Jack and going through some hard times, I still had my parents’ help and support. But now, I hated myself for being so weak, yet the tears still flowed uncontrollably. Jack and I were college classmates and have been married for seven years. In these seven years, we experienced the sweetness of passionate love, but that passion eventually faded into calm. I should have realized earlier that behind any calm surface, there are always turbulent undercurrents hidden beneath. Seeing me cry uncontrollably, Lily frantically tried to wipe away my tears. “That bastard Jack actually dared to cheat on you behind your back. Emma, don’t cry. Let’s divorce him! “I knew he was no good when he persuaded you to sneak your ID to get married. I felt he wasn’t a good person. These past two years he’s been so busy he can’t even spare the time to accompany you to get medical reports. But you just loved him so much, you wouldn’t listen to anyone. “I was wondering how to comfort you, but now it seems there’s no need. Karma! Jack Thompson deserves this!” Indeed, when I first introduced Jack to Lily, she didn’t like him. She always believed Jack wasn’t good enough for me, and I often defended him to her. I’m an only child from a wealthy family, pampered since childhood. I hardly encountered any difficulties or setbacks growing up. In college, I met Jack. After a few encounters, he started pursuing me. Having never dated before, I fell into the whirlpool of love. Blinded by love, I secretly married him right after graduation, persuaded by his sweet talk. Although my parents were angry with me, they reluctantly accepted him due to the circumstances. For my sake, my parents not only provided financial support but also introduced business connections, giving him the greatest support and boost in his career. During the early days of the company, I accompanied him in working overtime and attending business events. Later, as the company gradually got on track, I retreated behind the scenes, becoming what outsiders saw as the pampered Mrs. Thompson. Before meeting this woman, I had always been grateful that I hadn’t misjudged him. Now I see that Lily’s judgment of people was indeed accurate, at least better than mine. I was wrong, terribly wrong. Just then, my phone rang. It was Jack’s mother, my mother-in-law. “Where have you been? I found a folk remedy from my hometown. The master said it can cure your illness. Hurry back home from wherever you are and drink it while it’s hot, so you can give our Thompson family a child.” Ever since learning about my health issues, my mother-in-law didn’t say much at first. Actually, I’m not stupid. I know it’s not that she didn’t want to say anything, but that Jack had specifically instructed her not to. At that time, the company wasn’t as big as it is now, and still couldn’t do without my parents’ help. If they upset me and displeased my parents, the company’s business would be over. So for those few years, my mother-in-law treated me, her daughter-in-law, even better than she treated Jack, her own son. In the past two years, Jack has been quite successful, growing the company bigger and bigger, gradually no longer needing to rely completely on my parents’ help. With her son now having a say in the company, my mother-in-law started to show her true colors, nitpicking at me and finding fault everywhere, often forcing me to drink Chinese medicine to improve my health. Every time I mentioned this to Jack, he would use the excuse that his mother was old, telling me to be patient and bear with it. I loved him and knew he was busy with work and under a lot of pressure, so I didn’t want to trouble him with this. Even though I was reluctant, I forced myself to drink a lot of bitter Chinese medicine. As for him, he went behind my back to find a mistress and had an illegitimate child. How ridiculous when I think about it! “Mom, these folk remedies have no scientific basis and can be very dangerous. They might even kill someone. Please don’t look for these remedies anymore. I won’t drink them.” Because of Jack’s affair, I was in a bad mood, and my tone was somewhat harsh. My mother-in-law on the other end of the phone heard it too, and immediately became sarcastic. “Well, if you won’t drink it, that’s fine. But can you give me a grandson? Look at you, married to Jack for seven years and still haven’t given our Thompson family a child. “Our Jack is almost thirty, the only son of the Thompson family, the boss of a big company. If it weren’t for your inability to bear children, how could he not have a child by now? Is this how your parents taught you to be a daughter-in-law? “You better come back and drink this medicine, or don’t blame me for making Jack divorce you! A barren divorcee like you probably won’t be able to find a good man like our Jack again.” Before I could retort, she hung up the phone. “The Thompson family is really too much! Divorce! Emma, you must divorce him!” My best friend Lily indignantly said. I stared at the medical report in my hand, lost in thought. Just then, my phone received a text message from Jack. “Emma, don’t be angry with Mom about the medicine. She means well. She’s old and has high blood pressure. If she says a few words to you, just bear with it. After all, she’s your elder. “I’m coming home for dinner tonight. Remember to wait for me. I have something to tell you.” Again, asking me to bear with it. But I’ve endured enough. I don’t want to endure anymore. I did love Jack, but my love for him ended the moment I found out about his affair today. The child looks just over three months old, which means he’s been cheating for at least a year and a half. And I’ve been kept in the dark all this time. Thinking back on this past year and more, he often used overtime and business trips as excuses to not come home for days, not answering my calls. Even his attitude towards me became increasingly perfunctory and cold. I foolishly thought it was because of his work pressure. On our wedding anniversary, I called him to come home for dinner, and he accused me of being unreasonable and inconsiderate. It turns out it wasn’t my problem. He already had someone new. I’m not a fool. I won’t tolerate him continuing to trample on my dignity. I want to make him pay for this. “Lily, you’re right. I was blinded by love before, but now my mind is clear. “Divorce? That would be letting Jack off too easily. The company might even have to be split in half. If it weren’t for my parents’ help and support back then, the company wouldn’t be what it is today, and Jack Thompson wouldn’t be where he is now. “If I didn’t have this medical report, I might choose to divorce him. But now, I absolutely won’t divorce Jack. I know him. He would definitely leave everything to this child. “They want a son and she wants to be Mrs. Thompson? Well, I won’t let them have their way. “Back then, I co-founded the company with him. My efforts were no less than his. “For the sake of the company, I lost my child. But he broke his vow from back then. Since he’s being cruel, he can’t blame me for being ruthless. He can forget about the company.” I didn’t plan to sit idly by. Lily has a wide network and knows many people. I asked her to help me find a very capable private investigator. How much it costs doesn’t matter to me. After all, money is the least of my concerns. Jack gives me a sum of money every month as my living expenses. Although I no longer work at the company, I’m still a major shareholder and receive dividends every year. Plus, I have a good head for financial investment, earning enough money to cover my daily expenses. I need to find evidence of Jack’s affair as soon as possible, just in case. I also asked the private investigator to thoroughly investigate the background and identity of Jack’s mistress. She dared to arrogantly arrange a private meeting with me, presumably because Jack gave her the courage. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have told me such private information about my inability to conceive. Over the years, I’ve noticed Jack’s desire to have his own child. I’ve seen many doctors for this, but unfortunately, we’ve never been successful. At first, when my mother-in-law made me drink Chinese medicine, he would try to stop her. But in the past year, he directly told me to go along with my mother-in-law’s wishes. I suppose by then, he was already with Mia. People really are fickle. After seven years of marriage, I still know Jack’s personality inside out. He’s someone who responds better to gentle persuasion than to force. I believe that if I lower my stance and show some weakness, given our years of feelings and my parents’ influence behind me, he definitely wouldn’t divorce me for someone like Mia. But the premise is that I have to accept his illegitimate child. He’s no longer the poor boy who could only rely on my family. He now has his own connections and resources. So he’s willing to risk falling out with me and my parents to have his own child. Even though doing so would have a huge impact on him. But for this illegitimate child, this child he’s been longing for, he might really be willing to do anything. After all, he’s an only child, the only heir of the Thompson family. But I’m not willing. Why should I? I’m not the one who did anything wrong. He’s the one who cheated first, betraying our love and our marriage. Life is truly marvelous. It can bring you shocks, and it can also bring you surprises when you least expect them. Jack came back. As soon as he got home and saw me, he immediately apologized with a guilty face. “Honey, it’s all my fault. I had an emergency meeting yesterday and then worked overnight on a project. I didn’t have time to tell you, and I made you wait for me all night.” He looked remorseful and sincere. If I hadn’t seen the video Mia sent me, I might have believed his lies. Now he’s just full of lies, not a single word of truth coming out of his mouth. Seeing him like this, it’s clear he doesn’t know that I’ve found out about his affair. But since that’s the case, I’ll pretend I don’t know either. I kept my composure and replied, “It’s okay, I know you’re busy with work. I understand.” “I knew it, honey. You’re always so understanding. There’s something else I need to tell you. You know the economy hasn’t been good this year, which has led to some cash flow issues in our company. So I’ve been working on a big project. If we get it, our company will be able to overcome this difficult period. “The client is a well-known foreign company, but we’re not the only ones after this project. Other companies want it too. I’ve found out that the project manager on their side is the son of your dad’s old war buddy. Do you think you could ask your dad to help make a connection?” So that’s it. I looked at Jack’s fawning face in front of me and suddenly felt utterly disgusted. The person I once loved has long since become unrecognizable. I’m afraid he’s had no place for me in his heart for a long time. I’m just a ladder for him to climb up, a bridge to gain benefits. But I’m grateful that heaven is still on my side. I was wondering why my mother-in-law suddenly changed her attitude towards me. It turns out her precious son needs something from me. If he needs something from me, then many things will be much easier to handle. “Is that so? Honey, don’t worry, of course I’ll help you. I’ll talk to Dad about this.” Seeing that I agreed so readily, Jack was very happy. “Honey, there’s something else I want to ask you.”