I was buying a cake at a bakery when I overheard the staff complaining about the pressure to meet their sales targets. One employee named Skyler said: “Lucky for me, I have the sweetest boyfriend. Whenever I’m short on my quota, he just buys out the entire store.” I felt a pang of envy. My boyfriend Caldwell was a major client at my company, but he was always harsh on my proposals. He’d never bend the rules to help me meet my targets. Just then, a customer walked in and asked for Skyler by name. “Skyler, same as last month. I need 300 cakes.” “Coming right up, Lisa!” Skyler bounced over cheerfully. I froze in place. The customer was Lisa from Caldwell’s company’s purchasing department. Looking at the cakes Skyler was packing, it suddenly hit me. These were the exact cakes Caldwell bought every single day. Even at our company celebration banquets, all the cakes came from this shop. So Skyler’s “sweet boyfriend” was Caldwell. Lisa didn’t notice me tucked away in the corner. As the purchasing manager, there were few things that required her personal attention anymore. Yet here she was, treating Skyler with a respect tinged with warmth. “Wait, Lisa! Can you give this to Caldwell for me? He left it at my place last night and forgot to take it!” Skyler handed Lisa a watch. Witnessing this scene, my face must have turned deathly pale. That IWC watch was what I’d bought him with my year-end bonus last year. Yesterday morning, I’d clearly seen him wearing it when he left. By evening, his wrist was bare. When I casually asked about it, he said he’d probably taken it off during his golf game that afternoon and forgotten to retrieve it. Turns out, he’d left it at Skyler’s place. “Huh, why are you crying?” When Skyler came back, she looked startled. I stared in the direction Lisa had gone, unable to snap out of it. “Maybe because I’m too envious.” I forced one corner of my mouth up in a bitter smile. “You have a boyfriend who treats you so well.” This got Skyler excited. She sat down across from me and pulled out a tissue to wipe my tears. “Of course! Even though he’s loaded, he respects me!” “Actually, he told me I didn’t need to work. Said he’d take care of me.” Skyler stuck out her tongue. “But I don’t want to be some trophy wife!” “He couldn’t change my mind, so he had no choice but to support my girl-boss dreams!” Those words sounded so familiar. That was exactly Caldwell’s personality. He’d once urged me to quit work early too. “You’ve got such an amazing husband. Why put yourself through the grind for that measly paycheck?” At the time, I was working overtime in the study, rushing to finish a report. When I finally sent it off, I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at him: “Having an amazing husband like you and wanting to establish my own career aren’t mutually exclusive!” Caldwell’s tone immediately soured. “You’re just working for your boss. You really think you’re creating any real value?” That conversation ended badly. It wasn’t the first time he’d dismissed my work. In Caldwell’s eyes, I could be capable, but that capability should only serve to embellish my identity as his wife. From that point on, Caldwell, as our company’s biggest client, started nitpicking everything, finding fault with me left and right. Just like yesterday. Our team had prepared three proposals for his company Radiance’s Valentine’s Day marketing campaign for Caldwell to choose from. He wasn’t satisfied with any of them. We revised them for three solid weeks. Five minutes after I sent the final draft to Caldwell’s email, I got a reply with just one cold word: “Redo.” No reason, no comments, not even a hint about what direction to take. Days of pulling all-nighters had crushed everyone on the team. I sat in my office, looking at those young subordinates outside, drowning in guilt. All I could do was sigh and decide to go to Caldwell’s office myself. “Can you at least tell me what’s not suitable?” I was somewhat helpless. He didn’t even glance at me. “If you can’t even see what’s unsuitable, Director Nivea, I suggest you switch careers.” It was so insulting. I couldn’t maintain basic business etiquette anymore. I slammed the door on my way out. Late that night, after working overtime, I dragged myself home feeling angry and exhausted, only to find a huge bouquet of flowers in the bedroom. Caldwell came out of the shower, acting like nothing had happened, smiling as he said: “I was a bit harsh during the day. These flowers are my apology.” “Don’t be mad, Nivea.” “You want to pursue your own life goals, so naturally I can’t show favoritism in business.” The same situation, the same conflict. Caldwell refused to acknowledge my soul’s outlet, yet chose to support this girl’s dreams. “What the hell is the point of a husband like that?” After hearing my story, Skyler was indignant on my behalf. “After you dump him, come back here with proof and I’ll give you free coffee!” After talking it out, I felt much calmer. Caldwell’s heart had really strayed to another galaxy. Maybe I really should come claim that free coffee.

There was another presentation that afternoon. To prevent Caldwell from finding fault, I prepared thoroughly, pushing the proposal’s creativity to its limits. I didn’t expect to be met with awkward silence after presenting. Caldwell tapped the table. Anticipating what was coming, my fists clenched unconsciously, my nails digging deep into my palms. But Caldwell wasn’t looking at me. He just addressed the person in charge from Radiance with earnest instruction: “When you do proposals in the future, don’t be like Director Nivea here—seemingly comprehensive but actually lacking focus, flashy and hollow.” Naturally, it was another wasted effort. Everyone was used to it by now, ready to pull another all-nighter to redo it. But for the first time ever, I let everyone go. “You’ve all worked hard this past while. Go out and have a nice meal, put it on my tab.” “Get some rest when you get home.” Everyone cheered, and infected by their mood, I showed a rare smile. After work, I didn’t want to go home and face Caldwell. So I drove to my mom’s house. As soon as I opened the fridge, I saw it stuffed with cinnamon cakes. All because she didn’t want to waste Caldwell’s “thoughtfulness.” My mom forced herself to eat several, which resulted in an upset stomach that landed her in the hospital for a week. After that scare, I gently hinted to Caldwell not to buy my mom so many cakes anymore. Mom already had diabetes and wasn’t in good health. But he didn’t take it to heart at all. Furious, I immediately wanted to throw out all the cakes in the fridge. “Mom, I told you not to eat these anymore. Have you forgotten about your hospital stay?” But she looked conflicted. “Won’t Caldwell be upset? He means well, after all.” Seeing my mom so timid broke my heart. Caldwell did mean well—but that thoughtfulness was for Skyler! I couldn’t tell her that. I could only swallow my bitterness. When I got home, the first thing I saw was another huge bouquet of flowers. I didn’t even want to look at it. I just felt sad. His own wife came home this late, yet Caldwell didn’t find it strange at all. After all, ever since our conflicts began, I’d been working overtime almost every day. I finally showered and lay down in bed, clean and refreshed, when he turned over and pulled me into his arms. The moment our lips were about to touch, I couldn’t help but imagine him with Skyler. I instantly felt sick. Almost as a reflex, I broke free from Caldwell’s embrace. “What’s your problem now?” He turned on the bedside lamp. His expression was terrifyingly dark. I dry-heaved, then suddenly felt a surge of impulse. “Let’s get divorced, Caldwell. Let’s stop torturing each other.” He looked at me in disbelief. “Just because I rejected your work during the day?” Seeing my tear-filled eyes looking so pitiful, his tone softened. “During the day, I was just being objective about work. Don’t take it personally.” “You know that’s just how I am at work.” He pointed at the bouquet and presented it to me like a treasure: “Look, your favorite white roses.” Seeing that I still wasn’t moved, Caldwell smiled helplessly. “How about this, Nivea. Let me apologize first, and tomorrow I’ll make it up to your team too.” “Don’t be mad anymore, okay?” Caldwell was always generous with apologies, but he never actually solved the problems. He just wrapped them up with ribbons and sent them back disguised as gifts. Even when I brought up divorce, he thought I was just being petulant. Tears instantly soaked into my pillow.

Caldwell’s compensation came in the form of desserts from Skyler’s cake shop. Various cakes filled our break room. One of the women on my team let out a long sigh. “Does Mr. Caldwell own this shop or something? Why is it always this stuff!” I couldn’t help but laugh sarcastically. “Maybe one of the employees saved his life.” Everyone rarely heard me speak in such a tone. They exchanged glances. I didn’t continue. Instead, I pressed the elevator button and went downstairs to the coffee shop. It was during work hours, so there weren’t many people. Skyler always looked carefree, nothing like the typical corporate drone. Today she seemed especially happy. “Nivea! I’m about to be promoted to shop owner!” “Today’s my last day working here. This one’s on me!” Her smile was practically overflowing. Something ugly began to crawl through my heart like ants. It was jealousy. Jealousy drove me to open my phone’s voice recorder under Skyler’s curious gaze. “You said if I had proof of a breakup, I could get free coffee from you. Does that still stand?” Skyler looked pleasantly surprised at first. “Of course! Congrats—” Before she could finish, she heard my voice from the recording. “Let’s get divorced, Caldwell.” Her face went white as a sheet. “Looks like you knew he was married.” Skyler frantically shut off the recording. She wanted to explain, but having no mental preparation, her words came out jumbled. “No, I… I didn’t mean to…” The other customers in the shop seemed to smell drama and gradually gathered around. “Skyler, you’re about to have your own coffee shop. Congratulations.” “But do you know how you got that position?” My voice was just loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly. “Last night, Caldwell had his assistant contact your regional headquarters, promising long-term cooperation.” “On the condition that this shop be handed over to ‘the person most familiar with their needs’—meaning you.” The color drained from Skyler’s face inch by inch. “Is this your girl-boss script? Enjoying someone else’s husband helping you meet your KPIs with one click?” “Is this your girl-boss script? Using someone else to exchange resources, easily getting your first shop?” By this point, the onlookers understood everything. “A homewrecker! Disgusting!” Someone spat directly onto Skyler’s shoe. She flinched and completely broke down. “Stop it, stop it, please stop!” Seeing her like this, I felt bored. I really had no desire to continue the confrontation. I was about to turn and leave when I saw Caldwell rushing over. “Smack!” The moment the slap landed, everything spun. I collapsed to the floor and couldn’t get up for a long time. Well, no need to pity Skyler anymore. I was in far worse shape than her. “Caldwell! Tell them I’m not a mistress, I’m not…” Skyler cried like a helpless little rabbit. Seeing people still taking photos, Caldwell took off his jacket and threw it over her head. He carefully sheltered the girl in his arms and ushered her behind the counter, telling the other staff to take good care of her. Only then did he come to stand before me. “In a moment, you’re going to cooperate with me and apologize to Skyler.” Caldwell crouched in front of me, making a show of helping me up, but the words that reached my ears chilled my heart. “And if I say no?” Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. I looked at him defiantly. He smiled gently, speaking softly by my ear as if whispering sweet nothings: “Then I might have to transfer Radiance’s Valentine’s Day project to Glamour, your competitor.”

I was shaking with rage. “That won’t benefit Radiance at all!” Switching teams at the last minute was a move that would hurt both sides. But Caldwell smiled like a devil. “Remember, you’re the one who made this mess.” “I don’t really care. As long as Skyler isn’t hurt, Radiance can handle it.” “Can you?” I desperately wanted to be selfish just this once, regardless of my career. But thinking of those young faces on my team, their complete trust and reliance on me… For this project, everyone had sacrificed so much. They didn’t deserve this outcome. So I couldn’t tell which hurt more—my face or my heart. I could only agree to Caldwell’s terms. “Sorry for disturbing everyone’s day. This was a misunderstanding.” “I admit, my heart did wander outside my marriage for a while.” “But Skyler is a good person.” “She consistently rejected my advances and always maintained proper social boundaries with me.” He was actually willing to use his own reputation to protect Skyler. It was like I didn’t know him anymore. “As for my wife, she grew up in a single-parent household, so she tends to be suspicious. I hope everyone can be understanding.” To sell this lie, Caldwell directly targeted my deepest pain. When my dad died, my mom nearly cried herself blind. He was the one who supported both of us. But now, he was using my pain as a weapon against me. “She’s just been under a lot of work stress lately, so she’s seeing things that aren’t there and overthinking.” Then Caldwell turned to look at me, his complaining voice tinged with indulgent helplessness. “Stop making a scene, Nivea.” “You can’t joke around with people’s reputations like this. When we get home, I’ll make it up to you, okay?” That speech tarnished me and tarnished himself. Only Skyler remained spotless, as if she were the purest white lotus. Finally, Caldwell ran his hand through my hair. The seemingly affectionate gesture carried a heavy threat. I couldn’t help but shrink back, then forced out those words with difficulty. “I’m sorry. I was wrong about you.” Skyler’s emotions had already calmed down. Seeing me like this, she looked reluctant. She started to speak several times but ultimately didn’t have the courage to face the truth. She could only laugh awkwardly and chose to forgive. “It’s okay, I understand how you feel.” And just like that, a perfect victim was born. From now on, no matter how I tried to bring this up again, with Caldwell’s narrative set today, Skyler would forever remain unassailable. Caldwell had taught me a masterclass in my own field—marketing. I closed my eyes and let the tears flow. In that moment, I felt incredibly grateful that I’d submitted my resignation letter that morning. Mr. Mycenae had wanted to convince me to stay. But I told him that only if I left would Caldwell stop making things difficult for the company. He let out a long sigh. That sigh contained guilt toward me—far more genuine than any guilt Caldwell felt. After all, when the crowd dispersed, the first thing Caldwell did was take Skyler home. He did try to placate me, saying the slap wasn’t intentional, telling me to go home first and have the housekeeper tend to it. He said that tomorrow when he got back, I could hit him or yell at him all I wanted. Tomorrow was Valentine’s Day. He didn’t know yet that there would be no tomorrow.

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In a Dare Challenge video, I saw a conversation between my best friend, Kewell, and her boyfriend, Paul. Kewell asked Paul, “Dare you tell Joel we slept together?” Paul said, “No way.” Kewell replied, “Coward. Honestly, I wouldn’t dare either. Joel is my best friend, always has been. She’s more important than you.” The comments section was filled with people trashing them, sticking up for me. But they didn’t know that I was the one who owed Kewell and Paul. Paul had gone to jail for me, stabbing someone, and his dream of becoming a police officer was shattered forever. Kewell had been assaulted because of me, losing hearing in one ear, and she woke up screaming from nightmares every night. I clutched the late-stage cancer report in my hand, then smiled, a wave of acceptance washing over me, and called Kewell: “Can you come with me to try on wedding dresses?” I had nothing else to give them, only a wedding. Of course, I wouldn’t be the bride. She would. Kewell arrived while I was trying on wedding dresses. A satin mermaid gown, adorned with pearls – Kewell’s preferred elegant and sophisticated style. She looked confused. “But don’t you like elaborate, long-train gowns?” “I thought I’d change my style,” I said with a soft smile. She didn’t notice how pale my face was; her eyes were fixed on the dress, sparkling. Before that incident, she often used to dream with me about her future wedding. She said she wanted to walk down the aisle in a satin mermaid gown, with the venue covered in champagne-colored roses… Kewell, I remembered it all. I took her slightly cold hand. “Could you try it on for me, please?” Kewell flinched as if my hand’s warmth had burned her. “No, that won’t do. A wedding dress is so sacred, I…” “But I’m a little tired! Just help me out.” I whined and nuzzled into her neck. Kewell finally nodded. She always had a soft spot for me. Without a second thought, she changed into the gown. In front of the huge full-length mirror, her eyes sparkled like a little girl who’d found a treasure. But then, Kewell’s eyes welled up. She turned her back to wipe away her tears, choking back a sob. “Are you going to marry Paul in this?” I nodded. “Yes.” Her voice trembled. “Then, congratulations, Joel.” I lowered my head, silent. Suddenly, a furious shout broke the quiet. “What are you doing?!” I turned to see Paul. I was about to speak. Paul grabbed my wrist without a word and dragged me towards the changing room. He wasn’t careful with his strength, gripping my wrist so hard it felt like he was trying to crush my bones. His strides were long, and I gasped, struggling to keep up. He was blinded by rage, not noticing his force as he violently slammed me against the changing room wall. My whole body shook with pain, and tears streamed down my face, an unwelcome betrayal. “Joel, do you even have a heart?! You asked Kewell to try on a wedding dress for you, knowing full well she can never get married because of you!” My lips were pale, and I struggled to open my mouth to explain. Paul’s bloodshot eyes shot me a venomous look. “How could you be so heartless, twisting the knife in her wound?” No, that wasn’t it. I wanted to explain, but I didn’t know what to say. Should I tell him I saw Kewell’s account and knew they’d slept together? Should I tell him I didn’t want to hurt her, that I was giving her the wedding and him? Should I tell him I was dying soon? But all those words choked in my throat, impossible to say. Paul coldly dropped a single sentence. “You’ve disappointed me greatly.”

He turned and left with Kewell to change. The sales assistant looked at me awkwardly. She asked, “That wedding dress…” Recalling the fleeting sparkle in Kewell’s eyes, I pulled out my card. “I’ll take it.” This was their first wedding gift from me. Soon, I arranged the second gift. I submitted a new wedding plan to the wedding planning company. They looked troubled. “The new plan is completely different from the previous one, Ms. Schmidt.” I felt a pang of guilt, remembering how they’d worked sleepless nights on the first plan. “Can I pay extra?” After I offered a generous amount, they promised to deliver a flawless champagne rose-themed wedding in a month. I smiled faintly and told them, “The bride’s name needs to be changed as well.” The assistant, who had been smiling moments before, gaped at me. “I’m dying soon. I want the two most important people in my life to take care of each other.” There was no malice in my eyes, only a pure innocence that made the assistant think I was joking. “It’s late-stage cancer, no cure. Please don’t tell them.” I spoke each word clearly, and the assistant stammered, “O-okay…” Stepping out of the store, I slowly exhaled. But a wave of nausea hit me, and I doubled over, dry heaving until I vomited blood. I fumbled in my bag for my medication, only to realize I’d accidentally left the special pills, disguised as regular stomach medicine, in Paul’s car. Frantically, I pulled out my phone and called Paul. “Paul, my stomach hurts, and my pills are in your car. Could you…” In the past, Paul would panic if I so much as scraped my finger, running a mile to get me iodine and bandages. But today, he was unusually silent. “Are you doing this on purpose?” Cold sweat broke out on my forehead from the pain. “W-what…?” I almost wondered if I was in so much pain I was hallucinating. “Did you also see Kewell’s Ins post? You know she’s drunk at a bar right now and it’s dangerous, yet you’re using these petty tricks to get my attention and stop me from going to get her.” “I’m not.” The pain made my vision swim, and my heart felt like it was being pounded by a blunt object. A thick cloud of injustice crept into my heart, and my nose began to sting. “Enough. You’re getting so selfish. Kewell already sacrificed so much for you once.” “She can’t be hurt again. Buy your own medicine.” I nodded, wanting to say ‘okay,’ but realized the call had already been disconnected. I gazed at the empty street, forcing myself to stay upright, though my body felt like it would collapse, and headed back to the hospital for more medication. It hurt so much! I hated pain. I had booked euthanasia abroad, just three days before the wedding. After taking my medicine, I started writing my will at home. As I wrote, my eyelids started to droop. I slumped on the desk, my mind hazy, and dreamt of the past. Kewell, Paul, and I were eighteen, the inseparable trio, the ‘It’ crowd of our city. But everything changed the day I accepted Paul’s confession and went home. My adoptive uncle, Richard, had been drugged. His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at me and the roses in my hand, asking, “Joel, don’t you love me?” I had only ever seen him as an elder, never harboring any other thoughts. He crept closer, knocking the phone out of my hand before I could call for help. He cornered me against the window, and I screamed for help to Kewell and Paul, who hadn’t gone far. They burst in, seeing Richard pinning me to the floor, and Paul’s eyes turned red.

He grabbed a fruit knife from the table and plunged it into Richard’s back. Kewell, fearing what might happen, held Richard in a death grip as he tried to chase us. Gripping his waist tightly, she didn’t hesitate. “Joel, take Paul and go! Something bad will happen!” I struggled to drag Paul away, who looked ready to go back and finish him off. I thought that if I separated Paul from the scene while he was in a fit of rage, nothing else would happen. I thought the tragedy had stopped there, but I was wrong. It was only just beginning. My uncle, Richard, whom I had respected and loved since childhood, my usually refined uncle, had assaulted Kewell under the influence of drugs. When we returned to the villa with the police, I saw a memory I would forever wish to forget. Kewell lay pale on the wooden floor. Her clothes were in tatters, blood gushing from one ear — Richard had slapped her — and her face was marred with bite marks. She was rushed to the hospital. But assault wasn’t flirting; her injuries were so severe that she would never be able to have children. Upon learning the news, Kewell’s mother lunged at me and slapped me hard. “Why was it Kewell who got hurt, not you?!” “It’s all your fault, you’re a walking disaster.” A tidal wave of guilt swallowed me whole, and in a daze, I walked to the hospital’s rooftop. I told myself I needed to atone to Kewell. But Kewell pulled me back from the edge, crying, “What about Paul and me if you die?!” “Please don’t die.” I smiled and nodded, but secretly hid a fruit knife in my sleeve. It was all for me; I wanted Richard to pay for what he did to Kewell. I pushed open the villa door, and an eerie silence hung in the air. Richard was dead. He’d slit his wrists in the bathtub. He’d left a suicide note and a letter of apology and understanding. My eighteenth year, my youth, ended so abruptly. When I woke up from the nightmare, I realized Paul hadn’t come home all night. I opened Ins, and Kewell’s private account popped up on my feed again. This time, the video showed two hands intertwined on a bed, with the wedding bed I’d personally picked out as the background. The caption read: “Sorry, Joel, this is our last indulgence.” I smiled helplessly. Kewell was so foolish. That wedding house was their third wedding gift from me. Why the rush? But then, the pain of the double betrayal by my best friend and the man I loved surged through my heart. I rushed into the bathroom and dry heaved over the sink. I looked up and realized tears were streaming down my face. When the pain reached its peak, I started hallucinating. In the mirror, it was a vibrant, youthful Kewell, looking up with her innocent face, asking me: “I want a satin mermaid gown, a wedding covered in champagne roses… Do you remember all of it?” I smiled faintly, nodding at the empty air. “I remember, I remember it all, Kewell.” Happy wedding, Kewell and Paul. The sound of a key turning in the lock came from the door. I haphazardly wiped away my tears and walked out. Paul walked in, supporting Kewell with one hand and holding my pill bottle in the other. Their eyes met my swollen, red eyes, and for a fleeting moment, they showed shock and concern. Then, Paul frowned deeply. “How long are you going to keep making a fuss? Shouldn’t I go get Kewell, considering her state?” He threw the pill bottle at my feet. “Stop playing the victim for attention, okay? Haven’t we sacrificed enough for you?” I bent down to pick up the pill bottle, saying calmly, “Okay, thank you.” Perhaps I was too calm, Paul looked bewildered for a moment.

Kewell turned and pushed Paul’s supporting hand away. She limped over and spread her arms in front of me: “What’s wrong with you, Paul? Why are you yelling at Joel?!” I saw her slightly trembling arms and that one ear that could no longer hear. I suddenly remembered countless times in the past when she had stood in front of me like that. When a dog chased me in elementary school, Kewell spread her arms to shield me. In middle school, when the school bully forced me to be her girlfriend, Kewell stood in front of me. And during the incident with Richard, it was her who stood in front of me. My nose suddenly stung, and I tried to suppress the injustice I felt. “I’m sorry, I won’t make a fuss anymore.” Hearing my words, Paul’s body trembled. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But I pulled Kewell and turned upstairs, playfully toying with her hand. I began preparing their fourth wedding gift. I asked casually, as if it didn’t matter, “Is your ring finger still size twelve?” “Mm-hmm,” Kewell replied distractedly. Then she smiled and asked, “Are you getting me a gift?” “Yes, and you’ll love it.” “How do you know what I want?” I looked at her gently. “Then tell me, what do you want?” Kewell gently flicked my nose. “I want you to be healthy and live a long, happy life.” I smiled and said, “Okay.” But deep down, I sighed. I’m sorry, Kewell, that’s one wish I can’t fulfill. I returned my wedding ring and exchanged it for Kewell’s favorite brand. The woman’s ring, a size twelve, felt unusually loose on my hand. It was then I realized that the illness had wasted me away to skin and bones, yet Kewell and Paul hadn’t noticed. In the past, if I lost even a pound, they’d get furious and blame each other for not taking good care of me. Now my cheeks were hollow, my wrists alarmingly thin, and neither of them had noticed. I placed the ring in its original box so they could use it directly on their wedding day. After doing all this, I found I didn’t even have the strength to lift my wrist. I took a deep breath, feeling as if the pain in my stomach would kill me instantly. I forced myself to the garden, wanting to see the white rose bush my mother left me. I’d already left this house to Kewell. I thought that if they lived in the marital home permanently, and if they weren’t too bothered by the morbid thought, I hoped my ashes could be buried under this white rose bush. Like I was returning to my mother’s embrace. But the scene in the rose bush made my eyes burn, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe. The entire white rose garden had been carelessly torn up and trampled. I screamed at the people, “What are you doing?!” The gardener, confused, replied, “Mr. Paul asked us to change them. He said he was getting married soon, and he didn’t like white roses; he wanted champagne-colored ones instead.” My body swayed precariously, and a mix of injustice and a flicker of unexpected hatred crept into my heart. Even if he didn’t love me anymore, he could have told me. Why did he have to destroy the only keepsake my mother left me? I stopped everyone, telling them to restore the rose bush to its original state. My eyes burning, I ran to the study; I needed to talk to Paul clearly. I needed to tell him everything. I was dying soon; he shouldn’t bully me anymore. He and Kewell could be together in peace. I wouldn’t blame them; it was just me paying my debts. I pushed open the study door. He looked up, his eyes bloodshot, clutching several papers tightly in his hands. I looked closer and realized they were my cancer reports. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

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After seven years of marriage, I was finally pregnant. I excitedly told my husband, Damien Cross. His hand froze mid-air, cigarette between his fingers. Then he let out a cold laugh. “Elena Rivers, how many times are you going to play this disgusting trick? Even if you really are pregnant, a vicious woman like you doesn’t deserve to carry my child. Go to the hospital tomorrow and get rid of it.” Three years ago, he was a helpless patient who had lost his sight in a car accident. I dragged him out of a burning building, my voice hoarse from smoke inhalation. Now his sight was restored. He held my “best friend” in his arms while throwing acid on my hands. I wanted to tell him my brother was still in the ICU, fighting for his life. But before I could speak, he threw a document at my feet. It was a Patent Transfer Agreement. The competition piece I had spent two years perfecting would now bear her name. “Sign it,” he said, looking down at me. “Or tomorrow, your brother’s ventilator gets unplugged.” I didn’t want to love this man anymore.

Elena POV I stood alone at the end of the hospital corridor, ultrasound report in hand. Despite the heavy smell of disinfectant, the air felt sweet for once. Eight weeks pregnant. The heartbeat pulsed like a strong, vital seed. I touched my still-flat stomach and couldn’t help smiling. The doctor’s words still echoed in my ears. “Miss Rivers, your body is in poor condition. Long-term exposure to chemical compounds has caused hormonal imbalances. This pregnancy is incredibly precious. You must stay calm and avoid any emotional extremes.” I carefully folded the ultrasound report and tucked it into my coat’s inner pocket, right over my heart. Today was my third wedding anniversary with Damien Cross. I couldn’t wait to tell him this news in person. Maybe for the baby’s sake, he’d be a little nicer to me. Even just a little would be enough. I took a cab to Cross Corporation headquarters. The whole ride, I stared out the window at the passing streets, rehearsing over and over what I’d say when I saw him. When I reached the executive floor, the office door wasn’t fully closed. A thin gap remained. I raised my hand to knock, but froze mid-motion. Through the gap, I saw Lily White. Lily wore a pure white silk dress. She was perched delicately on Damien’s lap. And that man who was always cold and distant with me was now bent over her, carefully applying ointment to her wrist with a medical cotton swab. “Does it hurt?” Damien’s voice was low and husky, so gentle it could melt. We’d been married for three years. Even when he exhausted me in bed, I’d never heard him use that tone. Lily wrapped her arms around Damien’s neck, her voice soft and sweet: “A little. But with you here, it doesn’t hurt so much anymore.” Standing outside the door, I felt my blood run cold. Even my fingertips went numb. I pushed the door open. It made a soft sound. Lily caught sight of me from the corner of her eye. She immediately jumped off Damien’s lap like a startled rabbit and hid behind him. “Damien, Elena’s here… Did she misunderstand something? You should explain. My wrist injury just flared up and I came to get some medicine from you.” Damien looked up. The moment he saw it was me, all the tenderness drained from his face. Only undisguised disgust and coldness remained. “Who gave you permission to come in?” He pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped his hands, as if he’d just touched something dirty. I instinctively hid my hands behind my back and clutched the ultrasound report in my pocket so hard my knuckles turned white. “Today is our wedding anniversary.” “Anniversary?” Damien laughed like I’d told the funniest joke. He picked up a thick document from his desk and threw it at my feet like garbage. Papers scattered across the floor. “Sign it.” I looked down at the top page. In black and white, it read: Patent Transfer and Lifetime Ghostwriting Agreement. “Lily’s olfactory nerves have deteriorated again. The doctor says she might never be able to distinguish complex scent profiles anymore.” Damien lit a cigarette and looked at me through the pale smoke. “Her solo fragrance exhibition is next month. Starting today, every formula you create goes under her name. You’ll be her shadow.”

Elena POV I looked up at him in disbelief. “That’s my entry for the Grasse Master Perfumer Competition. I spent two whole years on it. Countless nights in the lab to create that formula.” “You owe her this.” Damien slammed his hand on the desk and stood up, walking toward me step by step. He grabbed my chin, squeezing so hard I thought my bones would break. “Three years ago, if you hadn’t pushed Lily down the stairs to force me to marry you, would she have lost her sense of smell? She’s a genius perfumer and you destroyed her! Now you’re handing over a few formulas as compensation. That’s nothing!” Tears welled up in my eyes from the pain, but I bit down hard, refusing to let them fall. “I didn’t push her! I’ve explained a thousand, ten thousand times. She lost her footing!” “Shut up!” Damien shoved me away violently. I stumbled backward several steps. My lower back slammed into the hard wooden table. The pain made me gasp. I instinctively covered my stomach. “I don’t have the patience for your lies.” Damien looked down at me like I was worthless trash. “You don’t have to sign. Tomorrow morning, the hospital will disconnect your brother’s ventilator. Go ahead and test me. See if I’m a man of my word.” My whole body went cold. My brother was my only family in this world. My only weakness. Three years ago, a car accident left Jamie in a vegetative state. He was kept alive by expensive imported machines and medications. Damien knew exactly how to control me. Like a venomous snake, he struck precisely at my pressure point. I looked at this man I’d loved for ten years and suddenly felt like I was staring at a stranger. Slowly, I bent down and picked up the papers and pen. My hands shook so badly I could barely hold the pen, but I still signed my name on the last page, stroke by stroke. Each stroke felt like carving into my own heart. Lily hid behind Damien. As she watched me sign, a barely noticeable smirk crossed her lips. I put down the pen and straightened up. I took a deep breath and reached into my pocket, touching the ultrasound report. “Damien, I’m pregnant.” I said it quietly. Damien’s cigarette-holding hand paused for a moment. But quickly, the mockery in his eyes deepened until it was overwhelming. “Pregnant? Elena Rivers, how many times are you going to play this disgusting trick?” He stepped forward, his gaze coldly sweeping over my flat stomach. “Even if you really are pregnant, a vicious woman like you doesn’t deserve to carry my child. Go to the hospital tomorrow and get rid of it.” In that moment, my heart shattered completely into dust. I didn’t argue. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I just looked at Damien one last time, then turned and walked out of the office. Outside, it had started pouring rain. The icy rainwater pelted my body, bone-chillingly cold. I’d barely stepped off the entrance stairs when a sharp, twisting pain tore through my abdomen. My vision went black. My legs gave out and I collapsed into a puddle. The rain instantly soaked through my clothes. Just then, a black Maybach pulled up in front of me. The door opened. Damien’s bodyguard stepped out with an umbrella, looking down at me expressionlessly. “Mrs. Cross, Mr. Cross has instructed that since you’ve signed the agreement, you’re to report immediately to the basement lab. You have three days to complete the new fragrance. Miss White’s launch event can’t wait.” I clutched my stomach, breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain. I couldn’t even form a complete sentence. When the bodyguard saw I wasn’t moving, he stepped forward and dragged me into the car like I was lifeless cargo. The car door slammed shut, blocking out the sound of rain. I curled up in the back seat. I felt something warm slowly trickling down the inside of my thighs.

Elena POV The basement laboratory of the Cross estate never saw daylight. The air reeked of sharp alcohol mixed with various high-concentration synthetic compounds. The bodyguard threw me inside, then locked the heavy metal door from the outside. “Mr. Cross says if you can’t finish the perfume, you don’t need to come out.” The bodyguard’s cold voice came through the door crack. I lay on the ice-cold tile floor, clutching my lower abdomen, gasping for breath. The warmth between my legs continued, but I didn’t dare think about what it meant. I gritted my teeth and used the edge of the lab table to pull myself up, bit by bit. I couldn’t collapse. Jamie’s life was still in Damien’s hands. Even if it killed me, I had to finish this perfume first. For the next three days, I stood at the lab table day and night. To achieve the ultimate olfactory experience, perfumers can’t wear gloves while working. We have to use our fingertips to feel the temperature and texture of the essential oils. High-concentration acidic solvents and volatile chemicals mercilessly corroded my hands. My once slender, fair fingers were now swollen and red. In some places, the skin had started peeling and bleeding. Every time I touched a glass vial, it felt like needles piercing my skin. But I didn’t care about the pain. I just mechanically measured, mixed, shook, and sniffed. The dragging pain in my abdomen grew more intense. I forced myself to keep going with high doses of painkillers. When the medication kicked in, I’d have brief hallucinations. I’d find myself back ten years ago. Back then, Damien had lost his sight in a car accident. His temper was explosive, like a wild animal. He smashed everything in his room. I was the one who stayed by his side every day, using lavender and cedarwood aromatherapy I’d blended myself to slowly calm his rage. I even damaged my vocal cords rescuing him from a fire. For half a year, I couldn’t speak at all. But when he finally removed his bandages and regained his sight, the person standing before him was Lily White. She wore the same clothes as me. She sprayed on perfume I’d created. She effortlessly took credit for everything I’d done. The timer’s beep pulled me back to reality. The last drop of Bulgarian rose essential oil fell into the flask. The liquid turned a mesmerizing pale gold. It was done. I slid to the floor, completely drained. I looked at the bottle of perfume that contained all my heart and blood, and smiled bitterly. A few hours later, the metal door opened. Damien walked in. Without even glancing at me, he grabbed the perfume from the table. “Tonight is Lily’s celebration party.” He tossed out the words. “You’re her assistant. You have to attend.” I didn’t even have the strength to refuse. That evening at eight, the city’s most exclusive hotel. Elegant guests mingled. Champagne flowed. Lily wore a designer gown and priceless jewelry. She looked like a noble princess surrounded by admirers. The captivating scent she wore was the fragrance I’d created with my life’s blood. Camera flashes exploded. Praise filled the air. “Miss White, this perfume is absolutely stunning! You truly are a genius in the perfume world!” Lily leaned sweetly against Damien, her smile radiant. “Thank you, everyone. I really have to thank Damien for all his support.” I stood in the corner wearing a cheap black work suit, invisible. I was even holding Lily’s backup heels for her. My hands were covered in rashes and cuts. Every tiny movement sent sharp pain through them.

Elena POV Halfway through the party, Lily went to the restroom to touch up her makeup. I was required to follow her in. The restroom was empty. No cameras. Lily looked at me in the mirror. Her sweet expression vanished instantly. “Elena Rivers, how does it feel watching someone else dressed to the nines, taking credit for your work while everyone applauds?” She reapplied her lipstick slowly as she spoke. I kept my head down, my voice hoarse. “I already gave you the perfume. What more do you want?” “I don’t want anything.” Lily turned around. She walked toward me in her four-inch heels, staring at my damaged hands. “I just think your hands are an eyesore.” The moment the words left her mouth, Lily pulled a small glass bottle from her purse. It was industrial-strength corrosive acid, normally used to clean stubborn stains from lab equipment. She unscrewed the cap and without hesitation poured the entire bottle onto my right hand.A piercing scream tore through the restroom. The sizzling sound of flesh burning mixed with the searing pain nearly made me pass out. I clutched my right hand and collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony. At that moment, the restroom door was kicked open violently. Damien charged in. The instant the door opened, Lily dropped to the floor, clutching her dress, tears streaming down her face. “Damien! Help me! Elena’s lost her mind. She was jealous I won the award and tried to throw acid on my face. I dodged and it hit her hand instead…” Damien looked at me. His eyes were as cold as ice. He didn’t look at my mangled, bloody hand. Instead, he strode to Lily and carefully helped her up. “Are you hurt anywhere?” “I’m fine. Just my dress got dirty…” Lily sobbed pitifully. Damien turned his head and glared at me. Then he lifted his foot and kicked me hard in the shoulder. “Elena Rivers, you’re absolutely vicious!” The kick sent me sprawling. I landed on my back on the cold tile. I held up my nearly destroyed right hand toward Damien, tears mixing with cold sweat streaming down my face. “It wasn’t me. She did it to herself. Damien, look at my hand. I’m a perfumer!” “Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be called a perfumer.” Damien cut me off. “Security!” Several guards rushed in immediately. “Throw this lunatic out! Don’t let her ruin Lily’s celebration!” The security guards dragged me through the hotel lobby. Outside, snow had started falling. They threw me mercilessly into the snow. The hotel’s heavy revolving glass doors closed, cutting off all the warmth inside. I lay in the knee-deep snow, my right hand numb with pain. But worse than my hand was my stomach. A crushing, twisting agony swept over me like a tidal wave. I struggled to turn over onto my back and stared up at the black sky. Snowflakes landed on my eyelashes and melted into icy water. I felt something warm slowly melting the snow beneath me. Blood spread from under my skirt, blooming across the white snow like crimson flowers. “Baby…” I closed my eyes in despair and lost consciousness completely.

Elena POV When I woke up again, I was staring at a stark white hospital ceiling. The smell of disinfectant filled my nose. I tried to move my fingers. My right hand was wrapped in thick bandages. The slightest movement sent sharp pain through it. But I didn’t care about my hand. Instinctively, I reached with my left hand to touch my stomach. Flat. That feeling of connection, of life growing inside me, was gone. The hospital room door opened. A doctor in a white coat walked in, looking at me with sympathy. “Miss Rivers, you’re awake.” I opened my mouth. My throat was so dry I couldn’t speak. I could only look at the doctor pleadingly. The doctor sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry. You were brought in too late. We couldn’t save the baby. And…” The doctor hesitated, as if he couldn’t bear to continue. “Because you were frozen in the snow for so long and suffered severe hemorrhaging from the miscarriage, your uterus sustained irreversible damage. You… you may never be able to become a mother again.” Those words hit me like a sledgehammer to the skull. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I didn’t even shed a tear. I just stared at the ceiling. I don’t know how much time passed before the door was violently shoved open again. My father, Robert Rivers, stormed in furiously. He didn’t look at my face. He didn’t ask about my condition. He rushed to the bedside and raised his hand, slapping me hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed in the quiet room. My face whipped to the side. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. “You useless piece of trash!” He pointed at my nose and cursed. “Do you know Damien Cross just pulled funding from the downtown project? Rivers Corporation is about to go bankrupt! I raised you all these years so you could strengthen our relationship with the Cross family, not so you could offend him!” I slowly turned my head and looked at this man who was my biological father. “I lost my baby.” I said quietly. “So what if you lost it! It was just a clump of cells!” He waved his hand impatiently. “As long as you’re still Mrs. Cross, you can adopt a child later! Right now, the most important thing is for you to get out of this bed and go kowtow to Lily White and apologize! As long as Lily’s happy, Damien will leave Rivers Corporation alone!” I looked at him and laughed. This was my family. In their eyes, I was never a living, breathing person. Just a bargaining chip to trade for profit. “Get out.” I said coldly. “What did you say?” He stared at me, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. “I said get out!” I don’t know where I found the strength, but I grabbed the water cup beside me and hurled it at his feet. “I’m not part of the Rivers family anymore! Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me!” The sound of shattering glass startled him. He looked at me like I was crazy, cursing as he backed out of the room. “Fine! You’re tough! Don’t ever think about coming back to the Rivers family!” The hospital room fell silent again. My throat felt unbearably dry, like it was on fire. I pulled the IV needle from the back of my hand. A bead of blood welled up at the puncture site. I ignored it. Barefoot, dragging my weakened body, I slowly made my way out of the room toward the water dispenser at the end of the hall. When I reached the corner by the stairwell, I heard familiar footsteps. It was Marcus, Damien’s assistant.

Elena POV I instinctively stopped and hid in the shadows by the wall. “Mr. Cross, we recovered the hotel restroom security footage.” Marcus’s voice was low, but in the empty stairwell it was crystal clear. “Miss White was the one who threw the acid on Mrs. Cross’s hand. Also…” Marcus hesitated, seeming to choose his words carefully. “I rechecked the medical records from three years ago. Miss White’s olfactory nerve atrophy is due to a hereditary genetic defect. It wasn’t caused by falling down the stairs at all. Mrs. Cross… she really was wrongly accused.” I froze in place. Even my breathing stopped. I gripped the corner of the wall so tightly my nails bent backward, but I couldn’t feel the pain. Through the crack in the door, I caught the scent of cigarette smoke. Damien leaned against the stairwell wall, a cigarette between his fingers, the ember glowing and fading. Half his face was hidden in shadow. I couldn’t see his expression. After a long silence, he exhaled a stream of smoke. His voice was cold, mechanical. “So what?” Those words stabbed into my heart like a knife. “But Mrs. Cross’s hands are destroyed. She’ll never be able to create perfumes again. And she just miscarried. The doctor says she can never have children…” There was a hint of sympathy in Marcus’s voice. “She brought it on herself.” Damien threw his cigarette on the ground and crushed it viciously with the toe of his expensive leather shoe. “If she hadn’t used her father’s favor to force me into marriage and ruin all my plans, would she be in this situation today? Lily White is just an excuse.” He looked up, his eyes utterly merciless. “I wanted her to know that forcing someone to give her something that doesn’t belong to her comes with a price. Elena Rivers only deserves to rot in the gutter.” The stairwell door swung open. Damien strode away. Marcus sighed and followed. I leaned against the cold wall and slowly slid to the floor. So that was it. He knew everything. He knew I didn’t push Lily. He knew Lily’s sense of smell wasn’t my fault. He knew Lily staged the whole bathroom scene. He just didn’t care. He simply hated me for marrying him. Ten years of secret love. Three years of marriage. Countless days and nights of humble devotion. I’d even sacrificed a child and my own hands. In his eyes, I’d brought it all on myself. I covered my face. I didn’t make a sound, but tears flooded from between my fingers like a bursting dam. I was a complete and utter joke. I once thought that if I tried hard enough, I could eventually warm his cold heart. But I forgot, you cannot warm a stone. It will only freeze you to death. I don’t know how long I sat on the floor. Then my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. I numbly pulled out my phone. The screen displayed “City Central Hospital ICU.” That was the hospital where Jamie was. I frantically pressed the answer button, my fingers trembling. “Miss Rivers, you need to come here immediately. Your brother is in heart failure. He needs emergency bypass surgery right now. But Cross Corporation just froze your brother’s medical account. Without payment for the surgery, we can’t operate.” My mind exploded. “I’m coming right now. Please save him. I swear I will get the money.” I hung up and ran downstairs. I wasn’t even wearing shoes. My feet were cut by broken glass in the hallway, leaving a trail of bloody footprints.

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“You’re Mr. Hart’s granddaughter?” Four years after our breakup, Ethan Pierce stood at the door asking me this, his tone so distant, as if we had never met. Before I could answer, a bright, cheerful voice came through his phone. “Let’s go set off fireworks together after dinner.” Four years ago, that same voice had forced him to choose. He dumped me on the spot and told me our seven years together were just a way to make Vivian jealous. I gripped the gift bag tighter, my knuckles turning white. Mr. Pierce Senior was Grandpa’s old war buddy and also my secret patient. They did not know that the “worthless woman” they mocked relentlessly, the one they abandoned without a second thought, was actually the only surgeon who could save his life. Then Vivian deliberately kicked over the fireworks. The launch tubes aimed straight at me. Ethan rushed past me and threw himself over Vivian, shielding her with his body. Searing pain exploded in my eyes. “Natalie, Vivian passed out. I’m taking her away first. Find somewhere safe and wait for me.” Fine then. I will hide somewhere he will never find me again.

Natalie’s POV With Thanksgiving approaching, Grandpa’s war buddy returned home due to illness. As the secretly hired specialist surgeon, I accompanied Grandpa on a visit. I never expected to see Ethan Pierce answering the door, my ex-boyfriend who had cut contact four years ago. The moment our eyes met, we both froze. Ethan broke the silence first. “You’re Mr. Hart’s granddaughter?” Before I could respond, his phone rang. Vivian Ross’s bright voice came through. “Let’s go set off fireworks in the suburbs after dinner. We’ll pray for Grandpa and wish him a successful surgery.” My hand clenched around the gift bag. Four years ago, that same voice had demanded hysterically: “Choose! Her or me, Ethan? Natalie Hart or Vivian Ross?” Vivian had pointed at me sitting nearby, her laugh cold. “Ethan, I know you got together with Natalie just to provoke me, to make me see my own heart clearly. Well, I see it now. So what about you? If you want me, break up with her. Right now.” My heart seized. I looked instinctively at Ethan in the booth, hoping he’d deny it. If he just explained, I’d believe him. Because I couldn’t believe that seven years together, three years dating, had only been manipulation. But Ethan just looked at me silently, his eyes showing the relief of truth finally exposed. Clearly dissatisfied with his silence, Vivian grabbed her purse from the table and smiled coldly. “You’re hesitating. Fine. Since this decision is so hard for you, I’ll back out. You and her can stay together.” She turned to leave, but Ethan pulled her into his arms, coaxing gently: “You’ve got to give me some time to process, don’t you? If I’d known that one kiss with another girl in front of you would make you see your feelings clearly, why would I have wasted all that time?” In that moment, I dug my nails into my palm, forcing down the burning sensation in my nose. So he thought being with me was wasting time. But I had truly loved Ethan Pierce for seven years. Seven years. I’d offered him my most precious love. At first he ignored it. Later, when he finally accepted it, it was only to use me as a tool to provoke the woman he actually loved, to make Vivian face her own feelings. So what did that make me? A catalyst for their love? I was about to speak when Ethan, still holding Vivian, cut me off. “Let’s break up, Natalie. We’re done.” Seeing his complete indifference, my heart still couldn’t help but ache. I forced down the tightness in my throat and asked: “Why me?” “Because you liked me.” He tilted his head slightly, his smile carrying a careless arrogance. “You chased me for four years straight. You threw yourself at me. I chose to do you a favor. Shouldn’t you be grateful?” He paused, then laughed softly. “At least be grateful I let you into a world you could never have entered on your own.” In that moment, I finally realized he truly had never liked me. And from the very beginning, he’d looked down on me. He chose me only because I was loyal enough and had no connections, so I’d be easy to dispose of. That day, I don’t remember how I fled the club in humiliation. I only remember the mocking, jeering looks from everyone in that private room, drowning me.

Natalie’s POV I stood by the street and pulled out my phone to call a car. My fingers were shaking, but I accidentally opened Instagram instead. Ethan, who almost never posted on Instagram, had posted something two minutes ago. A photo of him and Vivian kissing, surrounded by their friends, filled my screen. The caption read: “I always thought I couldn’t love someone properly. Being with you taught me I was just saving all that love for you. Hello, girlfriend.” The comments were full of congratulations. Even friends who’d recently praised how well Ethan and I matched had changed their tune. “A real princess looks best standing next to you. Congrats on finally being with the woman you love.” The emotions I’d held in all night finally broke. I cried uncontrollably, mourning the waste of my genuine feelings. I thought Ethan’s devoted attention to me over our three years together came from love. I never imagined he was deliberately performing for Vivian to see. I was just a tool in their emotional tug-of-war. Seven whole years of liking him. Even just thinking about him had made my face flush and my heart race. In that moment, all of it turned to ashes. “Ethan, why are you standing in the doorway like that? Let the guests in!” Mrs. Pierce’s voice pulled me back to the present. I looked away and greeted her politely, then walked past Ethan into the house. Over the years, I’d heard many stories about Mr. Pierce Senior from Grandpa, but I never imagined he was Ethan’s grandfather. And Mr. Pierce Senior was also the patient I’d secretly taken on. The atmosphere at dinner was warm. My phone kept buzzing. I glanced down to see a screenful of messages from my daughter. A smile tugged at my lips as I typed a reply. “Baby, Mommy misses you too. I’ll come home as soon as I finish work.” She replied instantly: “Only miss your daughter? Not me?” My smile deepened. I typed “miss you too” and put down my phone. When I looked up, my gaze collided unexpectedly with Ethan’s dark eyes. Just one glance, and I looked away, returning to my meal. The next second, Mrs. Pierce warmly placed a steamed crab on my plate. I looked up to speak, but Ethan across from me suddenly said casually: “She can’t eat that.” The atmosphere went quiet for a moment. Everyone looked at him questioningly. Ethan cleared his throat and explained: “I’ve heard many people are allergic to seafood. Just mentioning it.” Mrs. Pierce turned to me. “Natalie, can you eat it?” I paused for a second, then shook my head calmly. “Actually, I am allergic.” Ethan’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. Mrs. Pierce kindly replaced it with other food. I thanked her politely, ignoring Ethan’s occasional glances. After dinner, the adults started chatting. Seeing me sitting idly, they asked Ethan, who’d just finished a phone call, to take me to set off fireworks. I started to decline, but Ethan had already grabbed his jacket and walked over. “Come along. It’ll be fun. I’ll drive you back after.” His familiar tone made Mrs. Pierce look over. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, I followed him to the car. “You can drop me at the nearest subway station.” I said politely. Ethan acted like he hadn’t heard, driving on his own. I repeated myself. This time Ethan finally glanced at me. “Why so nervous? You don’t actually think I want to get back together with you, do you?”

Natalie’s POV I looked at him calmly and said quietly: “That’s not what I thought. I just need to video call my daughter later. I can’t get back too late.” At that, Ethan laughed carelessly. “You’re lying to remind me you’ve moved on, aren’t you?” He turned to look at me, his smile deepening. “But don’t you think that tactic is a bit childish?” “Don’t worry. Even if you wanted to get back together, I wouldn’t choose you. So you don’t need to go through all this trouble making up excuses to avoid me. I’m only bringing you because Grandpa said the Pierce family doesn’t neglect guests.” With things at this point, I didn’t want to argue further. That would only make me seem petty and unable to let go. I could only text my daughter to tell her to sleep early tonight. After some time, the car stopped in front of a suburban villa. The moment I pushed open the villa door, everyone inside looked up at me, their faces showing surprise. “Natalie Hart.” Someone spoke first, their voice mocking. “Four years ago when your PhD application failed, Ethan wanted to help you out of past sentiment, but you ran off abroad without a word. We all thought you had such backbone. Guess things didn’t work out overseas, so you came crawling back to him?” Laughter erupted throughout the villa. “Sucking up to Ethan beats working odd jobs abroad. After all, his pocket change could feed her for a lifetime.” “Too bad there is no chance now. Ever since Ethan left medicine to take over the family business, Pierce Group’s market value has multiplied who knows how many times. And our Vivian is now the hospital’s star surgeon. They’re a power couple. Stop your wishful thinking. You weren’t good enough before, and you are even less so now.” “Don’t say that.” Vivian spoke up at the right moment. “If it weren’t for Ethan and me, Natalie wouldn’t have left the country in anger. She is struggling so much now. Ethan and I are responsible.” She walked over to me, her tone condescending. “Tell you what, our hospital is hiring janitors. The job market’s tough right now. If you can’t find work, I’ll mention it to the director and get you in. The pay isn’t high, but it’s still six thousand dollars a month. Should help with expenses.” I looked at her calmly and declined. Someone immediately shouted at me: “Natalie, you came back to the country and showed up in front of Ethan again. Aren’t you just trying to get something out of him? Stop pretending! Vivian’s kind enough to offer you a job and you’re being picky? What, too embarrassing and the money’s too slow?” A man holding a wine glass walked over and grabbed my wrist. “Seeing how pathetic you are now, drink one glass and I’ll transfer you a thousand bucks.” “If you want fast money, come to me. I’ll introduce you around…” The group burst into mocking laughter. Vivian stood to the side as always, watching me with haughty disdain. But this time, I didn’t run. I took the glass, about to throw it in the man’s face, when Ethan, standing nearby, suddenly crushed out his cigarette and grabbed the man’s arm hard. “Behave yourself.” His expression was angry, his eyes cold. The man yelped as Ethan’s grip hurt him. Vivian tugged on Ethan’s sleeve, her tone displeased. “What are you doing?” His face stayed cold. “Today, Natalie Hart is a guest of the Pierce family. Anyone who disrespects her is slapping my face. Understand?” He released the man, who didn’t dare challenge Ethan but glared viciously at me.

Natalie’s POV I looked up at Ethan instinctively, surprised he would actually help me. Vivian was grinding her teeth, but she smiled and changed the subject. “You know Chris always jokes around. Why turn on your friend over an outsider? We came to set off fireworks. I’ll go light them.” Ethan nodded, his tone softening. “I’ll help.” “No need.” Vivian deliberately held his arm tighter. “I told you this fireworks show is my gift to you and Grandpa. You just need to enjoy it.” Ethan smiled and reached up to tap her nose. He glanced unconsciously in my direction, but I wasn’t even looking at them. I was looking down at my phone. I looked up at the same moment and saw the row of fireworks in the yard tip over due to Vivian’s “mistake,” the launch tubes aimed directly at where I stood. “Watch out!” Ethan’s face changed. He rushed forward, but as he passed me, he accidentally knocked me to the ground. Before I could react, I saw Ethan shield Vivian tightly under his body. The next second, exploding fireworks splashed into my eyes. Instantly, searing pain exploded deep in my eyeballs. It hurt so much I couldn’t even scream. I tried instinctively to move away, but waves of flames burned my hair and back, searing through my clothes, scorching my skin. Endless darkness and terror overwhelmed me. All I could do was crawl desperately sideways, my fingers searching blindly for an escape route. Just as I reached my breaking point, my fingers suddenly touched someone’s shoe. Like a drowning person grabbing driftwood, I clutched desperately at their pant leg. Even using all my strength to steady myself, my voice shook terribly. “Please, help me…” But before I finished, the person in front of me pulled away without hesitation. A familiar deep voice hit like a hammer, shattering my last shred of hope. “Natalie, Vivian passed out. I’m taking her out of here first. Find somewhere safe and wait for me. I’ll be right back.” I let go, all hope gone. Then, with my burning, bloodshot eyes, I struggled inch by inch toward the edge. The next second, a pair of hands suddenly helped me up. I was trembling all over, about to thank them, when someone shoved me hard. I fell heavily into the pool. Mocking laughter erupted by the poolside. “Natalie, a drowned rat should look like a drowned rat. How dare you compete with Vivian for a man? Did you go abroad, find out no man wanted you, and decide to come back crawling to Ethan? Give up that idea. Once Mr. Pierce Senior recovers, they’re getting married. So behave yourself, or we’ll make your life hell.” I struggled in the water despite the pain throughout my body. I tried to speak, but my throat made no sound. Finally, exhausted, my body sank uncontrollably toward the deep end. The suffocating feeling made me lose consciousness completely. When I woke up again, the heavy smell of disinfectant filled my nose. The hospital room was empty and quiet. So quiet I could hear doctors talking in the hallway. “The patient’s cornea is severely ruptured and detached. There’s an extremely high probability of blindness…” The doctor’s words stabbed into my heart like blades. I bolted upright. Pain shot through my entire body. In my agitation, I practically rolled out of bed.

Natalie’s POV The room door burst open. Footsteps approached. Following the sound, I grabbed desperately at someone’s sleeve. “Doctor, my eyes can’t go blind!” My voice shook with utter terror. No one understood better than me what a working pair of eyes meant to a surgeon. They were my foundation. The future I’d earned through more than a decade of youth, countless sleepless nights. I was almost begging, my voice hoarse and broken. “Please, whatever surgery, whatever treatment, as long as it can save my eyes, I will cooperate with anything. I’m a doctor too. I can’t lose my eyes.” A soft voice tinged with mockery suddenly came from the doorway. “Natalie, I know you’re upset about your injury, but even now, can you stop lying to save face?” Vivian, wearing a hospital gown, walked slowly into the room. “You didn’t even get your degree before you ran off abroad in disgrace. Where do you get off calling yourself a doctor? Saying this now just makes you look ridiculous.” Her words hit like a slap across my face. Memories I’d buried with time suddenly became sharp again. Years ago, when Vivian and I competed for the school’s only PhD slot, Vivian took my year-long core thesis, changed the author name, and submitted it for evaluation. I lost the position. Afterward, I reported Vivian for plagiarism. But Ethan provided false testimony for her. The professor knew Ethan and I had been in a relationship. Seeing him not only refuse to favor his girlfriend but actually testify for Vivian, plus given the Pierce family’s influence, the scales naturally tipped. I could only continue appealing to the school. But during my appeal, they leaked compromising photos of me and spread rumors. They reported me to the school for academic misconduct and promiscuous behavior. Under public pressure, the school finally voided my thesis and added a mark to my record. I confronted Vivian angrily, but Ethan stood in front of her, his tone carrying condescending judgment. “Natalie, I already explained this. Vivian accidentally deleted her thesis, so she asked for yours to reference. Stop being so relentless.” “As for whoever spread those rumors about you, I already tracked down their IP address. This whole thing has nothing to do with Vivian from start to finish.” He paused, his tone dismissive. “Your grades are good anyway. If you don’t get it this time, there’ll be other chances. But this opportunity is crucial for Vivian. I can’t let her get written up. I can’t let her face any risk.” He couldn’t let Vivian face any risk. So he used my thesis and trampled my reputation to pave her path. If not for my excellent academic record and résumé, the school would have voided my thesis and I would have faced far worse consequences. At that point, forget continuing my PhD. I might not even have graduated. But Ethan never considered any of this for me. Fortunately, I’d long since stopped expecting anything from him. Fortunately, during those years orbiting around him, I never stopped studying. That’s why I had the chance to be recruited by a top global medical university. Everyone thought I went abroad because I was too ashamed to show my face. They didn’t know I went to study advanced medicine. Later, I earned my place in the medical field through solid credentials and skills. But now, my eyes had gone blind. All my efforts and ambitions vanished in an instant.

Natalie’s POV I smiled silently. Before anyone could speak, I raised my head, my gaze locked on Vivian’s direction. “Do you know I’m the visiting specialist surgeon your hospital hired? I came back to the country to…” Before I finished, Vivian suddenly clutched her chest and laughed. “I don’t know where you heard that our hospital secretly hired a specialist surgeon for a large sum, but do you know who they are?” She looked me up and down, contempt practically spilling from her expression. “The internationally renowned doctor we invited is a legend in global cardiac surgery. She earned a lifetime achievement nomination in international medicine at a young age. Top hospitals around the world line up for her to operate. Even the country’s best medical teams rely on her expertise.” She looked down at me with my bandaged eyes and disheveled appearance, her tone dripping with mockery. “Natalie, you think you can impersonate someone like that? Your eyes are blind, fine, but has your brain gone blind too? Are you making up these ridiculous lies?” The medical staff nearby couldn’t help but laugh quietly. Vivian smiled and raised her voice deliberately. “Dr. Wilson, could fireworks possibly damage someone’s brain? Maybe you should examine her head carefully. We were classmates once. Since she’s a patient at our hospital, we should take care of her. Early detection, early treatment, right?” This time the young nurse laughed out loud, clearly thinking I’d lost my mind. I ignored their mockery and turned my head slightly, my voice cold. “Vivian, whether I’m her or not doesn’t matter.” “What matters is that you injured my eyes. As the victim, I have the right to hold you legally responsible.” Vivian’s expression changed, but she quickly laughed, unfazed. “It was just an accident. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Just because your eyes are damaged, you’re going to pin this on me?” “There are security cameras at the scene.” I wasn’t affected by her arrogant attitude at all. “Whether your actions will be judged as intentional isn’t up to you or me.” “Also, all medical risks, economic losses, and damage to the hospital’s reputation caused by the patient not being able to have surgery on schedule due to my blindness, you should bear full responsibility for all of it.” My words were clear and logical, hitting every weak point. But the next second, she laughed. “Natalie, you’re really committed to this act, aren’t you?” Before she finished, I’d already fumbled for my phone on the bedside table and dialed the police. The mocking smile vanished from Vivian’s face, replaced by a flash of panic. She turned to look at Ethan, her expression turning pitiful. “Ethan, does she know I’m at a critical point in my promotion? Is she using this to get revenge on me?” Ethan stepped forward and snatched the phone from my hand roughly. “Natalie, that’s enough. This was just an accident. What exactly do you want?” He looked down at me. His tone was cold and impatient. “Vivian is about to get promoted. Whether or not the police determine this was intentional, the publicity would damage her reputation. Your eyes are already damaged. Calling the police won’t fix them. Why do you have to be so aggressive?” My hand froze mid-air for a moment, then reached for the phone. “Ethan, give me back my phone. You have no right to make that decision for me.”

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In my hometown, there’s a custom: wedding cars can never go in reverse. Otherwise, the marriage will be cursed with misfortune. But on our wedding day, my groom Ethan Brooks reversed his entire convoy twenty kilometers just to make way for another wedding procession. I was about to roll down the window to ask what was going on when I overheard Ethan talking to his best man. “Going a hundred kilometers out of our way just to see Wendy off on her wedding day—you’re way too good to her.” “Aren’t you afraid Mandy will lose it?” Ethan’s voice was casual, unconcerned. “Relax. Mandy’s waited ten years. No matter how mad she gets, she won’t actually get out of the car and run.” “If my family wasn’t pressuring me so hard, why would I have agreed to marry her so easily?” “Wendy couldn’t marry me, so escorting her to her wedding is my way of making it up to her for all these years.” Wendy is his first love. I let out a bitter laugh. So this is what they call a happy ending after years of hardship. Turns out it was all just my own delusion. I opened my chat and sent my location to someone. “Still want to marry me? Get here fast.”

Twenty-four wedding cars reversed down the winding mountain road. Two of my bridesmaids frowned and complained. “Mandy, we’ve already backed up over twenty kilometers! If we keep going, we’ll be back at your front door!” “Seriously! The road’s wide enough—we could totally squeeze past!” My heart felt like a deflated balloon. The bridesmaids got out of the car to argue on my behalf. “Ethan, don’t you know wedding cars aren’t supposed to go in reverse?” “Yeah, we’ve already backed up over twenty kilometers! How much farther do you want us to go?” Ethan sensed the tension and strode over, leaning against my car window. His face was so close—those trembling eyes and that faint cedarwood scent used to be my weakness. But right now, I felt nothing. “Mandy, just hang in there a bit longer. Once we get to the next turnoff, we’ll stop reversing.” I looked at Wendy in the opposite wedding car, her face glowing with joy. My voice came out flat. “Whatever you want.” Ethan’s smile froze. He clearly hadn’t expected me to respond like that. The groomsmen crowded around. “Mandy, don’t be mad. The road’s too narrow to pass. We have to reverse.” “Yeah, and our convoy is closer to the turnoff anyway. It saves time if we’re the ones to back up.” “Exactly! Mandy, don’t give Ethan attitude. He’s doing his best here.” I let out a cold laugh. “Didn’t we just pass two turnoffs? Why didn’t you reverse onto those side roads?” The groomsmen were speechless, all looking at Ethan. Ethan grabbed my hand. “Mandy, this is my fault. I didn’t plan the route well. When we get home, I’ll make it up to you personally.” Did he really not plan the route well? Or did he deliberately take this detour to see Wendy off? I let out a calm breath and shook my head, not wanting to pursue it further. “No need, Ethan.” The groomsmen, missing my tone entirely, laughed and praised me. “See? Mandy’s so understanding and considerate of Ethan.” “Man, you guys are goals. We don’t even need to explain anything!” The group walked away laughing, taking Ethan with them. They went back to directing the wedding convoy to make way for Wendy’s procession. My phone buzzed repeatedly. “Mandy Foster, I thought you were supposed to be something special. Turns out even on your wedding day, you have to make way for me.” “Ha! I didn’t even have to lift a finger. Ethan cleared every obstacle for me. If you didn’t know better, you’d think I was his bride!” She forwarded me a screenshot. A post Ethan had just made on Instagram. “If I can’t marry you, at least I can pave you a smooth path covered in flowers.” I looked down at the road. It was covered in petals of Damascus roses—Wendy’s favorite. My nose stung, and hot tears slid down my cheeks. Voice nearly breaking, I called Ethan at the back of the convoy. “Ethan, I don’t want to reverse anymore.” The line went silent for two seconds. “Mandy, we’re almost—” I hung up and took a deep breath. Ethan, from this moment on, I’ll never make myself wait for you again.

I tried to open the door, but suddenly the back of the car dropped. My elbow and head slammed hard against the door. Sharp pain made me gasp. Screams erupted all around. Pure chaos. “The back wheel fell into the drainage ditch!” “Someone help! Quick!” “Mandy! Mandy, are you okay? Are you hurt?” The two bridesmaids pounded on the windows, checking on me. I touched my head. Warm liquid trickled from my forehead down my temple. In the rearview mirror, Ethan was rushing frantically toward the wedding car. He got closer and closer. But he didn’t stop at my tilted car. Instead, he ran straight to the car across from us. “Were you not paying attention?! Wendy’s shaking like a leaf!” Ethan pointed his finger right in the other driver’s face and yelled. Friends and family from both sides exchanged glances, smirking and covering their mouths. Laughing at the overturned car. Laughing at me inside it. I closed my eyes, praying for that person to come get me quickly. I didn’t want to stay here another second. The driver tried for ages but couldn’t get the stuck rear wheel out. Everyone discussed lifting the car. “Maybe the bride should get out first? What if she gets hurt again?” “Good idea. Better to be safe on such an important day.” Ethan came back after calming Wendy down, his face stern as he objected. “No. Mandy can only get out at the destination. Getting out midway is bad luck!” Everyone fell silent and used all their strength to lift the car out of the ditch. Ethan brushed the dirt off his hands, smiling brightly. “Mandy, you’re not hurt, are you? Today’s been all my fault.” “After the wedding’s over, I’ll take you to the Maldives for our honeymoon, okay?” He always used this kind of unfair tenderness to soothe my emotions. But right now, I just wanted to get out of here as fast as possible. “Once we get to the next turnoff, I’m going back hom—” “Ethan! Ethan, Wendy twisted her ankle!” The man dropped me and strode toward the other car. As if he were the groom in that wedding convoy. My bridesmaids were shaking with anger. “If her ankle’s twisted, she should rest! Why’s she making a scene?” “And their actual groom—is he useless or what? Something happens and all he does is yell for Ethan!” “Mandy, if you weren’t so dead-set on marrying him, I’d slap him right now and drive you home myself.” I smiled without saying a word. Soon. The person coming to get me was already on the way. A moment later, Ethan walked back from Wendy’s car, where he’d been crouching to check her injury, his brow furrowed. He pushed the bridesmaids aside and yanked the car door open. His voice was urgent, brooking no argument. “Wendy twisted her ankle. You studied medicine—get out and help her!” I grabbed the back of the passenger seat, resisting his pull. The bridesmaids blocked him. “Ethan, you just said yourself that it’s bad luck for the bride to get out midway! Forget already?” “Exactly! A twisted ankle isn’t life-threatening. Just put some ice on it.” “Stop making Mandy sacrifice everything for Wendy, okay?” Hearing my bridesmaids’ words, my eyes welled up with tears. But Ethan ignored them, pulling me even harder. “Mandy Foster, this is an emergency! Can you put aside those outdated superstitions for one second?!” “Ethan, I don’t want to.” My tears fell on the back of his hand. He flinched as if burned. But the next second, his cold voice rang out. “Please. I’m begging you.” “I’ll give you whatever you want, okay?” “Wendy can’t handle pain.” I looked at his anxious, stubborn eyes and laughed bitterly. “Whatever I want?” “Yes.” “Let’s break up.”

Ethan froze, then tilted his head in exasperation. “Mandy, playing hard to get only works on certain people.” “It doesn’t work on me.” I still gripped the seat back tightly, refusing to let go. He let out a cold laugh and shoved his hands into his pockets, releasing me. “You’re really going to be like this?” “Yes. Unless we break up, don’t expect me to do anything for you.” Ethan ran his tongue over his lower lip, glancing at Wendy. After just a moment, he quietly said, “Fine.” I got out of the car and brushed past Ethan. He whispered a warning. “If you take your anger out on Wendy on purpose, don’t blame me for being ruthless and leaving you here.” People from both wedding convoys stood along the roadside. I walked in my wedding dress and heels toward the other car. People whispered to each other, smirks on their faces. In the ten-million-dollar Mercedes SUV, Wendy sat draped in white, filling the entire back seat. She looked pure and elegant beyond words. Leaning back in her seat, she smiled and extended her foot. “Sorry to trouble you, Mandy!” “We studied medicine together in college. Who knew I’d twist my ankle on my wedding day and still get taken care of by a classmate? I’m so lucky!” “Ethan, you’d better treasure such a kind and caring bride.” “If you dare bully her, I’ll beat you up.” Ethan gazed at Wendy, his eyes full of happy smiles. I crouched down and lifted Wendy’s foot to examine the injury. “Ah!” “Mandy Foster! What are you doing?” Ethan yanked me away and cradled Wendy’s foot like it was precious jade. I fell hard onto the asphalt. My palms scraped and bled. “Wendy, Mandy didn’t even touch you yet! What are you screaming about?!” My bridesmaid pointed at Wendy and yelled. “And you, Ethan—what’s your problem? Doctors can’t treat injuries without causing some pain!” “This bitch screams once and you shove Mandy like that?!” “You—!” Ethan’s chest heaved. He knew he was in the wrong and had to swallow his anger. Reluctantly, he grabbed my shoulder and helped me up. “Sorry. I overreacted.” Wendy stuck out her tongue playfully. “Mandy, I’m sorry! You know me—I’m terrified of pain. Sorry about that!” I didn’t want to hear any more of this. I just wanted to bandage her up and get out of here. “Do you have ice? Gauze?” “We have gauze, but no ice. Just frozen bottled water.” “Bring both.” Seeing my complete lack of emotion, Ethan’s heart beat uneasily. He tried to help several times, but I subtly kept my distance. I dampened the gauze and wrapped it around her swollen ankle. “Ah!” Wendy kicked me in the face. I lost my balance and fell again. “Sorry, sorry, Mandy! I really didn’t mean it this time.” I lowered my head and took a deep breath. I didn’t see Ethan’s instinctive move to catch me. “Wendy, Mandy’s been crouching for so long. Stop messing with her.” Wendy pouted and shot Ethan a playful look. “I’ll apologize for Wendy. Let me help you up.” I pushed him away, polite but distant. “No need. Thank you.” I finished the last steps of treatment. “Without ice, you’ll need to pour cold water on the gauze every half hour to reduce the swelling.” “Don’t do strenuous exercise. Don’t stand for long periods.” Wendy examined her foot from different angles. “It’s wrapped so ugly. Thanks, though.” I walked back toward my wedding car without looking back. Ethan bumped shoulders with his groomsmen, speaking quietly. “See? Told you she was playing hard to get. I knew it. All that ‘break up’ stuff—she’s just trying to get a rise out of me.” “Ethan’s got her figured out completely.” “Women, man. You can’t give them too much face or they’ll walk all over you.” I said nothing. I opened the car door, grabbed my purse, and took my two bridesmaids with me. Then I walked toward the person coming to get me.

I brushed past them. The groomsmen and Ethan stood frozen. “Wait, what?” “She’s actually leaving?” Ethan watched my resolute back and caught up, grabbing my hand. His voice held barely detectable panic. “Mandy Foster, what the hell are you doing?!” “We’re breaking up. Exactly what it sounds like.” “Are you done with this tantrum? Don’t you see everyone’s waiting for you?” I looked back at the twenty-four wedding cars. Not a single person was waiting for me. “They’re waiting for you.” “Waiting for you to finish reversing for your precious childhood sweetheart, scatter rose petals for her, and see her off one last time.” Ethan clenched his jaw, too guilty to respond. I pulled my hand free and kept walking. He shouted furiously. “Mandy Foster! If you leave today, you’ll never get another chance to come back to me! Don’t you dare regret this!!” No one answered him. Let him perform this farce alone. That person sent me a shared location. The distance was closing. I walked quickly with my bridesmaids. The groomsmen saw things escalating and kept scratching their heads. “Ethan, you should go after her and smooth things over! Otherwise she really will leave.” Wendy stuck her head out the car window. “Ethan, this is all my fault. I made Mandy angry.” “Should I go apologize to her?” Ethan’s furrowed brow smoothed out instantly. “It’s bad luck for the bride to get out midway. Stay put. Don’t worry about her.” “But what if Mandy really leaves?” Ethan touched the diamond tiara on her head. “Be good. Today’s your most important day. I’ll make sure this road is completely clear for you.” “Don’t worry. She’s been chasing me for years. She won’t go far. She’s probably waiting in some shady spot for me to come apologize!” Wendy smiled and nuzzled his palm like a kitten. “Ethan, the wedding dress you gave me is beautiful. The diamond necklace, earrings, tiara, and bracelet—Wendy loves them all.” “Even though I can’t marry you, you’ll always be in my heart.” Ethan was distracted and didn’t really hear what Wendy said. He suddenly realized—Mandy wasn’t wearing any decent jewelry today. Ethan looked in the direction Mandy had gone. Would her heels hurt if she walked too long? The sun was so strong—did she even put on sunscreen? She’d rather walk away with her bridesmaids than stay. Was she really that angry? He turned around and quickly got the convoys moving. “Wendy, I’ll see you off to here.” Wendy threw open the car door, jumped out, and shouted something at him. He floored the gas pedal. The wind was too loud—he couldn’t hear a thing. “Ethan, look at you! Saying you’ll let go and then actually letting go. Just walking away like that—you’re so flexible!” “This is wild! Let’s go! Time to pick up the bride!” He was grinning ear to ear in the driver’s seat. For the first time, he believed the saying “boys will be boys.” He could already imagine how happy Mandy would look when she saw him catch up to her so quickly. She’d probably cry from happiness. Ethan wore his sunglasses, lips curving up involuntarily. But the mountain road twisted and turned. The further he drove, the less confident he felt. The more anxious he became. Fifteen minutes passed. He didn’t see a single soul. “Ethan, did Mandy hitch a ride and take off?” “Shut up. We were blocking the road. What ride could she hitch?” “Right, right! Don’t talk nonsense! She’s probably hiding somewhere waiting for us to find her!” “Keep driving.” Ethan pulled out his phone, hands shaking slightly. He called Mandy. After a few rings, she hung up mercilessly. He called again. She blocked him. He sent messages, tried SnapChat—everything disappeared into the void. He gripped the steering wheel, furious. “Hey! Ethan, look! There they are!” “They’re at the fifth curve!” Ethan focused and looked. His whole body relaxed. “Whoa! She even called a car and got herself a longer train for her dress!” “So she went to prepare a surprise for Ethan!” “Nice one, Mandy! You know how to make him happy!” Ethan couldn’t suppress the smile spreading across his face. Just then, his business rival of over a decade, Lucas Sterling, called. Ethan was in such a good mood he casually hit accept. With just one sentence from the other end, the phone slipped from his hand. “Ethan, thanks for giving Mandy to me.” Ethan gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles, his foot slamming the gas pedal nearly to the floor. Because he saw me, holding my dress train, climbing into Lucas Sterling’s wedding car.

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My husband married into my family. But I was more than happy to support him. After all, he had the looks and the build—and most importantly, he had real talent. He could help me take the company to new heights. Until at the corporate year-end gala, I caught sight of the female VP who’d been shadowing him all evening. She leaned in slightly and smoothed down his cuff with practiced ease. That night when we got home, I tossed him a transfer order with a smile. “By next week, she’s being relocated to our European division.” Charlie frowned. “She’s still managing core projects.” I brushed at a non-existent wrinkle on my dress, my voice light and unhurried. “Do you know why I’ve never bothered to interfere with you two?” “Because in my world, people are like projects—I only keep the ones I can control.” He went silent for a long moment before finally speaking. “How long are you planning to send her away for?” I looked up at him, lips curving into a smile. “That depends on your performance.” After all, his first lesson should be: never make your master teach you the meaning of boundaries herself. ……

By the time I arrived, there was already a woman standing next to my husband Charlie. Long wavy hair, crimson lips, dressed in a bold red evening gown—her delicate hand resting naturally in the crook of Charlie’s arm. I raised an eyebrow and walked over to Charlie’s side without changing my expression. When Audrey saw me, she made no move to release Charlie’s arm. Instead, she leaned in slightly, smiling at me. “Miss Laura, you’re here. That dress looks stunning on you tonight—white really brings out your complexion.” Her words were complimentary, but her body pressed even closer to Charlie. She looked down, smoothing her own dress. “Not like me. I’ve been fighting in the trenches with Mr. Charlie for so long, I can’t pull off such an elegant color. I’d only ruin it.” I looked at her with a smile but said nothing. Charlie smoothly extracted his arm and took two steps forward to my side, wrapping his hand around my waist as he said quietly, “Mr. Brown is here today. Let’s go say hello.” Audrey was naturally left standing where she was, head lowered, lost in thought. Halfway through the gala, I stood beside Charlie with a glass of champagne, watching him exchange pleasantries with several directors from headquarters. At some point, Audrey had positioned herself on Charlie’s other side. She jumped into the conversation at just the right moments. She steered the discussion perfectly toward the high-stakes deals she and Charlie had closed together. And then, at just the right moment, she suddenly reached out and brushed something off Charlie’s cuff. “Mr. Charlie, right here.” Charlie glanced at me and shifted away from her hand. Audrey’s hand froze mid-air. She didn’t seem bothered, though. Instead, she turned to look at me, her eyes glistening. “Miss Laura, please don’t take offense. I’ve spent so many years building this empire alongside Mr. Charlie, taking care of him has become second nature.” She paused, her lips curving into a smile as she sighed. “Sometimes I wonder—if I’d been born with Miss Laura’s privileges, maybe I could’ve lived comfortably as a wealthy heiress instead of weathering every storm, grinding myself down into this rough version of who I am now.” Finally, she concluded: “I really envy you. I wasn’t so lucky.” I couldn’t help but laugh, studying her with interest for a few seconds. “Miss Audrey, has the pressure gotten to you? Are you having some kind of breakdown?” Audrey’s smile faltered. She stared at me in shock. I handed my champagne glass to Charlie beside me and straightened his collar. “Have you been putting too much pressure on Miss Audrey? She’s started talking nonsense in broad daylight.” “It’s embarrassing, really.” The area around us gradually fell silent. Several directors exchanged glances and smiled as they echoed my words. “That’s right, Audrey’s worked herself into some kind of delusion.” “Young people, ambition is good. But too much ambition makes you lose touch with reality. Do it long enough and you can’t tell the difference between privilege and fantasy anymore.” Audrey’s smile completely collapsed. “Gentlemen, you’re joking. I was only—” “Only what? Only envying President Laura’s good fortune?” “Young lady, President Laura doesn’t just sit at home drinking coffee. When she was managing billion-dollar investment portfolios, you and Mr. Charlie were probably still scraping by in the dirt.” The comment was cutting enough that it didn’t even spare Charlie. Someone laughed quietly. Audrey’s face went paler and paler. She looked at Charlie helplessly. Charlie rubbed his temples, his tone sharp as he addressed Audrey: “Apologize to Miss Laura. If the pressure’s too much, take some time off. Stop spouting nonsense.” Audrey froze. Her gaze shattered as she looked at me and said hoarsely, “Miss Laura, I’m sorry.” I didn’t look at her. I didn’t even wait for her to finish. Charlie called out softly, “Laura.” I turned the bracelet on my wrist, acting as if I hadn’t heard him, and said goodbye to the gentlemen. “Gentlemen, enjoy yourselves. I have a meeting early tomorrow.” After a few polite exchanges, I’d already taken two steps toward the exit. People around me began stepping aside, nodding in acknowledgment. “Miss Laura, have a good evening.” “Miss Laura, see you at next week’s meeting.” “Miss Laura, please give my regards to your father.” President Laura. Not Charlie’s wife.

When we got home, Charlie opened the car door for me. Under the dim courtyard lights, I studied that handsome face and suddenly remembered the first time he met my father. My father had been drinking coffee, asking him what his plans were. He’d said he wanted to start a business, to help me expand the family empire. My father had smiled and simply said, “Ambitious.” Later, he’d delivered on that promise. The subsidiary company he managed had launched a new brand. In just five years, the brand’s valuation had increased tenfold. The people in our social circle who’d once mocked Charlie for marrying into my family now addressed him respectfully as “Mr. Charlie.” Too bad shortcuts have a way of making you forget how you got to where you are. I looked at Charlie standing before me and brushed an invisible speck off his shoulder. “By next week at the latest, transfer Audrey to the European division.” Charlie frowned. “She’s still managing core projects—” I raised my eyes, my voice calm. “I’m informing you, not asking for your input.” Charlie pressed his lips together. “Laura, you know nothing’s happened between Audrey and me.” I nodded, looking down to smooth the pale fabric of my dress. “Charlie, do you know why I passed over so many excellent strategic matches and chose to marry you?” Charlie’s expression turned uncomfortable. Back then, when we’d gotten together, he’d been the one to push open my bedroom door and offer himself. I smiled, unconcerned. “Because you’re smart. You knew you had no background, no connections—but your ambition and hunger were strong enough that you refused to settle. So you came to me.” “And what I valued was exactly that refusal to settle. People who refuse to settle claw their way up. They treat the family business like their own life, fighting for it with everything they have. I needed someone like that.” He stood in the shadows, his expression dazed. I touched his face. “Charlie, these past five years you’ve exceeded my expectations. I trust you won’t disappoint me going forward, will you?” He stood in the shadows, silent. I couldn’t make out his expression. I smiled and walked past him into the house. If he knew when to advance and when to retreat, I wouldn’t mind helping him climb even higher. The next morning, the butler told me Charlie had stood in the courtyard for half the night. I sipped my coffee and raised an eyebrow at the latest personnel announcement on my phone. Rushed and bare-bones, but apparently effective immediately. Audrey had been transferred to Europe. The matter should have ended there, naturally. But a year later, during the holidays, I found Audrey at Charlie’s parents’ house. She answered the door, then casually took the gift bags from my assistant’s hands with familiar ease. “Miss Laura, long time no see.” She smiled warmly, wearing an apron and the slippers I usually wore when I visited. “Come in, come in. I’m cooking today—don’t be shy, eat as much as you like.” Charlie’s mother stood in the living room, wringing her hands nervously. “Laura’s here… come in, come in…” I lifted my chin slightly, my face cold as I stared at Audrey. “Are you going to leave on your own, or should I have someone help you leave?” Her lips twitched, but she maintained her composure as she spoke. “Miss Laura, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come.” “I’ve always treated Charlie’s mother like my own. I used to visit often to keep her company, go shopping with her.” “This past year I was transferred to Europe, and I felt so empty inside. So the moment I got time off, I wanted to come back to see her, and to see… everyone.” I let out a cold laugh, seizing on her deliberately ambiguous tone. “Audrey, do you think I’m an idiot?” “I let you off once. Did you think that made me soft-hearted and merciful?” “Last time. Are you leaving or not?” I raised my hand slightly. Security guards nearby moved in closer. “Miss Laura!” Audrey’s voice turned sharp and shrill, her face showing undisguised defiance and humiliation. “I know you look down on me. You were born with privilege, with luck, with an amazing husband like Mr. Charlie. But what gives you the right to trample me underfoot?” “People like us aren’t like you. We fight with everything we have just to get a little bit. We cherish every little thing we manage to get. What’s wrong with that?” The living room fell silent. I turned my head toward Charlie, who’d just finished a phone call and walked in. “When she says ‘us,’ does that include you?”

Charlie pressed his lips together and glanced at me before walking over to Audrey, whose eyes were red but chin still raised high in defiance. “You should go.” Audrey’s eyes flushed crimson as she called out, “Mr. Charlie.” Charlie didn’t look at her again. He lowered his eyes, his voice quiet. “I’ll have someone take you home.” Audrey removed the apron and slippers, then walked away in her heels. Charlie’s parents’ house fell into silence. His mother tiptoed upstairs. Charlie walked up to me, his voice gentle as he explained. “I didn’t know she was coming. You know my mom has a soft heart. When Mom had her surgery, Audrey stayed by her bedside for an entire week.” “So when Audrey said she wanted to visit, Mom didn’t think it through and said yes.” I looked quietly into his eyes. He didn’t look away. “Charlie, this is the second time you’ve allowed her in front of me.” Charlie sighed. “Laura, I told you I didn’t invite her here.” “You didn’t invite her. You just allowed it.” “You got here half a day before me. You weren’t blind when you walked in, were you? You saw her bustling around your parents’ house, and you let her stay.” I looked at him. “What were you waiting for?” He said nothing. I smiled, though the smile didn’t reach my eyes. “Charlie, there won’t be a third time.” I didn’t go inside Charlie’s parents’ house that day. As I was leaving, Charlie chased after me and blocked my way. “If you leave now, what will my parents think? You only see them once a year. Do you really have to humiliate them like this?” I didn’t stop walking. His voice finally lost that calm composure. “Fine. I apologize, okay? Is that enough?” I stopped, my voice colder than his. “When you let Audrey through that door, did you think about the consequences?” His face turned ashen as he stared at me. I let out a cold laugh and got into the car without looking back. No one in this world had been born yet who could make me swallow my pride and suffer in silence. He was overestimating himself. Charlie stayed at his parents’ house that night. He didn’t come home for three days straight. It wasn’t until my family’s estate hosted a New Year’s party that he finally showed up. My friend Rosen stood beside me and whistled, his tone full of schadenfreude. “Showing up right when the party’s about to start—looks like President Laura’s lost control of her prize horse. You’ve let him run wild.” I stared coldly at Charlie’s car, though my voice remained calm. “If he’s gone wild, that means he needs to be disciplined.” Rosen raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond. At the dinner party, I held onto Charlie’s arm with a gentle smile, as if there had never been any rift between us. Charlie, on the other hand, seemed uncomfortable. The arm I held was tense with rigid muscles. I turned my head, pretending to adjust his tie, and whispered, “Relax. Smile.” He looked down at me and forced his lips into a curve. It looked terrible. My eyes went completely cold. He hadn’t even reached the top yet, and he already thought he had enough skill and confidence to defy me. I tightened my grip. Just as I was about to threaten him, Rosen’s lazy voice drifted over. “Well, well, well, who do we have here? If it isn’t Mr. Charlie himself.” Charlie turned his head and nodded slightly. “Mr. Rosen, it’s been a while.” Rosen’s smile was absolutely genuine. “My old man’s been singing your praises for years now. Mr. Charlie’s impressive—being able to build up a subsidiary to this level isn’t something just anyone can do.” Charlie smiled but didn’t respond. Rosen winked at me. “But you know, talent sometimes comes down to luck.” “Some people claw their way up for decades and never make it. Others hook up with the right person and reach the top in five years.” The air went still for a moment. Charlie’s jawline went rigid. Rosen acted like he hadn’t noticed and kept talking. “Of course, hooking up with the right person is a talent in itself.” “You’ve got to know how to read the room, when to push forward, when to pull back. And most importantly, you’ve got to remember who you are and whose boat you’re standing on.” He tilted his head, swirling his drink with a smile as he looked at Charlie. “Oh man, was that too harsh? Don’t take it personally, Mr. Charlie. I didn’t mean anything by it. Just making an observation.” “After all, these days it’s pretty rare to see someone ride their wife’s coattails as successfully as you have, Mr. Charlie.” Charlie’s face turned dark. He looked at me.

I let out a soft laugh, slowly raising my glass to take a small sip. I made no move to rescue him. More meaningful glances turned our way. Rosen sighed, putting on a show of sympathy for Charlie. “Don’t blame me for being blunt, Mr. Charlie.” “I feel for you, really. You’ve worked so hard to get where you are today. Some people praise you as a young talent, but behind your back, they say all kinds of things.” He paused, lowering his voice. “They say you got where you are by riding your wife’s success. That without President Laura, you’d be nothing.” “Those words sting, don’t they? I hate hearing them too. But you’ve got to admit, there’s… some truth to what they’re saying.” Charlie was silent for a few seconds before his voice came out tight. “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Rosen. But I don’t need a spoiled rich kid who does nothing all day to worry about me.” The party wasn’t even halfway through when Charlie left abruptly. Rosen stood beside me as we watched Charlie’s car drive away. “So how are you going to thank me?” I withdrew my gaze and smiled at him. “Some of Charlie’s projects can be redirected to you going forward.” Rosen raised an eyebrow. “Decided on divorce?” I texted my assistant to prepare divorce papers. “He’s used up his chances. Time to send him back where he belongs.” He climbed the wall and started tearing down the ladder, thinking he’d grown wings. He forgot who built that ladder in the first place. But I could give him the ladder to heaven, and I could just as easily let him come crashing down. That night at the party, I accompanied my father alone as we saw off the last batch of guests. My father suddenly spoke. “Made up your mind?” I adjusted my shawl and answered softly, “He forgot who he is.” As I walked out of the estate, I glanced back. This was where Charlie had stood at the entrance with a ring, proposing to me. Fine beads of sweat had dotted his forehead, but every word came out steady and firm. “Laura, give me a chance. I’ll prove to you that choosing me was the right decision.” At the time, I’d thought he was interesting. He didn’t want money. Didn’t want shares. He’d even volunteered to sign a prenup. I’d believed in him. Given him a chance. Too bad people’s hearts can change. When I got home, it was already eleven o’clock. The lights by the entrance were on. Charlie sat on the sofa with a bottle of wine, drinking straight from the bottle. This man who was usually steady as a rock and unshakeable looked unusually disheveled. Hearing footsteps, he didn’t get up or turn around. “Miss Laura. You’re back.” I set my purse on the entrance table and walked barefoot across the carpet, sitting down on the armchair across from him. He didn’t look at me. His gaze was unfocused, staring at some point in empty space. “Those things Rosen said—that was your doing, wasn’t it?” I didn’t deny it. He finally raised his eyes, anger that had been building all evening blazing in them. “Laura, are you satisfied?” “Humiliating me in front of all those people, having someone point at my face and call me a freeloader, letting them watch me like I’m some kind of circus act—are you satisfied now?” I propped my chin on my hand and leaned back against the sofa, watching him quietly. Charlie hurled the wine bottle onto the white carpet. “I know that in your eyes, I’ll always be someone who exists only because of you.” “I live in your house, drive the car you assigned me, and everyone knows Mr. Charlie is just a high-level employee. The real boss is you, Miss Laura.” He twisted his lips into a sarcastic smile. “But I’m still a person. I still have dignity.” “You had Rosen humiliate me in public. You just stood there holding your glass, watching me like I was some servant who’d messed up.” He stood up, looking down at me from above. “Laura, people like you will never learn what respect means because you’re always looking down from above!” “You humiliate Audrey, you humiliate me. Will people like us who clawed our way up from the bottom never earn the right to be seen as equals by people like you?!” I couldn’t help but laugh. He frowned. “What are you laughing at?” “I’m laughing at you.” I stood up. I was half a head shorter than him, but my presence was no less commanding. “Charlie, these past five years you’ve been the successful and accomplished Mr. Charlie out in the world, and the thoughtful, caring husband at home. When I worked late you’d bring me food. Everyone said Laura had excellent taste in husbands.” “I thought you truly accepted this marriage. I never held back on giving you resources. When you couldn’t crack tough deals, I visited every uncle one by one, asking them to take care of you.” “But it turns out you’ve resented it all along.” “You should have said something sooner. I don’t need you specifically.” His face showed confusion. He didn’t speak. I took a step forward. He took half a step back. “You say I don’t respect you. So tell me, what does respect look like?” “Should I have pretended not to see when Audrey took your arm? Should I have praised her dedication when she straightened your cuff?” “Or when your mother welcomed her into your house to wear my slippers, sit in my seat, acting like the lady of the house—should I have smiled and accepted it, shaken her hand and welcomed her, for that to count as respecting you?” He opened his mouth. “My mom was just being soft-hearted…” “But you weren’t.” I cut him off. “You were just waiting. Waiting for me to arrive, to see, to get angry.” “What were you testing?” He fell silent. After a long pause, he said hoarsely, “Audrey and I really haven’t done anything.” “She walked this journey with me to get where I am today. She helped me a lot. So sometimes I… I couldn’t bring myself to be harsh with her.” I looked at him quietly. “You can be soft-hearted. But you can’t play dumb.” “Charlie, you’re too smart.” “So smart that from the first time Audrey got close to you, you knew exactly what she was thinking. You didn’t push her away because you needed her. You needed a loyal subordinate, a woman who would give everything for you.” “You allowed her to get close, enjoyed her admiration, and then conveniently used her to train and test me.” His face went pale, bit by bit. “Too bad you miscalculated. I’m Laura. I’m not your accessory wife.” “You want to mold me into the shape you want? Dream on.” I held out the manila envelope I’d been holding. “We’re done.” “The agreement has a detailed property division plan. After you sign it, give it to the lawyer. You can stay in the house until the end of the month.”

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A week before Valentine’s Day, my roommate Eve suddenly started being nice to me, clearly trying to butter me up so she could borrow my car. I didn’t even think twice before turning her down. She’d borrowed my car plenty of times before, but she never cleaned it afterward. It was always left filthy. When I refused, Eve didn’t say anything at the time. But on Valentine’s Day itself, I got a call asking me to move my car. I immediately pulled up my car’s remote camera system to see what was going on, and discovered that the person who’d stolen my car was none other than my roommate, Eve. And her boyfriend Lawrence was sitting in the passenger seat. “This car is amazing! I had no idea you were so loaded!” “Let’s do something exciting tonight. What do you say we try it in the car?” Eve giggled and said “stop it,” but I was already so disgusted I wanted to throw up. Stealing my car to go out was one thing, but they were planning to do THAT in it? I noticed they’d parked at the location of a famous food festival. It would be packed with people tonight. Well then, I’d make sure they got plenty of attention. Let them get their “excitement” in front of everyone! ……

On Valentine’s Day, I was the only single person left in the dorm. Everyone else had gone out on dates. I’d just finished my takeout and was about to take a nap when I suddenly got a call asking me to move my car. “Hello, your parking time is up. We’re opening the food festival tonight, so you need to come move your car as soon as possible.” His words confused me. My car had just been sent to the shop for maintenance yesterday. How could it be parked outside? Instantly, I remembered news stories I’d seen online. Shop employees would secretly take customers’ cars out for joyrides. Had they stolen my car? I quickly hung up and opened my car’s remote camera app, rewinding to this morning to see what had happened. The image on my phone screen made me freeze completely. The person who’d taken my car wasn’t a shop employee. It was my roommate. Eve. She’d brought her boyfriend Lawrence and two guys I didn’t recognize. They looked like they were probably Lawrence’s roommates. From the moment they got in the car, they’d been complimenting Eve non-stop. “Wow, this car is incredible! I had no idea you were so loaded!” “This is my first time in a Tesla. It feels so cool!” Lawrence was sitting in the passenger seat, looking smug. “Well, look whose girlfriend she is. You think I’d date just anyone?” As he spoke, his hand wandered inappropriately onto Eve’s thigh. “But babe, your family must be so rich! You haven’t even graduated and they bought you such an expensive car.” Eve let Lawrence touch her leg without any shame, lying through her teeth. “It’s just a commuter car. My dad saw that my internship was pretty far away and didn’t want me taking the subway, so he just bought it on a whim. He said when I graduate, he’ll get me something even better.” The two guys in the back seat gasped. “This is just a commuter car? How rich is your family?” “Damn, I’m hanging out with wealthy people now.” “Can I take some photos in the driver’s seat? I want to brag to my friends.” Eve casually agreed. “Sure, no problem.” Lawrence stroked his chin creepily. “Let’s do something exciting tonight. I think this back seat is big enough. Want to try it out later?” As soon as he said that, Eve responded with a coy “stop it!” while the two guys in the back pretended not to hear and kept taking photos. Watching through my phone screen, I felt so disgusted I almost threw up. I should have suspected it was Eve all along.

Ever since my dad bought me this new car, Eve had been constantly asking for rides, sometimes even borrowing the car outright. At first, I felt awkward refusing since we were roommates, so I lent it to her a few times. But every single time Eve used the car, she didn’t clean it, and she’d drain the entire battery without charging it. She wouldn’t even pay the few dozen dollars it cost to charge. I wasn’t going to be a pushover, so of course I stopped lending her the car. Because of this, Eve and I had a cold war in the dorm for a long time, only recently patching things up a bit. A week before Valentine’s Day, Eve suddenly bought me a milk tea as a peace offering. “Karen, I’ve realized what I did wrong. I promise if I use your car again, I’ll definitely clean it. Can we still be friends?” I couldn’t very well ignore her when she was making an effort. So I accepted the milk tea and made peace with her. “As long as you know what you did wrong. We’ve been living together for so long, I’m not going to hold a small thing like this against you.” Hearing my words, Eve eagerly grabbed my arm. “That’s great! Karen, I knew you were the most beautiful and generous person! So, do you have plans for Valentine’s Day? Want to hang out with me?” I calmly pulled my arm free and declined. “No thanks. You should spend that day with your boyfriend. I don’t want to be a third wheel.” “Oh, okay then.” Eve sighed with fake disappointment, then revealed her true intentions. “Could I borrow your car then? I want to go on a road trip with my boyfriend. I promise I won’t make it dirty this time!” Hearing her ask to borrow the car again, I instinctively shook my head. “I already sent my car in for maintenance. I can’t lend it to you that day.” This wasn’t a lie—I really had taken my car in for maintenance. I was single and didn’t have a date anyway, so I didn’t need to pick a specific day for car maintenance. I thought Eve might get angry when I refused, but surprisingly, she didn’t seem upset at all. In fact, she looked excited as she pressed me for more information. “Is it the same shop as before?” “Yeah.” I answered, a bit puzzled. “Since it’s in for maintenance, I won’t borrow it then. I’m going out on my date now. Enjoy your milk tea.” With that, Eve happily left. At the time, I didn’t understand why Eve seemed happy even though she couldn’t borrow the car. Now I realized she’d already planned to steal my car. Thinking of this, I picked up my phone and called the shop. As soon as they answered, I confronted them. “Why did you let someone take my car from your shop without even calling me?” The employee answered nervously. “Miss Karen, wasn’t that your sister who picked it up? She gave us your phone number and knew your name, so we gave her the car.” “Sister?” I couldn’t help raising my voice. Eve had claimed to be my sister. “Yeah.” The employee sounded confused. “This isn’t the first time she’s picked up the car. She’s come for it during previous maintenance appointments too, returning it after a couple days. That’s why we gave it to her. Don’t you know her?” His words gave me a bad feeling. This wasn’t the first time Eve had stolen my car. But why had Lawrence just said this was his first time in this car? What had Eve been doing with my car? I quickly told the employee that only I could pick up the car from now on, then hung up. Then, based on when my car had been in for maintenance, I checked through my dashcam footage. What I saw nearly made me die of anger.

Eve had been stealing my car and renting it out to other people to have sex in! No wonder the car was always such a mess when she borrowed it, with that weird smell. She’d been using my car as a mobile hotel! My whole body started trembling. I grabbed the dorm bunk bed and dry-heaved several times. This was the first car my dad had ever bought me, a graduation gift, and now Eve had ruined it like this! Just then, the dorm door opened. It was my best friend Mia coming back. She was holding a little cake she’d brought for me. “Pretty sweet of me, right? Even on my date, I was thinking of you.” As soon as I saw her, I threw my phone aside and rushed into her arms, telling her everything that had just happened. My best friend was furious. She grabbed her phone to call Eve and confront her directly. But I stopped her. “Wait!” My friend looked at me in confusion. “What’s wrong, Karen? You’re not thinking of forgiving her, are you? Absolutely not! This is theft!” “Of course I’m not going to forgive her.” A sly gleam flashed in my eyes. “I just have a better way to deal with her. Right now, you need to take me to the night market on your electric scooter. Fast!” My friend thought I wanted to confront Eve in person, so without another word, she pulled me downstairs. On the way to the night market, I scrolled through Instagram and actually saw a post from Eve. She’d posted a nine-photo grid, all posed shots in my car, with the middle photo being a couple shot with Lawrence. The caption made me want to laugh. “Haven’t even graduated from college and my dad insists on buying me a car. I told him it was too flashy and I didn’t need it, but he got it anyway, so I guess I’ll show it off~” Our mutual friends had all liked it, and there were plenty of comments. “Wow, I had no idea you were rich, Eve!” “When do you have time to hang out? We should go for a drive in your new car.” “Does your dad need a son? I can be your brother.” Seriously? Eve didn’t even block me from seeing this? That bold? I immediately took a screenshot and posted it directly to our dorm group chat, tagging Eve to scare her a bit. “Isn’t this my car? Eve, you’re using my car without even telling me?” After I sent the message, no one in the group chat said anything. My friend also tagged Eve with me. “Stop playing dead and explain yourself, or we’re calling the police.” This time Eve responded quickly. “What do you mean ‘your car’? Are all Teslas yours now? My family bought this for me. Why would I need to tell you anything?” Her tone was so confident it almost made me doubt myself. If I hadn’t just seen Eve driving my car through the dashcam, I might actually have been fooled. Another roommate started defending Eve. “Eve’s right. Just because the car model is the same doesn’t mean it’s your car. Are you saying only you can buy a car and no one else can?” This roommate had always been close with Eve, like her little sidekick. Usually in the dorm, it was me and my best friend hanging out together, and the two of them hanging out together. Except for when Eve borrowed my car, we generally didn’t interact much. My friend was stunned by Eve’s shamelessness. “Oh really? If Eve bought the car herself, fine. Just post the purchase receipt in the group chat and we’ll believe the car is yours.” “Why should I have to prove anything to you?” Eve was finally getting defensive. “Anyway, this car isn’t Karen’s. Stop bothering me while I’m on my date with my boyfriend.” After that, she sent a voice message in the group. It was Lawrence’s voice. “I’ve always heard girls’ dorms are full of drama, and I guess it’s true. It’s normal for you to be jealous of my girlfriend. After all, she’s rich and has an amazing boyfriend like me. But stop harassing her, okay? Don’t ruin our romantic time together, or I’ll make things difficult for you.”

After sending that message, Eve disappeared and stopped responding in the group. By then, my friend and I had arrived at the night market. This night market was a very unique local spot. During the day it was a parking lot, but at night it transformed into a bustling night market full of people. But Eve and Lawrence weren’t from around here, so they probably didn’t know about this. Otherwise they wouldn’t have parked the car there. Just then, the staff member called me again about moving my car. “Hello ma’am, our night market is already getting very crowded. If you don’t come soon, we’ll have to tow your car. Otherwise it’ll interfere with the vendors’ business.” “Can you ask the vendors around my car how much they make in one night?” My tone was calm. “I can’t move my car right now. I’ll cover the lost revenue for all the nearby vendors. Just let my car stay parked right in the middle of the night market.” The staff member paused, probably never having encountered such a generous car owner before. After a long moment, he responded. “The vendors just told me they make around $20,000 in one night.” “Okay, give me an account number and I’ll transfer it to you.” After I said that, I hung up. My friend looked confused. “We’re not going to find those two cheaters directly? Why are we paying the vendors?” I didn’t say anything. I just silently opened the app connected to my dashcam. It immediately showed the current scene inside the car. The two guys from Lawrence’s dorm who’d been in the back seat were no longer in the car. They were probably out eating at the night market. Only Eve and Lawrence remained in the car. They’d hung clothes over the front windows, and the two of them were embracing in the back seat. “Why are there more and more people here? Maybe we should leave?” Eve looked at the crowd outside, her face showing some discomfort. “No need.” Lawrence didn’t care at all. “I actually think this is perfect. More people makes it more exciting.” “But babe, is this car really yours? How come you never mentioned your family was so rich?” Lawrence suddenly changed the subject, catching Eve off guard. She answered somewhat nervously. “I was testing you before. Now that you’ve passed the test, I won’t hide it from you anymore.” “That’s great! I already told my mom about us. She’s urging us to get married after we graduate.” “Really? Your parents approve of us?” Eve’s eyes lit up. “Of course. You’re so great, and your family is well-off. What wouldn’t my parents approve of?” As he spoke, Lawrence started getting handsy again. I had no interest in watching them put on an inappropriate show for me. I immediately exited the app. My friend beside me had already covered her eyes, traumatized by what she’d seen. “Eve is crazy! She’s actually doing this kind of thing in your car? She’s so disgusting! Karen, how are you going to deal with them?” A cold smile curved my lips. I grabbed my friend’s hand and walked straight toward my car. By now, the area around my car was already full of people visiting the night market. Calculating the time, Eve and Lawrence should have already taken off their clothes by now. Under my friend’s puzzled gaze, I pulled out my phone, opened the car’s bluetooth key, and activated the convertible mode. In an instant, the car’s top slowly retracted. Passersby were drawn to it and stopped to watch. In front of everyone’s eyes, Eve and Lawrence appeared before us, half-dressed.

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I’d been in a secret relationship with my best friend’s brother for eight years. During the day, Ethan Rivers treated me like just another secretary at the office. At night, he cherished me completely, holding me close and whispering sweet promises of love. One day, I accidentally discovered he’d bought a lifetime commitment ring – the kind you can only customize once in your life. Heart full of joy, I followed him to the prepared venue. Only to watch Ethan kneel on one knee before a woman who looked eerily like me, promising to marry no one else but her. After the successful proposal, Ethan’s friends congratulated him while teasing: “Now that your first love is back, when are you planning to break up with Luna?” Ethan exhaled a lazy smoke ring, his eyes dark and unreadable: “Luna is crazy about me. She can’t leave me even if she wanted to. Let’s just… take our time with that.” I pressed my hand over my mouth to muffle my sobs, turned around, and texted my family: [Mom, I agree to come back for the arranged marriage.] By pure coincidence, Ethan’s wedding day happened to fall on the exact same day I was getting my marriage certificate. When he saw the photo of my marriage announcement, his face went deathly pale…

After calling my mother to finalize the arranged marriage, I immediately booked a plane ticket. Forcing myself not to replay what I’d just witnessed, I rushed home and started packing as fast as I could. When I went to the living room to grab some things, Ethan came home. He wrapped his arms around me, his expression happier than I’d ever seen it. “Luna, I love you so much. Let’s stay together forever, okay?” He leaned in to kiss me, his breath reeking of alcohol, the gardenia perfume on him so strong it was suffocating. Ethan used to constantly give me gardenia-scented perfume. Even after I told him countless times that I preferred jasmine, he kept enthusiastically buying me gardenia. A few times when I forgot to wear it, he got really angry with me. Only now did I understand – the one who loved this perfume, the one Ethan truly loved, had always been another woman. From the very beginning, he’d only been trying to recreate a substitute. Nausea rising in my throat, I dodged away from Ethan’s advance. But the desire on his face didn’t fade. He suddenly pinned me against the door, his cool hands already sliding under my clothes. “Ethan! Let go of me!” The man’s eyes flashed with surprise. I’d never used this tone with him before. Just as Ethan was about to speak, the doorbell rang. When he opened the door, a woman rushed in and threw her arms around him, quickly planting a kiss on his cheek. She saw me and smiled brilliantly, blindingly so. “You must be Miss Grey, the secretary who’s been by Ethan’s side for eight years, right?” “Hi there! I’m Vivian, Ethan’s fiancée. Thank you so much for taking care of him all these years!” The strong scent of gardenias rushed into my nostrils as she moved, the exact same fragrance that was all over Ethan just moments ago. I didn’t move, just looked at Ethan. Ethan only froze for a moment before avoiding my eyes and nodding. “Yes, she’s the secretary I told you about.” “She doesn’t make much, so I let her stay in the guest room here. It’s convenient having her around to help with various tasks.” Vivian waved her hand dismissively: “Ethan, why are you explaining this to me again? I’m not some petty woman who can’t separate business from personal matters.” “Besides, Miss Grey looks so much like me – of course you’d feel more comfortable and familiar having her around! Actually, I should be thanking Miss Grey!” “Oh, and since Miss Grey is familiar with the layout here, I’ll trouble you to move all my luggage to Ethan’s room! Ethan and I are getting married soon, so it’s time we started living together!” Vivian excitedly bossed me around. Ethan showed no sign of objecting. I remembered the several times I’d begged to move into the master bedroom. Ethan had always refused, saying couples also needed their own space. Only occasionally, when passion struck, would he let me stay the night in his room. If I accidentally left anything behind, he’d darken his expression and say he hoped I could be more mindful of boundaries. So in the end, it was simply because the position of mistress of the house had never been meant for me. Ethan suddenly gestured at his phone. I looked down to see a message from him in our chat. [Vivian and I are only in a nominal alliance marriage, just for show for the company merger. Don’t misunderstand.] I couldn’t help but laugh. Even now, Ethan was still treating me like a three-year-old child. Fine. If he said his alliance marriage was fake, then it was fake. As long as mine was real, that’s all that mattered. I headed to the guest room to finish packing my luggage, but saw Vivian get there first. “Miss Grey, Ethan is going to be all over me from now on, so it won’t be convenient for you to keep living here. You should hurry up and pack your things and find your own place…” “Oh my, Miss Grey, you’ve already packed half your stuff? And your clothing style is so similar to mine! We’re so meant to be!”A chill spread through my heart, impossible to stop.

What Ethan loved most was buying me clothes and jewelry. I used to think it was proof of how much he cherished and loved me. Now, looking at this roomful of clothing and accessories that completely clashed with my own style, I could see that every single piece would look absolutely perfect on Vivian. It made me look like the intruder who’d stolen someone else’s nest. I didn’t want to question anything anymore, but Ethan grabbed my hand with a dark expression, his tone urgent: “Why would you suddenly start packing for no reason? Answer me!” I turned my face away, not wanting to respond, when I saw Vivian reaching for my music box. “Don’t touch it!” CRASH! The music box fell heavily to the floor, the lid and the little figurines scattering everywhere, shards covering the ground. “Ah… I’m so sorry, Miss Grey, I didn’t mean to… Ethan, my hand… it hurts so much…” Vivian clutched the scratch on her palm and started crying. Ethan ran over to check her wound. The next second, he stomped his foot down hard on the music box remains, his face black with anger. He glared at me viciously: “It’s just a broken decoration! Did you really need to deliberately scare people like that, Luna!?” “Hurry up and throw this pile of garbage away. I don’t want to see it in my house again!” After saying this, Ethan ground his foot harder on the remains, then picked up Vivian and left without looking back. Tears splashed onto the music box wreckage. The shards cut my fingers, but I couldn’t feel any pain. When I was sixteen, my parents were getting divorced. Not knowing what to do, I ran to my best friend Claire Rivers’ house. She wasn’t there, but I ran into Ethan, who’d just come back from playing ball with friends. “Luna, you’re Claire’s friend, right? Why are you crying? Tell me what’s wrong.” Eyes red, I tried to leave, but Ethan grabbed me, frowning as he chased away the friends who wanted him to game with them. He told me to wait, then ran out alone in the rain to buy the best desserts and cakes in the entire city, piling them all in front of me. He ruffled my hair to comfort me, then mysteriously pulled out a music box from behind his back. It played a gentle melody, with little figurines of a hero and princess slowly spinning in circles on top. “Luna, don’t be afraid.” “No matter how others treat you in the future, I’ll protect you for the rest of my life. Let this music box be my promise.” The way teenage boys comfort people is always pure and direct, but in that moment of helplessness, it made me fall completely for him. From that day until today, I’d loved Ethan Rivers for a full ten years. I still remembered the promise he made. But the person who made that promise had long since forgotten it completely. Cradling the remains in my palms, I took one last look before throwing them in the trash. If that’s how it was, then I didn’t want the promise or Ethan anymore. Never again. Ethan didn’t come back until the next morning. After shipping my luggage home, I went to the office to print my resignation letter, preparing to hand it in to Ethan’s office. On the way, Ethan sent me a message. [Baby, I spoke too harshly yesterday. I ended up sleeping at the office after working late last night, just woke up. I’ll head home soon.] I looked up at Ethan’s empty office in front of me and placed the resignation letter on his desk. I didn’t reply, just exited the chat and unpinned him from the top of my messages. A red notification appeared in my contacts – Vivian had added me. The moment I accepted, a message from her popped up. [Ethan, when you get back from the convenience store, remember to buy a few more boxes of condoms! You were so intense last night… you used up everything we had at home!] Followed by several blushing emojis. Right at the two-minute mark, Vivian deleted the message. [OMG I’m so sorry Miss Grey… I sent that to the wrong person… You didn’t see anything, did you?] My heart ached, but I was too tired to play along with her act. Still, I instinctively opened her Instagram. Photos and posts unfolded before me like a movie. Turns out Vivian had been back for a month. During that month, Ethan had taken every spare moment to travel with her to various places. Looking back at the dates, I realized these were all trips Ethan had claimed he was assigning to other employees so I wouldn’t be overworked. The Eiffel Tower in Paris, Mount Fuji in Tokyo… All places I’d begged Ethan to take me to. He’d always held me and coaxed me, saying yes, yes, as soon as work wasn’t so busy, he’d take me. I waited eight years and never saw the day when he’d have free time. Vivian had only been back one month, and suddenly he wasn’t busy anymore. At each location, Ethan cooperated with Vivian to take many photos. But during all these years with Ethan, I’d never been allowed to point my camera at him. “If my sister finds out I stole her best friend away, she’d probably kill me.” “Luna, you’re my secretary after all. Office romances attract gossip – I don’t want you to get hurt.” But when you truly love someone, how can you possibly hide it? I was too slow to realize – Ethan had kept our relationship shrouded in secrecy for eight years. I should have understood long ago that he simply didn’t love me! I was about to exit the app when I saw a new photo pop up on Vivian’s profile. The background showed a bed. Vivian wore a skimpy camisole, her slender fingers trailing across the man’s firm, muscular abs. Tears finally spilled out uncontrollably, landing right on Vivian’s caption. [Last night’s beautiful memory. He said the imitation is just an imitation – it could never compare to even half the flavor of me, the original.]

I wiped away my tears and casually liked the post. Turning to leave the office, I ran into my best friend Claire Rivers, who was there on business. I told her directly that I’d be going back to get married soon. All these years, because Ethan made me keep our relationship secret, whenever Claire brought up romantic topics, I’d deliberately change the subject. Now that I was leaving, I at least needed to tell her goodbye properly. Claire looked completely shocked. “So sudden! Does that mean we’ll barely get to see each other anymore!” I nodded helplessly. The next second, she grabbed me playfully. “Luna, you always said you were too busy with work, so I never got a chance to have my mom really meet my best friend.” “Now that you’re leaving, you absolutely cannot bail on me today!” Just like that, Claire dragged me to attend a dinner party her family was hosting that evening. I’d always avoided Claire’s invitations before because Ethan said he wanted to wait until he officially made our relationship public to personally introduce me as the future Rivers daughter-in-law. In all these years together, I never got to see the day when Ethan would introduce me to his family. Who would have thought that now, as I was leaving, I’d finally get the chance. After getting styled, Claire and I arrived at the Rivers estate just as the family dinner was already halfway through. Ethan stood beside Mr. and Mrs. Rivers with Vivian on his arm. Various celebrities and elites took turns coming forward to offer congratulations on their engagement. So that’s what tonight’s dinner was for – to officially announce their engagement. Ethan Rivers really couldn’t wait to tell the whole world he was marrying Vivian. I instinctively wanted to leave, but Claire was already pulling me toward them. “Dad! Mom! I brought my dear best friend to meet you!” When Ethan saw me, his expression froze, and he slightly loosened his arm from around Vivian. The moment Mrs. Rivers saw me, her face lit up with joy. “I’ve always heard my daughter mention she has such an accomplished and kind best friend. Now that I’ve met you in person, you really are as lovely and sweet as she said!” I shook my head awkwardly. Looking at Mrs. Rivers holding my hand so warmly and affectionately, I felt an indescribable desolation. We’d almost been able to become mother and daughter-in-law who genuinely got along. “By the way, Miss Grey, Claire mentioned you’ve been so busy with work all these years that you haven’t had time to date anyone. There are many wonderful young men at our dinner party tonight – would you like me to introduce you to someone?” Before I could refuse, Ethan let out a cold laugh: “She doesn’t need that.” Right, I didn’t need it anymore. After all, I was about to go back for an arranged marriage. Claire jumped in to help explain: “Mom, Luna really doesn’t need it. My precious best friend is about to go to New York to get married. I don’t even know how many times a year I’ll get to see her after this…” Hearing this, Ethan’s previously smug expression suddenly froze. He stared at me, his eyes dark and unreadable. Midway through, I went to the restroom. When I returned to the banquet hall, Ethan pulled me into a corner and held me in his arms. The man lazily lowered his head, his voice carrying a hint of reproach as he spoke in my ear. “Baby, don’t make up stories about marrying someone else anymore. Even I get jealous hearing that.” I looked at him, finding it somehow absurd: “But aren’t you about to marry another woman too?” Ethan frowned. “Don’t be difficult. You know this is just for the company.” A moment later, he softened his voice to coax me: “Alright, baby, you’ve always been so understanding, haven’t you? After the banquet ends, go home and finish packing. I’ll take you to move into the new apartment.” “After all, Vivian and I are officially engaged. It’s not appropriate for you to keep living at the house.” Because I was understanding, I obediently stayed in a secret relationship with Ethan for eight years that no one knew about. Now, was he planning to keep me as some kind of mistress who could never see the light of day? I was about to say “no thanks” when Vivian’s crying suddenly echoed from the main hall. Ethan immediately released me and rushed over.

“What’s wrong, Vivian?” Vivian held out her left hand, pointing at her empty ring finger, sobbing uncontrollably. “Ethan, the proposal ring you gave me is gone… That’s the ring you can only customize once in your life, and it was still there before I went to the restroom…” Vivian looked at me, then grabbed me while crying: “Miss Grey, you and I were the only ones in the restroom… I know you’ve been Ethan’s secretary for many years, so you probably have some possessive feelings toward your boss… but that ring is really important to me. If you took it, please, I’m begging you to give it back!” With this move, Vivian made everyone see me as the thief. “I knew these secretaries were all trouble. She even deliberately made herself look like Miss Vivian. A sparrow is still a sparrow – did she really think using cheap tricks would turn her into a phoenix!?” “Exactly! And she actually had the audacity to steal an engagement ring! This kind of low-class woman should be permanently banned from our circle!” All kinds of cutting, mocking words shot toward me. I instinctively looked at Ethan, only to see him darkening his expression and snapping at me: “Hand it over!” Even knowing he didn’t love me, I still couldn’t believe that in his heart, he actually thought I was capable of doing something like this. “How am I supposed to hand over something I never even saw!” I bit my lip hard, struggling to control the sob in my voice. I absolutely could not cry here. If I cried, I would truly lose everything. Ethan shook his head, his eyes filled with disappointment in me. “You’re still making excuses!? Since you won’t return it voluntarily, I’ll have to have you searched!” With that, Ethan called over several servants to search me on the spot. Claire rushed over: “Ethan, don’t do this to Luna! I’ve known her for years – she would never do something like this!” Mrs. Rivers also anxiously tried to intervene: “That’s right, Ethan. I also think Miss Grey doesn’t seem like someone who would do this. Could there be some misunderstanding?” Ethan laughed coldly: “There can’t be any misunderstanding! Vivian has always been kind-hearted, not the type to falsely accuse people. If she hadn’t done something, why would Vivian suspect her for no reason?” My heart turned to ash. Even Mrs. Rivers, who’d only just met me, was willing to believe in my character and speak up for me. But Ethan had known me for ten years, and we’d been together for a full eight years! One casual accusation from Vivian made him completely disregard all those years we’d spent together, nailing me to the pillar of shame as someone with rotten character! The difference between being loved and not being loved truly was the most insurmountable chasm in this world! I was held down by several servants and could only close my eyes in despair as they roughly searched me. Only after they’d searched everywhere did Vivian suddenly cry out in surprise. She pulled the engagement ring out of her purse: “Oh my… I’m so careless… I forgot I’d already put it in my bag before washing my hands…” “Miss Grey, I’m so sorry… I misunderstood you. I apologize…” Vivian spoke the words of apology, but the next second she covered her face and ran out crying. Ethan only glanced at me once, said nothing, and then chased after Vivian to comfort her. Exhausted in body and soul, I declined Mr. and Mrs. Rivers’ apologies on Ethan’s behalf, left the Rivers estate, and got straight into a cab headed for the airport. I sat numbly in the airport waiting to board my rescheduled flight. In the meantime, Ethan sent me a message. [You shouldn’t have made Vivian lose face like that at the event. She’s technically your superior now. Remember to apologize to her later.] The announcement for my flight boarding just happened to come over the speakers. A relationship no one knew about didn’t need a breakup. I replied with a simple [Okay], treating it as my final goodbye to Ethan. Then I exited the chat, blocked him on every platform, and boarded the plane to New York without looking back. …… A few days later, Ethan’s wedding day with Vivian arrived. But he stood in the wedding hall smoking one cigarette after another. When his friends asked what was wrong, his furrowed brow showed concern: “Luna hasn’t made a peep these past few days. With how big my wedding is today, she’s probably crying somewhere right now.” One of his friends looked stunned and pulled out his phone, showing it to Ethan: “You don’t know yet? The Cross family – New York’s wealthiest – just announced a wedding this morning. Their eldest son, Sebastian Cross, is marrying your secretary…”

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My girlfriend Sophia has a serious sex addiction. Every night, her demands are insatiable. In the eight years we’ve been together, I’ve been tortured to the point of wanting to die. So the moment I learned her first love was coming back to the country, I was so excited I cried tears of joy. Finally, there was light at the end of the tunnel. I’d planned to just slip away quietly. But thinking back on these eight years, Sophia had treated me pretty well. So I decided to cook her one last meal. “Honey, what do you want for dinner?” Sophia’s cold voice came through the phone. “Fish.” I flinched. “Sophia, how about we have something else…” Before I could finish, I heard the dial tone. She’d hung up. This was just bullying. Screw it. It’s the last time anyway. I refuse to believe I can’t handle her. **1.** That night, I was panting heavily, so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open. Sophia had it worse. She went limp in my arms, her body trembling uncontrollably. Her usual cold detachment had completely melted away. Her eyes and brows were heavy with desire. Looking at the adorable person in my arms, I shamefully got hard again. Sensing my reaction, Sophia struggled to escape from my embrace. After a long while, she asked softly, “Ryan, is something bothering you?” I slapped my thigh. Damn it, I got so caught up I forgot the important thing. I needed to tell her while she was in a good mood. “Honey, I heard Ethan came back from Europe?” Sophia frowned. “What does it matter to you whether he’s back or not?” How could it not matter? He’s the first love you’ve been pining for all these years. I tried to reason with her. “Sophia, I know you’ve never forgotten him all these years.” “Now that he’s back, I’m willing to let you go. I want you two to be happy together.” “If I can’t make you happy, then I’ll give you your freedom back.” The more I spoke, the more emotional I got. I almost moved myself to tears. But Sophia’s face turned cold, a strange chill appearing in her eyes. I knew this was a sign she was getting angry. So I wisely shut my mouth. After a long silence, she sighed, turned over, and lay with her back to me. “Ryan, don’t say things like that anymore.” Seeing her look so helpless, I wanted to curse. ‘What are you pretending for? Everyone knows you’ve never gotten over Ethan.’ ‘I’m voluntarily making room, and you’re still not happy about it.’ Fine. If we can’t talk this through, don’t blame me for running away. Having made up my mind, I closed my eyes and stopped looking at Sophia. Soon, drowsiness overtook me and I drifted off. When I opened my eyes again, it was already bright outside, and the bed beside me was empty. Sophia was a disciplined person and very driven. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have become VP of a publicly traded company just eight years after graduation. I was the complete opposite—pretty laid-back. After graduation, I’d just been coasting at a big tech company. Almost thirty now, and I was still just a department head. After getting up and washing up, I called my boss and took a day off. Then I met up with the real estate agent I’d contacted yesterday and went straight to the new apartment. I’d picked out this place early on. The day I learned Ethan was coming back, I knew it was time for me to leave. So I immediately started looking for apartments online. After viewing it with the agent, I was very satisfied. It had utilities, internet, new furniture, and most importantly, it was very close to work. So I didn’t even haggle on the price—I signed the contract with the agent right away. When he heard I wanted to move in immediately, he enthusiastically helped me contact a moving company. I didn’t have much—my work computer, clothes, and some books. By midmorning, everything was moved out cleanly. Walking out of the building, I looked back at the apartment where I’d lived for eight years, feeling a pang of sadness. This was the place Sophia and I had lived together for eight years. Even after we had more money, we never moved. In my heart, I’d long considered this home. But to survive, I had no choice but to leave. After all, everyone knows the power of a first love. If I moved even a bit too slowly, I might be completely destroyed. **2.** After moving into the new place, I cleaned the whole apartment until it sparkled. That evening, looking at the clean and bright room, I felt much better. Just as I was admiring my handiwork, my phone kept dinging with notifications. I opened it to find that our usually quiet high school class chat had suddenly come alive. The class president had started the conversation. “Everyone, to welcome Ethan back to the country, tomorrow night at 8 PM, my treat—I’m hosting a banquet for everyone at the VIP hall on the sixth floor of the International Grand Hotel. I hope all classmates can make it.” Marcus was Ethan’s best friend, so it made sense he’d throw a welcome-back party for him. Classmates started responding enthusiastically. Some praised Marcus for being generous, others welcomed Ethan home. The chat became quite lively. Ethan also sent a message to the group. “Thanks, everyone, for still remembering me. I hope you can all make it.” Then he sent out ten red envelopes, each worth two hundred dollars. The group exploded. Everyone thanked him profusely. I silently watched without saying anything or grabbing any red envelopes. Tiffany, Ethan’s high school desk mate, suddenly asked, “How come Sophia isn’t saying anything? Is she not in the group?” “Is she coming to the reunion tomorrow?” The group suddenly went quiet. In high school, Ethan and Sophia were the perfect couple in everyone’s eyes. Handsome guy, beautiful girl, both excellent students, constantly occupying the top two spots in our grade. Even our usually strict homeroom teacher turned a blind eye to their relationship. Back then, Sophia was the perfect girlfriend. Cold and distant to other boys, never giving them the time of day. But with Ethan, she was gentle and caring. Every time she looked at him, her eyes were full of admiration. When Ethan played basketball, she’d stand on the sidelines holding his water bottle. When Ethan ate, she’d move the meat and vegetables from her tray to his. All us guys watched with envy, jealousy, and hate. Unfortunately, after high school graduation, Ethan chose to study abroad. The two of them had a big fight about it. Sophia begged him to stay, but Ethan was determined to go. He even asked her to go abroad with him. But Sophia’s family couldn’t afford the cost of studying abroad. In the end, they broke up. In college, Sophia was depressed for a long time. As her high school classmate and secret admirer, I knew my chance had come. She’d just gone through a breakup and was in a new environment—she was at her most vulnerable. So I boldly made my move. During winter break of freshman year, after one drunken night, I finally got what I wanted. I’ll admit, I’m not some noble person. My feelings for Sophia were just instinctive attraction. I never thought about the future. But the next morning, when I saw that spot of red on the sheets, I froze. In that moment, I knew I was in deep. After Sophia and I made it official, I started giving it my all. But Sophia remained lukewarm toward me. I understood. After all, I’d taken advantage of her vulnerability. It was only natural she’d see me as companionship during her lonely, wounded time. I still gave her my whole heart and treated her with everything I had. Back then, I was young and thought that if I was good enough to her, someday she’d see my sincerity. So when she told me not to post on Instagram about our relationship, I didn’t. Every time she had a promotion celebration dinner and told me not to come, I didn’t go. For eight years, she was cold to outsiders and indifferent to me, and I endured it all. After all, that was just her personality. But on those nights when I’d suddenly wake up and see Sophia standing on the balcony with melancholy eyes, I knew what she was doing. She was remembering him. Remembering that person far away who haunted her dreams. **3.** The dinging of my phone pulled me back to reality. The high school group chat was in full swing. “Sophia will definitely come. Has anyone heard about her dating anyone all these years?” “Right, she must be waiting for our Ethan.” “But Ethan, now that you’re back to develop your career here, are you trying to win back a certain someone?” Ethan replied with a smiley face emoji, saying nothing yet saying everything. I’d already decided to let them be together. But my heart inexplicably clenched, sour and painful. I smiled bitterly. It seemed Ethan was determined to win Sophia back. My phone rang. It was Sophia calling. I answered, and her cold voice came through the receiver. “Ryan, I’m working late tonight. Don’t wait up for dinner. Bye.” She clearly hadn’t been home yet—she didn’t even know I’d moved out. As she was about to hang up, I stopped her. “Wait, don’t hang up.” “Sophia, did you see the high school group chat?” Sophia’s voice was calm. “No, I didn’t. I don’t have time.” I took a deep breath and gathered my courage to ask, “Sophia, tomorrow night they’re throwing a welcome-back party for Ethan. Are you going?” There was a long silence on the other end before her icy voice came through. “No. Why, do you want to go?” What kind of question was that? Was she saying she wouldn’t go but also wouldn’t let me go? Besides, who knew if she was lying about not going and planning to sneak off anyway? “Of course I’m going. Why wouldn’t I?” “After all, if we both don’t show up, someone might get the wrong idea.” Sophia caught the implication in my words, and her voice grew even colder. “Ryan, stop with the passive-aggressive tone.” “You’ve called me by my name three times today. I’m not happy.” With that, she hung up. I pursed my lips. You’re not happy? Well, I’m not happy either. For eight years, I’d called Sophia “honey,” but she’d always just called me Ryan. Only when she was in the throes of passion would she call me “honey.” I’d given eight years, and she’d practically drained me dry. Now I was awake. I wasn’t going to keep foolishly giving everything for a term of endearment that would never come. I opened the class group chat again. Everyone was now discussing what it would be like when Ethan and Sophia reunited. Watching their increasingly ridiculous speculation, I put down my phone, my heart aching densely. Even though I was leaving decisively, it didn’t mean I didn’t love Sophia. On the contrary, I loved her very much. But after eight years without reciprocation, no matter how much I loved her, it was time to let go. To keep clinging would just be rude. That night, I was sleeping soundly when the phone rang abruptly. I groggily answered, and Sophia’s ice-cold voice came through. “Ryan, where are you?” I shivered, instantly awake. “Sophia… I moved out.” For some reason, I felt inexplicably guilty saying those words. The person on the other end was grinding her teeth so hard I could hear it. “Give me a reason.” Did I need a reason? Your first love came back to rekindle your romance, and I’m just being tactful. “No particular reason. I don’t like you anymore. Let’s break up.” Silence on the other end. I didn’t say anything more either. We just quietly listened to each other breathe. After a long while, Sophia’s voice softened. “Ryan, I noticed something was off with you these past few days.” “I asked but you wouldn’t tell me.” “We’ve been together for eight years. If you’re facing difficulties, you need to tell me. We’ll face them together.” I laughed coldly. Face them together? How? This was about the first love she’d been pining for all these years. “Sophia, save your fake concern.” “I’m not facing any difficulties. I just don’t like you anymore. Let’s break up.” I hung up before she could respond. Before the call disconnected, I thought I heard soft sobbing on the other end. Impossible. Sophia crying over me? No way. It must be a hallucination. Definitely a hallucination. **4.** When I woke up the next morning, I stretched and felt refreshed. Turns out living alone was pretty great. No more desperately trying to satisfy Sophia’s insatiable appetite. After going downstairs, I enjoyed a nice breakfast. Then I started planning my day. It was Saturday, no work. I was definitely going to the reunion tonight. I had to see whether Sophia, who said she wasn’t going, would secretly show up behind my back. After eating, I went to the barbershop. I got a sharp new haircut. Looking at myself in the mirror, I looked pretty handsome—just dressed a bit frumpy. Plaid shirt, jeans, hiking boots. No wonder Sophia didn’t want to make our relationship public with me looking so sloppy. Thinking about it now, I guess I couldn’t entirely blame her. I turned around and went to the mall, bought a suit, and got a facial at a spa. After getting cleaned up, I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction. Turns out shopping twice a year at decent stores was actually necessary. At 6 PM, I arrived right on time at the VIP hall on the sixth floor of the International Grand Hotel. When I got there, almost everyone had arrived. People were holding wine glasses and catching up. A sharply dressed man stood at the center of the crowd, smiling as he enjoyed everyone’s flattery. “Ethan, I heard you started a private equity fund. Do you guys in private equity all have insider information?” The man smiled without answering, giving off an air of mystery. Seeing he wouldn’t talk, the classmates got anxious. “Ethan, we’re all classmates here. If you’ve got any money-making tips, you can’t keep them to yourself.” Marcus, standing next to Ethan, waved his hand generously. “Don’t worry, Ethan’s not like that.” “I guarantee, if there’s any good opportunity, he won’t forget about us.” Hearing this, everyone finally relaxed and started sucking up to Ethan and Marcus with smiles and bows. Seeing me enter, Marcus raised his glass toward me. “Ryan’s here.” In high school, I wasn’t particularly notable, so I was surprised he remembered me. Ethan followed his gaze and looked at me, nodding politely. But I felt like there was something off about the look in his eyes. I walked over and greeted Marcus. He was a rich kid without much guile. In school, he was always loud and boisterous, but not a bad person. After greeting him, I looked at Ethan. Eight years later, he was even more handsome than before, exuding mature masculine charm. Definitely better than someone like me who’d just thrown myself together at the last minute. Ethan raised his glass to me. “Ryan, I heard you and Sophia went to the same college.” I nodded, waiting for him to continue. Ethan asked naturally, “So are you two still in touch?” Before I could answer, Tiffany, Ethan’s desk mate and fangirl, scoffed. “Sophia’s standards are so high, how could she possibly keep in touch with him?” “I remember in high school, he and Sophia never even talked to each other.” The classmates burst into laughter. I shrugged indifferently. I’d already broken up with Sophia anyway, so they could say whatever they wanted. Besides, I never planned to show off about dating Sophia. Marcus looked at the laughing classmates and frowned. “What are you laughing at? Like any of you ever talked to Sophia either.” Now the guys stopped laughing. True—in high school, except for Ethan, she barely talked to any guys. Tiffany noticed Ethan kept glancing toward the door. She teased with a laugh, “Ethan, your heart’s practically flying out the door.” Ethan smiled warmly. “If you’re so anxious, why don’t you just call Sophia?” “We don’t have her contact info, but you must, right?” Ethan didn’t say whether he had Sophia’s contact information or not. Instead, he changed the subject. “Whether she comes or not is her choice. I don’t want my call to influence her decision.” Tiffany looked at him with adoration. “Ethan, you’re such a gentleman.” I felt sour inside. He was really pulling it off perfectly. But he was right. If he personally called, Sophia would definitely come. Just then, the banquet hall doors slowly opened. Sophia appeared in the doorway wearing business attire. Seeing their high school goddess again, the classmates swarmed around her. I pursed my lips disdainfully. Didn’t she say she wasn’t coming? Why was she making this grand entrance now? Did she need to be the center of attention like this? But I had to admit, the power of a first love was truly unbeatable. Anyone with half a brain could figure out who she came for. Ethan walked slowly up to Sophia, his eyes gentle. “Sophia, you came.” Sophia didn’t look pleased. She radiated an icy aura, like a glacier. She ignored Ethan, her eyes searching around as if looking for something. Ethan asked with concern, “Sophia, your eyes are swollen. Didn’t you sleep well?” Hearing this, I looked up from the edge of the crowd. Sure enough, her beautiful eyes were swollen from crying. I scoffed inwardly. It’s just seeing Ethan—was she so excited she cried? Sophia acted as if she hadn’t heard Ethan at all. Her gaze landed directly on me.

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I went undercover to an overseas R&D center for two years, working in isolation to crack the core AI chip technology for my husband’s tech company. He promised me that once we achieved the technical breakthrough, I would be named co-founder when the company went public. But when I returned home with patents that could revolutionize the entire industry, I discovered my private office had been turned into a nursery. At the pre-IPO celebration party, he was holding my intern assistant in his arms, announcing that she was now the company’s youngest CTO. The intern rubbed her slightly rounded belly, her face full of smug satisfaction. I let out a cold laugh and shut down all the core servers with a flick of my wrist. Want to use my life’s work to elevate your mistress? I’ll make your entire company go down with you! **1** Bang! I shoved open the doors to the penthouse ballroom. Inside, the lights blazed and designer dresses swirled. To crack that critical technical barrier, I’d worked day and night in Silicon Valley for two years. I slept less than four hours a day and ended up in the ER three times from exhaustion. I came back with the final patent authorization, thrilled to give my husband Ethan Chase a huge surprise. But the scene before me was like a bucket of ice water poured from the top of my head straight down to my feet. On the stage in the center of the ballroom, Ethan wore the custom-tailored suit I’d personally ordered for him. His arm was wrapped intimately around the waist of a young woman. It was Madison, the intern assistant I’d hired before going abroad. A fresh graduate who couldn’t even write basic code and only knew how to act cute and flirt. Right now, she was wearing a gorgeous evening gown with that sapphire necklace around her neck—the one I’d admired at an auction, the one Ethan had said was “too expensive, maybe later.” “Ladies and gentlemen, investors!” Ethan raised his glass, his voice booming with pride. “Today is the most important day in Summers Tech’s history! Our core AI chip development is finally complete, and next month, the company will officially ring the bell on the stock exchange!” Thunderous applause erupted below. Ethan lowered his head and kissed Madison on the forehead, his eyes dripping with affection. “Here, I want to give special thanks to one person. Our company’s new CTO, and my future wife—Madison!” “These past two years, she led the team working day and night to achieve today’s technical breakthrough. And she’s also carrying my child. Double blessings!” The whole room exploded. “Mr. Chase and Ms. Cooper are such a perfect match!” “Congratulations, Mr. Chase! Double blessings indeed!” “Ms. Cooper is so young and already shouldering the technical operations—what a powerhouse!” I stood in the doorway listening to this nauseating flattery, feeling like I’d entered some absurd alternate reality. Madison led the team? Technical breakthrough? She couldn’t tell C++ from Java if her life depended on it. What the hell did she break through? These past two years, I was overseas with a handful of core engineers, under crushing pressure, writing that underlying core code line by line. I’d traded half my life for these results, and now they’d become her ticket to promotion and status as the mother of his child? I took a deep breath, my heels clicking as I walked toward the stage step by step. The sound of my stilettos striking the marble floor rang especially clear in the gradually quieting ballroom. The crowd automatically parted to make way. The executives who used to call me “Ms. Summers” all changed their expressions when they saw me, their eyes shifty, whispering among themselves. When Ethan saw me, the smile froze on his face. He instinctively released his arm from around Madison, a flash of panic in his eyes, quickly replaced by coldness and impatience. Madison saw me too. Not only did she show no guilt, she actually thrust out her barely visible belly and leaned closer to Ethan, speaking in a saccharine voice. “Oh, Lila! You’re finally back!” She raised her glass of juice, looking down at me from her position above, every inch the victor. “Please, have a seat. Everyone’s celebrating. You’ve worked hard ‘studying abroad’ these two years. Now that I’m handling the company’s technical R&D, you can just rest easy.” I looked at her smug face and laughed coldly. “Studying abroad? Handling things?” I turned and stared hard at Ethan. “Ethan Chase, is this what you told them about me? I nearly killed myself developing technology for you overseas, and you told them I went to study abroad?” Ethan frowned, hurried down from the stage, and hissed at me in a low voice: “Lila, what are you making a scene for? There are investors here. Don’t embarrass me!” “Embarrass you?” I shook off his outstretched hand. “You’re using code I wrote to elevate your mistress, and you don’t feel embarrassed, so why should I?” **2** Ethan’s face turned iron gray. “What are you talking about! What do you mean ‘your code’? That’s the collective achievement of the company team! Madison, as project lead, made invaluable contributions!” “Lila, I know you feel bitter. But you need to face reality. These two years you weren’t in the country, Madison helped me manage everything at the company, top to bottom.” “She’s not only capable at work, she’s also carrying my child. I owe her something.” His self-righteous tone made it sound like I was the one who’d cheated and stolen credit. I was so angry I laughed, pointing at Madison’s meticulously made-up face. “Capable at work? She can’t even understand basic algorithmic logic. What project could she possibly lead? The project of providing you inspiration in bed?” “Smack!” Ethan suddenly raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. The force was so strong it made me stumble and fall to the ground. I tasted blood at the corner of my mouth. The entire room fell deathly silent. Madison screamed and hid behind Ethan, clutching her belly and putting on a fragile act. “Ethan, don’t hit Lila, she just can’t accept it yet… Oh! My stomach hurts a little…” Hearing this, Ethan immediately tensed up, quickly supporting Madison, then turning to point at me viciously. “Lila! Watch your mouth! If you dare hurt the baby in Madison’s belly, I’ll never forgive you!” The surrounding executives and colleagues started criticizing me too. “Lila, you’re being so unreasonable. Mr. Chase is worth billions now—what’s wrong with getting a younger, prettier wife?” “Exactly. Ms. Cooper is a company hero now. You haven’t contributed anything in two years, so what gives you the right to make a scene here?” “Just apologize to Ms. Cooper and stop making Mr. Chase angry.” I got up from the floor, wiped the blood from my mouth, and looked at these boot-licking faces. My heart went completely cold. Years ago, Ethan and I started our business in a hundred-square-foot basement apartment. To land our first investment, I drank with investors until I had a stomach hemorrhage and spent two weeks in the hospital. To meet project deadlines, I pulled so many all-nighters I developed sudden hearing loss in my left ear. My hearing still hasn’t fully recovered. I built him up from a penniless nobody into the glamorous tech mogul he is today. Now that he’s successful, he wants to dump his devoted wife? “Ethan Chase, have you forgotten that I own forty-nine percent of Summers Tech’s shares!” I stared at him coldly. “Want me gone? Fine. Split the company in half, and I’ll take what’s mine!” Ethan laughed like he’d heard the funniest joke in the world. He straightened his tie, walked up to me, and said in a voice only we could hear: “Shares? Lila, while you were abroad these two years, the domestic equity went through several rounds of dilution and restructuring.” “The shares you hold now amount to less than one percent.” “For old times’ sake, I’ve prepared five hundred thousand in compensation. Take the money, sign the divorce papers, and hand over the core source code.” “Otherwise, you won’t get a dime, and I’ll make sure you can’t work anywhere in this industry!” My whole body trembled as I clenched my teeth. “Five hundred thousand? To buy out half my company? To buy two years of my life?” “Ethan Chase, dream on!” I turned to leave. “Stop!” Ethan shouted. A dozen burly security guards immediately rushed forward and surrounded me. Ethan walked up behind me, his voice icy. “Lila, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty. Without that source code, the company’s chips can’t go into production and the IPO will fall through.” “If you don’t hand over the hard drive with the source code today, don’t think about leaving through that door.” He was going to rob me outright. I looked at the menacing security guards around me and pulled a black encrypted hard drive from my bag. Ethan’s eyes lit up as he reached to snatch it. I laughed coldly and smashed the hard drive toward the champagne tower beside us. “Crash—” The sound of shattering glass rang out. The hard drive fell to the floor, and without hesitation, I raised my stiletto heel and stomped down hard. “Crack!” The hard drive shattered into pieces. “Want the source code? In your next life!” Ethan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he lunged at me like a madman. “Lila! You crazy bitch! I’ll kill you!” I took advantage of the chaos to shove a guard aside and ran out of the ballroom without looking back. **3** Outside, the rain was pouring. I didn’t have an umbrella. I was soaked through, and the cold wind cut straight to my heart. I got in a cab and went back to the downtown villa Ethan and I shared. We’d bought it for our third wedding anniversary. I’d sold the old house my mom left me to come up with the down payment. I walked to the door and habitually entered my fingerprint. “Beep—fingerprint error.” I froze for a moment, then entered the passcode. “Passcode error.” I pounded on the door. “Open up! Let me in!” After a while, the door finally cracked open. It was Ethan’s mother—my mother-in-law. She wore a silk robe and held a glass of red wine, looking at me with complete irritation. “Wailing like a banshee in the middle of the night! What’s all the noise!” Seeing it was me, she rolled her eyes and moved to close the door. I jammed my hand against the doorframe, staring at her coldly. “This is my home. Let me in.” My mother-in-law scoffed and looked me up and down in my bedraggled state. “Your home? The property deed has my son’s name on it! You can’t even have children—what gives you the right to call this your home?” “Ethan already told me you’re getting divorced. Madison’s moving in soon, and she’s carrying our family’s heir!” “Get lost and don’t bring your poverty stench into our house!” The sound of high heels came from inside. Madison appeared wearing my limited-edition slippers and my cashmere wrap, holding an apple, walking over leisurely. “Mom, who’s making all that noise? It’s upsetting the baby.” My mother-in-law immediately put on a fawning smile and rushed to support her. “Oh, my precious! Walk slowly, don’t disturb the baby. It’s just a beggar. I’ll get rid of her right away.” Madison walked to the door and looked at me with fake surprise. “Oh my, Lila! Look at you, all soaked! Didn’t Ethan arrange a hotel for you?” “You know, Ethan said the master bedroom decor is too old-fashioned. Tomorrow they’re tearing it all out to renovate and make it into a nursery for me.” “All your raggedy old clothes and junk—I had the maid pack them up and throw them in the trash bins in the basement garage.” I shoved past my mother-in-law, forced my way inside, and ran straight for the second-floor study. That’s where my father’s last possession was kept—a programming notebook he’d written by hand. It was my most precious treasure! I burst into the study. It had already been ransacked. My desk had been cleared out. All the books on the shelves were gone. I whipped around, my eyes bloodshot as I glared at Madison, who’d followed me up. “Where’s my dad’s notebook?!” Madison covered her mouth and giggled. “That ratty old thing? The pages were all yellow, covered in chicken scratch I couldn’t even read. I thought it was dirty, so I had the maid burn it as scrap paper.” “Lila, you’re not going to get mad at me over some old notebook, are you? I’m pregnant, you know.” Burned… My mind went “boom,” and my last shred of rationality snapped completely. I charged at her like a crazed lioness, grabbed her hair, and slapped her hard across the face. “Smack!” “You dared burn my father’s belongings! I’ll kill you!” Madison let out a pig-like squeal, struggling desperately. My mother-in-law screeched and rushed at me, scratching and clawing, yanking at my clothes. “You jinx! You dare hit my grandson’s mother! I’ll kill you!” I kicked my mother-in-law, sending her sprawling, grabbed Madison by the hair, and slammed her face hard against the wall. “Give me back my dad’s notebook! Give it back!” Madison’s forehead split open and bled. She burst into hysterical tears. “Help! Murder! Mom, save me!” Suddenly urgent footsteps came from outside. Ethan burst in with several bodyguards. Seeing the scene, his eyes went wild and he roared: “Lila! Stop it right now!” He rushed forward and kicked me in the stomach without mercy. I flew backward and crashed hard into the stair railing. My internal organs felt like they’d shifted. I curled up on the ground in agony, unable to breathe for what felt like forever. Ethan tenderly gathered Madison’s bloodied form into his arms. “Madison, Madison, are you okay? Does your stomach hurt?” Madison collapsed into his embrace, crying pitifully. “Ethan, it hurts so much… Lila tried to kill me, she tried to kill our baby…” Ethan turned his head, his eyes vicious enough to devour someone. “Lila, you’re absolutely insane! A monster!” “Let me tell you, after what you did to Madison today, I will never forgive you!” “Throw her out! Never let her set foot in here again!” Several bodyguards came over, dragged me up from the floor like a dead dog, and threw me out the front door. “Bang!” The heavy door slammed shut mercilessly in front of me. I lay in the freezing rain, the violent pain in my abdomen nearly making me pass out. Rainwater mixed with mud streamed into my eyes, blurring my vision. I bit my lip hard until I tasted thick blood. Ethan Chase. Madison Cooper. That old hag. You’ll pay back everything you owe me a thousand times, ten thousand times over! **4** I don’t know how long I lay there in the rain. Until a pair of black custom leather shoes stopped in front of me. A black umbrella opened above my head, blocking out the torrential downpour. I struggled to lift my head. Before me was an extremely cold, sharply defined face. Adrian Sterling. CEO of Sterling Empire, Ethan Chase’s biggest business rival. And for the past two years, my true “secret partner” overseas. “Ms. Summers, seems like your celebration tonight wasn’t very pleasant.” Adrian’s voice was deep and magnetic, with a barely detectable hint of mockery. I pushed myself up from the ground, swaying as I stood, and looked at him coldly. “Mr. Sterling here to watch me suffer?” Adrian chuckled softly, took off his black trench coat, and draped it over my shoulders. “I’m just here to take my Chief Technology Officer home.” “The car’s outside. Let’s go.” I didn’t refuse. I followed him to the Rolls-Royce Phantom parked by the curb. The cabin had the heat on. Adrian handed me a cup of hot coffee. “That hard drive—destroyed?” he asked casually. I cradled the coffee cup, feeling its warmth. “Fake. It had the complete series of some old cartoons on it.” Adrian raised an eyebrow, a smile of appreciation curving his lips. “And the real source code?” I pointed to my own head. “All in here. No one else in the world can make that system run except me.” Adrian leaned back in the leather seat, his long fingers tapping lightly on his knee. “Ethan thinks that as long as he kicks you out, he can take your technology to ring the bell at the stock exchange.” “He has no idea you already built a backdoor into that system.” I laughed coldly, a flash of ruthlessness in my eyes. “Did he really think he could just take what’s mine?” “I’m going to make him fall as hard as he’s climbed.” Adrian turned to look at me, his gaze deep. “What do you need me to do?” “Help me prepare a big gift.” I looked out at the speeding nightscape. “Ethan wants to hold his IPO bell-ringing ceremony, doesn’t he? I want the whole world to see his true face.” The next morning. I was still resting in the hotel Adrian had arranged when my phone started ringing like crazy. It was Ethan calling. I hit answer and turned on the recording. “Lila! What the hell did you do to the source code!” On the other end, Ethan’s voice was frantic, like a rabid boar. “Why is all the test data showing errors? The system won’t even start!” “The investors are coming to see the final demo tomorrow. Hand over the decryption file right now!” I took a leisurely sip of milk. “Mr. Chase, we’re getting divorced. Whether your company goes public or not has nothing to do with me.” Ethan gritted his teeth. “Lila, don’t push me!” “You think I can’t do anything if you don’t hand it over?” “Your brother’s kidney transplant surgery years ago—that went through company accounts! Three hundred thousand dollars!” “I have all the transfer records and signatures. If I report this to the police, that’s embezzlement, misappropriation of company funds!” “Enough to put you away for ten years or more!” My hand clenched suddenly, nails digging deep into my palm. My brother had sudden kidney failure years ago and urgently needed a transplant. I was overseas in lockdown development and couldn’t get back. Ethan had volunteered to advance the money from company funds, saying I could pay it back from my dividends when I returned. Turns out he’d been calculating this from the very beginning. He’d deliberately made this transaction look like evidence of embezzlement just so he could have leverage over me today! “Ethan Chase, you’re truly despicable,” I said through clenched teeth. “No mercy in war!” Ethan sneered. “Three o’clock this afternoon. Come to the office, sign the divorce papers, and hand over the decryption file.” “Otherwise, just wait for the court summons and spend the rest of your life in prison!” The call was brutally disconnected. I looked at the blackened phone screen and laughed in fury. Fine. Very good. Ethan Chase, if you want to play, let’s play big.

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