When my daughter was in critical condition following a car accident, my wife was at the wedding of her “idealized past love.” I called her, and she yelled at me: “I’m just attending Oliver’s wedding! Can’t you stop being so petty? You even made up a lie about Ella being critically injured in the hospital!” At that moment, her “idealized past love” chimed in: “Mr. Ethan, if you want Wanqiu to come back, just say it. My matters aren’t urgent, but don’t jinx the child with false stories!” My wife angrily hung up and blocked my number. I gripped the bedsheet so tightly that my knuckles turned white as I watched my child, still unconscious. It dawned on me that it was time to end this marriage. The day after moving out of the ICU, my wife, Lily, unblocked me and called. “Oliver had something come up. Come pick me up from his place!” She spoke as if it was a given, with an air of inevitability, making it seem like it was my fault for making her wait even a second longer. For seven years, I had followed her every instruction without question. But this time, on the way to pick up our daughter, I got into a car accident, and Lily was still at her “idealized past love’s” wedding. Looking at my barely recovering body and thinking of our child still in the ICU, I hung up the phone. I dragged my weak body to the hospital waiting room and sat silently, praying for my child. When Lily finally arrived, she looked furious. She stormed over to me, her eyebrows furrowed, and shouted: ” Ethan Johnson, what’s your problem? I told you to pick me up, and you dare hang up on me?” She paused, her glare intensifying, “Are you pretending to be sick to get away with this?” I tried to speak, but pain shot through my injured organs, so I just bowed my head and silently endured. Seeing my silence, her eyes flared up even more as she continued: “Do you know how long I’ve been working non-stop for the company?” “I brought you into the company to share my workload, not to slack off and then increase my workload when you get home!” I looked at her, full of disappointment. She didn’t know how I tirelessly worked on various technologies to ease her burden, developing patents to earn money. After endless effort, I finally brought her company to the verge of going public. But Lily stubbornly believed the company’s success was solely her doing, and I was just a parasite leeching off her and her company. “Feeling guilty now?” “Do you have any dignity as a man? Can’t you learn something from Oliver Johnson?” After barely managing to ease the pain in my organs, I finally spoke: “I understand. It won’t happen again.” Hearing that, her anger subsided a bit, and she commanded me as if I were her subordinate: “Then why are you still sitting here? Don’t you know I came straight from the airport? Hurry up and drive me home so I can take a bath.” “And what about our Bao’er? You left her alone at home. What if something happened?” But after waiting a while and seeing I was still sitting in the hospital chair, her suppressed anger erupted again: “I told you to get up and drive me home. Are you deaf? What’s wrong with you now?” I restrained my emotions, looked at her coldly, and said in a low, steady voice: “Lily, tell me exactly what you’ve been doing with Oliver Johnson these past few days.” Her body stiffened, as if a sensitive nerve had been struck, and she angrily retorted: “What do you mean? I’ve explained it to you countless times. I just helped him prepare for his wedding. What else could I do?” I didn’t reply, just took out my phone, opened Oliver’s Snapchat, and turned the screen towards her. On the screen, she was wearing a bright red wedding dress, standing gracefully on a stage draped in festive red, her face full of emotion as she reached for the dazzling diamond ring Oliver Johnson was giving her. The comments were a flurry of congratulations on their marriage from friends and family. And during our most vulnerable moment, my wife was standing at another man’s wedding in a bridal gown, becoming someone else’s bride. When she saw the photo, her pupils quivered, and her angry expression froze for a moment. But only for a second. Then she burst into a rage: ” Ethan Johnson! Are you done? I’ve known Oliver Johnson for thirteen years. I was just taking some photos for him. Who is as dirty-minded as you, spying on me?” Her eyes showed a hint of grievance, each word sincere. Once, I would have believed her without hesitation. But now, I just found it ridiculous. Noticing the coldness in my expression, she softened her stance and tone. She seemed to want to appease me, gently pulling on my arm, and kissed me softly on the corner of my lips, speaking tenderly: “Okay, stop overthinking. Let’s go home. Bao’er is waiting for us.” “Either way, leaving Bao’er alone at home isn’t good.” But as she leaned over to pull me up, a bright red wedding invitation fell out of her open bag. I instinctively bent down to pick it up, and when I saw the names on the invitation, my pupils shrank. The groom was Oliver Johnson, and the bride was Lily!

Her pupils also shook, panic spreading in her eyes like a tidal wave. “Johnson, listen to me. This was just to help Oliver cover up with his family. It’s a fake marriage; don’t overthink it.” She said anxiously, her voice trembling slightly. I listened, expressionless, to her flimsy excuse, feeling as if an invisible hand squeezed my heart, causing it to ache. So, she went over there to be his bride! And she calls it a fake marriage? Maybe, compared to this, our so-called marriage was the real farce. Ethanch things had happened repeatedly before. Whenever I brought it up, all I got from her were accusations. This time, I silently put the glaring red invitation back in her bag, my movements mechanical and slow. Seeing my actions, her face darkened, anger surging once more. ” Ethan Lin, we’ve dated for three years, married for four, and you still don’t trust me?” She raised her voice, eyes full of anger: “Oliver and I have a clear conscience. Nothing happened. I was just helping him fake a marriage to fool his parents.” “Besides, he’s an executive at the company, and our most valuable asset. What’s wrong with me caring about him?” I hadn’t said anything, yet she was already on the defensive, desperately trying to justify and conceal. My throat felt dry and itchy, and I couldn’t help but speak: “Lily, did you know?” “While you were becoming another man’s bride, Bao’er and I were in a car accident. Bao’er is still in the ICU!” Hearing this, her anger flared even more, glaring at me and shaking her head: “Do you have to make a fuss just because I took care of Oliver? Now you’re even cursing our child. Are you even a man? You make me sick!” With that, she shoved me hard. I was already weak, and couldn’t withstand her push. I staggered backward, falling to the ground. I couldn’t get up, my bandaged wounds feeling like they were tearing apart, blood seeping through. But seeing me like this, she thought I was acting, and became even more furious: “Still pretending? Are you trying to force me to lose my temper?” “Don’t forget who provides for you. Reflect on your mistakes and come to me when you realize them!” “And if you curse Bao’er again, I’ll make sure she never acknowledges you as her father!” After that, I watched her storm off in her high heels. I struggled to get up, holding my bleeding wound, sweat beading on my forehead. She probably thought I’d go begging for forgiveness once she got angry. The hospital corridor was empty and cold, exuding a chill. I could only watch Bao’er from afar in the ICU, my lips murmuring: “Bao’er, let’s not have a mom from now on, okay?”

The wound reopened, and I had to find a doctor to re-bandage it. When I tried to pay for the medication with my card, I was stunned to find that all the money had been transferred out. At that moment, it felt as if my heart had been hollowed out too. I shook my head and smiled bitterly. Over the years, to give Lily Johnson a sense of security, I had given her full control of my paycheck, keeping only $3,000 for monthly expenses. Even though I spent countless days and nights buried in research, developing valuable, money-making patents for the company—patents that I registered under the company’s name without any compensation—I never complained. All our business partners were attracted by my patents, choosing to work with her company because of them. But now, after all my efforts, all I had in return was this agonizing wound and an empty bank account. Dragging my weary body, I slowly sat back down in the cold hospital corridor, silently enduring the pain of the wound. Not long after, my phone rang. The caller ID showed Hazel Johnson, Lily’s closest friend. As soon as I answered, a barrage of criticism came through: “What’s wrong with you? Are you even a man? How dare you argue with Lily? After all these years she’s supported you, do you have any shame?” The people around Lily never thought much of me, Hazel especially. To her, marrying Lily was like winning the lottery. Before I could respond, Hazel arrogantly commanded: “We’re at the Starlight Nightclub. She’s drunk. If you don’t come to pick her up in ten minutes, Oliver will take her home!” In the past, such a threat would have sent me into a panic. But now, it just seemed absurdly amusing. “Oliver is there too?” Hazel’s tone became even more disdainful: “You think everyone is as useless as you? Without Oliver, Lily’s company wouldn’t have grown so fast.” “How did you get so lucky to marry Lily, and yet you still dare to give her attitude? Look at yourself in the mirror. Do you even deserve to be her husband?” Her words were merciless, and then I heard a familiar laugh on the other end. “Mr. Ethan, don’t worry. I won’t take advantage of the situation. I’ll make sure Lily gets home safely. After all, she’s my bride.” After a big fight with me, she went to drink with her first love. This was the woman I’d cherished for so many years. I had forgotten she had already become someone else’s bride behind my back. I couldn’t be bothered to continue the conversation and hung up the phone. Hazel was relentless, calling several more times until I finally blocked her number.

Later that night, the doctor urgently informed me that Bao’er needed surgery and I had to pay the fees. But all the money in the bank account was frozen by Lily. Remembering the safe at home, I recalled the savings book I had stored there. In a panic, I rushed back home, only to find the house brightly lit. “Lily, thank you for pretending to marry me to keep it from my parents.” “It’s just that my parents want to see our marriage certificate…” Oliver’s voice came from inside the house. Then Lily replied in her soft voice: “Oliver, don’t worry about that. I secretly divorced Ethan Johnson a while ago. We can get the marriage certificate tomorrow morning.” “Once Uncle and Auntie see the certificate, they won’t suspect anything.” Standing at the doorstep, hearing their conversation, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, frozen in place. Bao’er was still lying in the ICU, needing a life-or-death operation. But Lily was planning to marry her first love Oliver? What hurt me even more was that I didn’t even know we’d already divorced! I thought my heart had long since gone numb, but the stabbing pain spread uncontrollably from within. I forced myself to suppress the grief, trembling as I unlocked the door. “Jing… Johnson, why are you back?” Seeing me suddenly return, Lily’s face turned pale. Ignoring her, I went straight to the safe, retrieved my savings book, and left. Watching my lonely back, Lily’s heart skipped a beat. She bit her lip and ran after me. At the entrance of the community, Lily grabbed me, looking at me with pleading eyes: “You understand, don’t you? This is all for the company. Without him, the company wouldn’t be this big. Once I pacify Oliver, I’ll divorce him and remarry you.” “Didn’t you always say you wanted to honeymoon in Phuket with me? Once I get the marriage certificate with Oliver, let’s all go together, okay?” I looked at Lily seriously and said: “Lily, since we’re divorced, there’s no need to continue…” Before I could finish, Lily’s expression turned cold: “Why are you so petty, always hung up on this divorce thing?” “ Ethan Johnson! You’ve been living off me, and Oliver is the backbone of the company. Do you think you can compare to him?” Seeing me silent, Lily became angrier: “It seems you haven’t realized your mistake. Don’t bother coming back to work at the company!” “I’m warning you, if you keep bothering me and Oliver, forget about getting back together!” I opened my mouth, full of things I wanted to say, but only one word came out: “Okay.” Even at this point, haven’t I realized the truth? Hearing my obedient response, Lily smiled in satisfaction and hurried back to Oliver. I turned away, lowering my eyes, and took out my phone. I dialed a number: “Hello, is this the Patent Office? I’d like to reclaim my patents.” As dawn broke, I went to the company to process my resignation and prepare to reclaim my patents from the company with the help of the Patent Office. Unexpectedly, I bumped into Lily and Oliver, just returning from City Hall. Lily’s face, once full of smiles, now frowned in annoyance: “What’s your problem? Why are you still causing trouble here at the company?” Seeing me silent, she berated me again: “How many times have I told you, aren’t you tired of this? Are you just here to ask for money again?” “Look at you, always burying yourself in your worthless research. You’re like mud that can’t be shaped! Look at Oliver; he just secured another big deal for the company.” “But let me be clear, the profit from this deal—you won’t get a cent. Even if you beg on your knees, there’s no chance!” Oliver, however, smiled calmly: “Lily, it’s my responsibility.” “Mr. Ethan, if you’re sincere in apologizing, I can arrange a security job for you.” Lily looked at me, frowning as she continued to scold: “Did you hear that? Hurry and apologize to Oliver. You’re of no value to the company, and keeping you is just charity!” Ring, ring… Lily picked up her phone, her expression growing even more smug, and said: “See? Thanks to Oliver’s skills, it’s probably another collaborator wanting to partner with us.” But the call was from the company secretary, whose panicked voice came through the receiver: “Ms. Lily, there’s trouble! The Patent Office is here, and they want to reclaim our patents!” “The collaborators have found out too. They said if we don’t resolve the patent issue, we owe them a penalty fee of 300 million dollars!”

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The day my family declared bankruptcy, my fiancée turned around to marry her long-lost love. I said nothing and instead married Daphne, who had confessed her love to me and helped me out during a crisis. For seven years after our marriage, I cared for her paralyzed legs. Then, on the day she stood up, I accidentally overheard her speaking in French with her best friend. “Daphne, are you really planning to stay with him forever? What if your dear brother is heartbroken again?” Daphne peeled a shrimp for her daughter and replied calmly. “Of course not! My brother is my brother, and he is him. I could never bear to see my brother sad.” “I love Uncle just like Mom does, and I can’t stand ugly Daddy,” chimed in our daughter in French. Little did they know, I understand French. I no longer want to endure this half-hearted charade for the rest of my life. Daphne stroked her daughter’s forehead, visibly pleased, and praised her instinctively in French. “Sweetie, you’ve been such a good girl. Mommy and Uncle have not loved you in vain.” “When you’re a little older, Mommy and Uncle will give you a pretty little sister so you’ll have company at school.” Lily clapped her hands excitedly and responded in broken French. “Yay, that’s awesome.” “I love Uncle and Mommy the most, and I also like the pretty sister Mommy will have.” “It would be so much better if we didn’t have that mean Daddy at home. I don’t like him at all; he annoys me.” Hearing this, I was stunned, unable to believe my ears. Maybe she noticed my gaze on them, as Daphne smiled and placed a piece of bitter melon on my plate, her voice gentle. “Honey, what’s wrong?” I shook my head, my heart aching unbearably, with a suffocating feeling spreading throughout my body. Daphne might have forgotten that I was the first in this family to learn French. She also forgot that I never eat bitter melon. I put on a stern face. Seeing my silence, Daphne immediately became nervous and unsure, carefully holding my hand. “Honey, why do you suddenly look so upset?” I avoided her touch, forcing a smile. “Nothing, just surprised you forgot I don’t like bitter melon,” I said, pretending to be playful. “By the way, what were you talking about earlier? Were you speaking French?” Daphne’s expression stiffened, guilt making her avoid my gaze. “Nothing much, just Evan being jealous of our relationship.” She came up with a random excuse before shifting focus with a guilty look. “I’m sorry, honey, I forgot. I’ll remember next time, and I promise never to give you bitter melon again.” “My best, best, best husband, in this lifetime you can only experience sweetness, not bitterness.” She coaxed softly while picking out the bitter melon for me. Our daughter rolled her eyes at me and scoffed, “Hmph, so picky, eating it won’t kill you.” “You’re such a big person, yet you’re picky, it’s embarrassing.” Just a moment ago, Daphne was so gentle, but now she turned cold and scolded sharply. “Lily, how are you speaking to your father! Apologize now!” The daughter reluctantly stuck out her tongue, stubbornly muttering an apology. Even Daphne’s friend couldn’t stand it and made a couple of complaints. “Alright, we know you two have a good relationship, no need to show off, why scold the kid?” Daphne shot her a proud glare. “Hmph, you’re just jealous I have such a handsome and understanding husband. I’ll show off, I’m proud to have him, I’d boast eight hundred times a day if I could.” I put down my chopsticks, looking at Daphne indifferently. She acted as if she loved me deeply, and seeing me watching her, she instantly served a bowl of soup, blew on it, and brought it to my lips. “Honey, want some soup?” “Honey, these seven years you’ve worked hard, taking care of me and the child.” “Honey, now that I can walk again, rest assured in the days ahead, I’ll devote my life to loving you.” If I’d heard these words before, I’d have been moved to tears. But now, all that’s left in my heart is unspeakable pain and irony. She disguised it perfectly, and I almost believed that the French conversation was just my imagination.

Before I could speak, her friend glanced at her phone, then urged in French again. “Daphne, stop dawdling, your dear brother is calling you in the group chat. Don’t keep him waiting on such an important day.” Daphne froze, set the soup bowl down, and planted a kiss on my lips, looking a bit troubled. “Honey, let the nanny clean up these dishes, and you get to bed early, okay?” “A few friends are inviting me out, please, honey, give me permission.” Seeing her like this, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sure, go ahead.” “But you better not do anything to betray me.” “If I find out, I’ll leave you without hesitation.” She froze, panic and unease flashing in her eyes. But with her phone ringing constantly, she eventually chose to pick it up and put on her coat. Walking out, she still tried to coax me earnestly. “Honey, don’t worry. I’ll always be yours, in life and death.” “My husband’s place is yours alone.” “Lily, listen to your dad at home, don’t upset him, or I’ll deal with you when I get back!” Only after that door completely separated us did I come to my senses, letting out a long sigh, my eyes growing warm. Our daughter glared at me disdainfully again, cursing me with French she thought I didn’t understand. “Ugly monster, a grown man crying, no wonder Mommy doesn’t like you.” “What a loser.” I laughed self-deprecatingly and wiped away a tear from the corner of my eye. I know I should let go, but I just can’t. Seven years of feelings, even cold stones should have warmed by now. I’m just unwilling for myself. Our daughter is six years old this year. Since birth, she hasn’t left me for a day. I’ve given all my love to them. For seven years, I’ve been a husband and a father, but never myself. But like her mom, she’s forgotten that I taught her French. For three days straight, Daphne didn’t come home. But she texted daily, gently reporting her whereabouts, saying her legs had recovered and she was a bit wild. I quietly watched, silently packing up, planning to leave. On the seventh day after Daphne hadn’t been home, I found the agreement in the email trash, clicked the link, and carefully signed my name. I’d taken 99 steps toward them; this last step, I want to walk toward my own life. I had just bought a ticket for three days later and was about to turn off my phone when I saw our daughter, who hadn’t spoken to me for seven days, glaring at me with a stern face. I didn’t embrace her like before, just calmly got up and left. She got angry, storming past me, cursing in the French I taught her. “Ugly monster, always bothering my mom.” “Who are you scaring with a lousy ticket? If you’re brave, really leave our home.”

I thought I’d feel heartache from her sarcasm again, but I was incredibly calm. Watching her run upstairs, I spoke in French. “Alright, I will leave.” As soon as those words fell, her tiny figure whipped around, her face frozen in shock as if she’d seen a ghost. She hurriedly tapped her smartwatch to send a message to her mom in French. “Mom, Mom, it’s bad, this old man understands French.” Within seconds, a voice message came back. It was Evan, clearly dismissive, “Lily, what nonsense are you spouting! Your dad’s been bankrupt for years, how could he have had a chance to learn French?” “Behave yourself, don’t disturb your mom and me these days.” “I’ll bring you some treats next time.” Lily scrutinized me with a tense little face, and seeing I had no reaction, she tossed aside what I’d said and happily replied. “Okay, Uncle, have fun with Mommy.” “Hope you two have a pretty sister for me soon.” These days I keep thinking about my past with Daphne, and after thinking, I force myself to forget. Lily’s room was filled with the sounds of video games, and I didn’t confiscate her console or urge her to sleep early as I used to. Nor did I remind her to do her homework, which the teacher would check tomorrow. Since she hates me so much, I might as well not be her dad. But I thought for days and couldn’t figure out why Daphne’s acting skill was so perfect. At two in the morning, I received another taunting message from Evan. “Declan, my sister’s been bugging me these days, she’s really greedy, aren’t you up for it?” “She also said you don’t interest her at all.” Along with the message was a photo. Daphne stood in front of him, his large hands ambiguously slipping into her collar, eyes filled with unmistakable desire. I self-destructively looked at it countless times, my heart feeling like it was being squeezed to burst, an indescribable pain. At 2 AM, I was hit with another taunting message from Logan Parker. “Declan Harris, my sister’s been driving me crazy lately. She’s so insatiable, are you really not up for it?” “She even said you don’t interest her in the slightest.” Attached to the message was a photo. Daphne was standing in front of him, his large hands suggestively slipping into her collar, his eyes filled with an undeniable lust. I compulsively watched it over and over, feeling as if my heart was being squeezed to the point of bursting, a pain beyond words. Gazing at the bleak moonlight outside, I recalled the time the Harris family went bankrupt. My fiancée abandoned me, and I was left with nothing. Then Daphne appeared by my side like a savior, helping me pay off debts, aiding my comeback. Back then, I truly believed that she, with her paralyzed legs, was my salvation. For seven years, she showered me with affection. People called her a husband-loving fanatic, loving me to the core. I thought so, too, and I let go of my pride, caring for her, cooking for her for seven whole years. But the truth was, she professed her love for me while being tangled with her non-blood-related brother. Even worse, it was only recently that I discovered she had been hiding countless encounters over these seven years, giving all her true affection to Logan Parker.

I spent a day burning every trace of myself, clothes, photos, leaving nothing behind. My flight is tomorrow. By then, they will no longer have anything to do with me. Daphne still hadn’t returned, but from Logan’s taunts, I knew she was busy. Really busy, exploring all sorts of positions with him. As for Dahlia, she treated me like I was invisible. One last time, I fulfilled my role as a father, cooking a meal she loved. But when she came back from school, she just snorted and ordered takeout, refusing to say a word to me. I watched the meal go cold as the night deepened. In a daze, I heard faint movements at the door. By the moonlight, I saw Daphne finally willing to come home with her beloved. Daphne’s cheeks were flushed as she straddled Logan’s waist, seeking kisses, her delicate hands teasing provocatively downward. Logan, with one hand pressing her head, deepened the kiss dominantly, while the other securely supported her hips. They entered in a hurry, kissing passionately, undressing. In between breaths, Daphne whispered. “Brother, don’t wake my brother-in-law.” Logan jealously bit her earlobe, his voice full of grievance. “Good sister, didn’t you say I was your favorite?” “Didn’t you say doing it at home with Declan watching was more thrilling?” “Didn’t you say Declan was just a tool to protect our love?” “Why do you make me call him brother-in-law?” Seeing Logan sad, Daphne felt heartbroken, lovingly kissing him while soothing him gently. “Brother, isn’t it more exciting this way?” Their amorous sighs grew louder, tearing open the wounds in my already bleeding heart. Curled on the couch, the nauseating smell made my heart feel dead. I don’t know how long it was before the two, moving from the kitchen to the living room, noticed my presence. Daphne’s breath quickened. She covered Logan’s mouth, stifling the lust in her eyes. They went upstairs, clinging to each other. In the silent night, only her suppressed warning remained. “Brother, don’t mess around, if Declan finds out, he’ll definitely go down fighting.” “He’s still Dahlia’s dad; we can’t make it too ugly.” … I don’t know how long it took, but Daphne came downstairs, cautiously covering me with a blanket. The scent of their dalliance still clung to her, and her open collar showed dense kiss marks. I rigidly pushed her hand away, and she sensed something was wrong. “Honey, what’s wrong? Are you mad because I haven’t been home to keep you company?” I shook my head bitterly. “No.” “Daphne, I dreamt you cheated.” She froze, panic in her eyes as she looked at me. “Honey, what nonsense are you talking? I swear, you’ll be my only husband in this life!” At that moment, I was too disgusted to speak, stubbornly turning my head, curling up in bed, exhausted. “I’m a bit tired. I’m going to sleep now.” I turned away, not wanting to see her anymore.

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After Dad declared bankruptcy, Mom started to demand a divorce. I stayed out of it, watching as my sister shoved me aside and ran to Dad, saying: “Dad, don’t be sad. I’ll stay with you!” In my previous life, after our parents divorced, my sister went with our wealthy Mom while I stayed with our bankrupt Dad. But then Mom remarried a jerk, lost everything, and ended up with nothing. My sister suffered too. Meanwhile, Dad’s business flourished, and he became a tycoon. Jealous of my success, my sister arranged a reunion that resulted in my fatal car accident. Now, we’ve been transported back to the day our parents finalized their divorce at City Hall. This time, with a smirk, my sister declared, “I love Dad, I want to stay with him.” Little did she know, I was even happier inside. I refuse to live that life of hiding and dodging again! My sister clung to Dad’s arm, acting all sweet: “Dad, please let me stay with you! You’re my favorite, and I’m not afraid of a little hardship.” Seeing his usually spoiled daughter say this moved Dad deeply. He didn’t notice Mom standing nearby with a scowl. “No way, Amy will suffer with you. I have to take her with me,” Mom insisted. My sister would struggle with Dad, but what about me? My parents were fiercely fighting over my sister’s custody, as if I didn’t exist. In the end, they couldn’t change my sister’s mind about staying with Dad, so Mom reluctantly picked me. I got into my stepdad’s luxury car with Mom. My sister skipped away holding Dad’s hand. Before leaving, she shot me a taunting look. I didn’t care. After all, Mom was wealthy now, and Dad’s situation was a mess. In my past life, Dad and I spent every day hiding from debt collectors. I couldn’t concentrate on my studies. His career failure and Mom’s departure devastated him. He gave up, drank heavily in a dingy apartment, and ignored everything. Despite being a top student, I couldn’t afford tuition and had to drop out to support us. We came from the same womb, but my sister was luckier. She was pretty and knew how to charm our parents, who adored her. Being younger, they expected me, as her older sister, to concede to her. Even during the divorce, they only wanted her. But in this life, she chose Dad, letting him boast in front of Mom. In the car, Mom started berating me. “You’ve always been plain and unlikeable. We’re going to live with Uncle Ryan now, so don’t embarrass me.” It’s laughable; what kind of mother says such things about her own daughter? But whatever, the car rolled into the upscale villa district. I knew my stepfather was rich, but I didn’t know he was this rich. He got me into the city’s best private school. A driver picked me up and dropped me off every day. To make up for having dropped out in my past life, I studied hard. I ranked in the top three every year. Mom, who usually ignored me, was eager to attend my parent-teacher meetings. She loved being envied by other parents and praised as an excellent parent by teachers. Since my stepfather had no children of his own, I thrived in this household. I even started planning to study abroad. “Kids shouldn’t think about going abroad. Don’t think you can do anything just because you’re a top student,” my mom snapped before my stepfather could speak. Later, I realized you don’t need a reason to dislike someone. Even between a mother and daughter.

My stepfather wasn’t as Mom and my sister described him in the past: unpredictable, domineering, and violent. I found him intelligent but proud and self-respecting. Their conflicts surfaced soon after we moved in. Mom was a total pretty face with no brains. Honestly, she and Dad were a perfect match. Dad, a true rich heir, was always simple-minded and physically strong. He married Mom because of his brute force and money. When my grandparents were alive, they supported him. After they passed, Dad got dragged into investments by his foolish friends, losing everything he and my grandparents had. Mom quickly found someone else and divorced him. My study abroad plans were halted by Mom’s opposition. But with my grades, I could easily get into a top school in the country. “Amy’s here!” “Aunt Nora, is my mom home?” “She’s out shopping, but your sister’s upstairs reading.” I heard Amy’s footsteps coming toward my room. Without my permission, she opened my door. “Nean, why pretend? No one’s home. Who are you trying to impress with all this studying?” she said, snatching my books. Though Dad raised her, she came here monthly to get money, jewelry, and clothes from Mom. She’d leave with a car full and still wear shabby clothes the next month. Dad, now a gambler, traded good things for cash to squander. Mom hated seeing my sister suffer with Dad. She even asked my stepfather if they could bring her here to live. He agreed, but Dad refused to let her go. He relied on my sister to get things from Mom to sustain his life. “You study so much it’s making you dumb. What’s the use? You’re not as pretty as me, and Mom and Dad don’t like you.” “This good life is only because I let you have it. Enjoy it while it lasts.” She rifled through my things. Of course, this room was her princess room in the past life. She rummaged through everything. “Tsk tsk, you don’t know how to enjoy life. What are all these things you bought?” “All you do is bury your nose in those books.” I ignored her antics. “Amy, is my precious daughter Amy here?” I coldly watched their mother-daughter act unfold. Mom saw my room in chaos. “You won’t find anything good here. Come to my room. I just bought new clothes, jewelry, and accessories. Take whatever you like.” She dragged my sister out without a glance at me or a word of concern. Aunt Nora brought in a glass of fresh orange juice and tidied up my room. “I’ve never seen such a biased mother.” It didn’t bother me. Her good days were numbered.

A few days later, I heard a heated argument downstairs. “How shameless! Living off me and keeping a pretty boy outside!” Uncle Ryan slapped my mom. My sister rushed to intervene. Still angry, my stepfather shoved her to the ground. “I haven’t even talked about your precious daughter. Didn’t we agree to take one daughter each?” “Why does she keep coming here and taking half the stuff?” Mom retorted, “She’s taking my things. Not your business.” “Yours? Look at yourself. What isn’t bought with my money? And now I’m supporting your whole family!” “Ryan, you have the nerve to say that. If it weren’t for your infertility, would I need to do this?” This completely enraged my stepfather. He lost his temper, throwing Mom’s things out. She tried to stop him but was pushed down too. No one dared intervene, and my sister cowered in a corner. Initially, my stepfather married Mom for her looks and the two kids. After marriage, he invested in me, grooming me as a successor. In the past life, Mom exploited this, recklessly spending his assets. Though my sister was pretty, she was empty-headed. But their greed and stupidity knew no bounds. Mom had a lover, and my sister shamelessly claimed everything would be hers in the future. Word quickly reached my stepfather. She wasn’t even dead, and they were eyeing his estate. Who wouldn’t be upset? He couldn’t bond with them as they weren’t his own. He brought in his nephew to groom as an heir and kicked them out. In this life, Mom was kicked out again. But my stepfather didn’t kick me out. “Nean, following your clueless mom is worse than staying with me.” All my efforts weren’t in vain. My stepfather knew I was smart, ambitious, and had vision. I considered his opinion before making any major decision. I even discussed taking his last name privately. My mom, who only cared about buying clothes, was oblivious and uninterested. She refused to leave, saying she’d rather die there. She underestimated my stepfather. A man who built his business from scratch is different from my weak, incompetent rich heir dad. He wouldn’t be fooled by her petty tricks. “Miss Nora, pack some clothes for her in the bedroom,” he instructed. He called security. Just like that, my mom and sister were thrown out. As my stepfather passed my room, he patted my shoulder. “Nean, focus on your studies. Adult matters don’t concern you.” I nodded. Fools remain fools, no matter how many times they live. My life wasn’t affected at all; in fact, Uncle Ryan valued me even more. My mom secretly urged me to plead with my stepfather. Of course, I didn’t go. She called every day, hurling the nastiest insults at me. Aunt Lydia overheard once and doubted if I was even her biological child. Ha, in her eyes, only my sister mattered. Without my mom’s support, my sister had an even harder time. Her grades were bad, and she hated school. Seeing this, dad stopped sending her to school, but he was buried in debt and living a mess. I was single-mindedly preparing for college entrance exams. Uncle Ryan was busy and rarely home. Not long after, on my way to school, a group of thugs blocked my path. It happened that day our car was in for maintenance, so I was on my own. Just after leaving the school gate, a man stopped me. “Are you Nean?” Before I could answer, someone covered my mouth from behind and dragged me to an abandoned warehouse. Once the blindfold was off, someone kicked me to the ground. “Sister, enjoying the luxury mansion?”

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Just because I took a bite of last night’s leftovers. My sister suddenly had a revelation, staring at me as if she’d discovered something groundbreaking: “Do you really think this is safe to eat?” I glanced down at the ribs Grandma had cooked last night and nodded, somewhat bewildered. [No sympathy for those who bring trouble upon themselves!] [If you’re so fond of leftovers, just go ahead and eat yourself into oblivion!] Later, I realized I was the troublesome sister in a kind of melodramatic story, quietly enduring hardships. And my sister played the role of the bold, independent heroine who respected the destiny of others. Then, later still, my sister cried, admitting she wasn’t as carefree as she seemed, and realized her mistakes. The whole family stopped indulging her. “Do you really think this is safe to eat?” My sister’s serious gaze startled me, making me glance at the braised ribs on the table. Grandma had specially made them for us after our night classes. At the time, my sister said she wasn’t hungry, and I was too embarrassed to eat much, so I just had a tiny taste. But today, I was famished and couldn’t resist having a piece as soon as I got home from school. They were delicious! So I nodded enthusiastically at my sister. “It’s perfectly fine to eat; otherwise, it would just go to waste.” As soon as I said that, some strange text appeared before my eyes: [Are you that into leftovers?] [A prime example of getting what you deserve! Endless hardships await!] [The heroine shouldn’t bother, let her eat herself into trouble!] I noticed a mischievous glint in my sister’s eyes. Was she upset that I didn’t share? Feeling guilty, I pushed the plate towards her. “Don’t worry, Sis, I’m not hogging it all. You should try some too; it’s really tasty.” Normally, a single plate of ribs wouldn’t be enough for the two of us to argue over. But today, my sister Nora Johnson just scoffed. “I’m not eating. If you like it, have more.” [The heroine is so cool!] [Let go of the need to help, respect others’ paths.] [With a sister like this, she should face her own consequences!] Nora’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. She looked like a proud victor, standing above me with a dismissive smile. I clearly saw her swallow a few times, yet she insisted she wouldn’t eat “such things.” After I finished the last piece of rib, a translucent progress bar suddenly appeared in front of me. “Heroine’s Independence: 98%, almost there!” [Why only 98%?] [From a tough background, the system task is indeed challenging.] I looked around, puzzled, deep in thought.

My name is Nora Johnson, and my sister Nora Johnson and I are twins. We are eleven years old and in the sixth grade. Our parents run a small family business locally and often come home very late. Like today, they didn’t return until I had finished my homework, opening the door under the night sky. “Nora, Nora, come see what Mom and Dad brought you!” I put down my pen and dashed to the door, exclaiming: “It’s a complete set of [Haikyuu!!]” Many classmates in my class love this manga, but the original comics are too expensive. We could only borrow them and piece together the story. My family’s conditions aren’t great, so my parents suddenly bringing back so many comics… “Your dad got these from a junk collector, only cost a hundred bucks. The old man even thanked us profusely!” I was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to pick up a book, flipping through it eagerly. [What junk collection, isn’t it just scavenging?] [Who knows what bugs have crawled over these things from such a place.] [Poor heroine! Her original family is too tough, none of them can stand in the spotlight.] “Nora, come and share with your sister, you two can trade as you read.” Only then did Nora slowly walk out from the room, disdainfully saying: “They’re filthy, I don’t want them.” Mom’s smile froze instantly, and the atmosphere in the house turned cold. I hurriedly hugged the comics to my chest. “Nora doesn’t want them, so they’re all mine?” [The heroine said no, and you’re really not shy about it?] [Damn, such a petty person.] [I’ve never seen anyone so selfish, and you’re supposed to be her sister!] Nora’s lips held an indescribable smile, arrogantly shrugging her shoulders, waving dismissively at me. “Just a pile of junk, take it all!” Mom and Dad frowned. They couldn’t quite understand why the usually well-behaved and sensible Nora suddenly said such things. Dad reminded us of a few chores, then turned to start massaging Grandma. Grandma’s varicose veins were getting worse, and even after several visits to the hospital, there wasn’t much improvement. Dad specially learned a set of massage techniques from a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and no matter how late he returned, he would massage Grandma for two hours every day. He often taught us to value filial piety and virtue, and to be grateful from a young age.

The next day was Sunday. Due to a holiday adjustment, we only had one day off this weekend. I was too excited last night, using a flashlight under the covers, reading [Haikyuu!!] late into the night. As usual, Mom and Dad left early for work. By the time I woke up naturally, Grandma was already busy in the kitchen. “Nora, you’re awake, come eat an apple, I’ve washed it for you.” Grandma’s wrinkled face showed the kindest smile in the world. I rushed to the sink to wash my hands, took the apple Grandma handed me, and took a bite. “Grandma, this apple is so crunchy!” Nora from the other bedroom also came out. Because she insisted on not eating the lunch leftovers Grandma had taken out of the fridge last night, her stomach was already growling. She walked over to the table with a cold face and casually picked up an apple. Grandma smiled and said: “Nora, eat this one, it’s tastier.” I saw Grandma holding an apple she had just washed. The apple was big and red, with glistening water droplets on the surface. It must be something Grandma bought fresh from the market this morning. [This old hag is trying to trick the heroine again?] [A rotten apple will give you cancer!] [Heroine, don’t eat it, nothing good can come from the old lady’s hands!] Seeing these unsightly words, I slowed down my apple-eating speed. Nora’s eyes darted around, and she knocked the apple Grandma handed her to the ground. “I don’t want it from you!” Grandma was stunned, staring blankly at the rolling apple on the floor, her cloudy eyes losing focus. Now I was sure that Nora could see these strange words too. Not only could she see them, but she cared a lot. Seeing Grandma’s shocked and saddened expression, my heart skipped a beat. I quickly picked up the apple, chuckling: “Sis doesn’t want it, so this apple is mine too!” Grandma’s eyes finally regained some clarity. She looked at me with a loving smile. Nora gave us a disdainful glance, then went to the sink to wash the apple she was holding and took a bite. From the sound of it, I knew it wasn’t crunchy. It definitely wasn’t as good as the apple Grandma gave me. [Damn, is there anything edible in this house? The heroine’s apple is all wrinkled!] [My dear girl, what did you do to deserve being stuck here, sobbing…] [Rotten apple, let her heartless sister eat herself to death!] I saw Nora’s face full of resentment, her lips drooping down in grievance.

Since I can remember, Mom and Dad have been leaving early to work and returning late at night almost every day. The responsibility of taking care of us sisters has always fallen on Grandma’s shoulders. As we sisters grew older, Grandma also aged. Mom and Dad often reminded us to learn to help Grandma. In the past, my sister would help me wash and pick vegetables for Grandma. But today, she lounged on the sofa, her legs crossed high. [Seriously, it’s only ten in the morning and they’re already busy, just like my grandma!] [No way, no way, does anyone really think girls should go to the kitchen to help?] [This sister is really annoying, no sympathy for those who bring trouble upon themselves, eat more if you can.] Lines of words floated in front of me, and even a fool like me could understand that some of them were cursing me. Facing these baseless insults, I bit my lip in grievance, tears welling up in my eyes. “Oh no, there’s so much oil here.” Grandma’s voice called from the kitchen, and I quickly shook off my emotions, running over to see what was happening. I found Grandma standing in front of the stove, shakily removing the oil collection box from the range hood. I knew this was where the smoke from frying accumulated. Over time, the smoke condensed into grime, stored here. Grandma’s hands and feet weren’t as nimble as they used to be. Clearing the oil box caused her to spill the grime on the floor, which she had to clean up slowly. I’m eleven now and can help Grandma with a lot of things. A few months ago, the oil box was also full of grime, and I helped Grandma clean it. At that time, Grandma ruffled my hair, praising me as her well-behaved and sensible little granddaughter. “Quick, Nora, the oil’s about to drip onto the floor!” With the experience from last time, Grandma decided not to add to the mess and called me to help directly. I dashed to the stove and quickly took the sticky oil box from Grandma’s hands. After all, I’m Grandma’s obedient, sensible, and adorable granddaughter! But I ran too fast and didn’t notice the shock and anger in Hazel’s eyes. The oil box was really dirty this time. Even I accidentally spilled a few drops of dirty oil. “It doesn’t matter if it spills on the floor; I’ll wipe it clean with a cloth,” Grandma said, smoothing things over with a smile. “Later, I’ll make cola chicken wings for you two sisters, something I learned from Mrs. Wong’s daughter-in-law.” “Wow, Grandma, you’re the best~” My exaggerated reaction made Grandma laugh heartily, and my spirits lifted too.

Grandma’s cooking has always been superb, and today’s cola chicken wings were especially delicious. “Hazel, why aren’t you eating?” Chicken wings are expensive, and Grandma doesn’t eat them herself, yet she keeps piling food on our plates. But Hazel’s bowl already had three chicken wings, and she hadn’t picked up her chopsticks. Grandma walked over to Hazel, coaxing her like a child as she ruffled her hair: “Hazel, be good, eat your meal.” “If you don’t like cola chicken wings, I’ll make little drumsticks for you tonight.” [Laugh out loud, this family really isn’t afraid of dying!] [Let them eat themselves to death, and they still want to pull the heroine down with them?] [Cola chicken wings are just concentrated cola, adding oil smoke, stacking buffs here?] Hazel’s already upset expression completely broke down when she saw the words [oil smoke]. She abruptly stood up from her seat, pushing away Grandma, who was coaxing her to eat. “Eat, eat, eat, if you want to eat, eat it yourself!” “I’d rather starve than eat what you make, don’t try to trap me!” Grandma was caught off guard, stumbling backward and falling to the ground. I was shocked, quickly dropping my chopsticks and running to Grandma. “Grandma, are you okay?” Grandma looked pained, her body curling up, unable to speak from the pain. I tried to help her up, but I wasn’t strong enough, and Grandma remained painfully on the ground. “Heroine’s carefree score: 99.9%, target about to be reached! Target about to be reached!” The familiar electronic voice sounded again. I suddenly looked up and saw Hazel’s satisfied smile. Grandma was pushed down by her, yet she could still smile! I was furious, yelling at her: “Hazel, what’s wrong with you, why did you push Grandma!” She glanced at me disdainfully, sneering: “Don’t think I don’t know what you people have done. If you want to die, don’t drag me along!” What have we done? I was so angry I was seething. Mom and Dad work hard outside, and Grandma takes care of us sisters at home devotedly. What else could we be doing? The words I was about to ask her to help with were swallowed back forcefully. I clenched my teeth and ran to the neighbors for help. “Oh my, what’s happened to Auntie?” Granny Wong staggered in, followed by her daughter-in-law, Aunt Fiona, and a few other neighbors who heard the commotion. Seeing Grandma collapsed on the ground, Aunt Fiona wanted to help her up but found Grandma almost unconscious from the pain. “No way, it might’ve hurt the bone, we have to go to the hospital!”

Aunt Fiona calmly called 911 and then phoned my parents. At Grandma’s age, a fall isn’t a small matter. On the other end, my dad was worried sick. “Yesterday during the massage, the old lady’s condition was improving, how could she suddenly fall!” “Please help look after her, I’m coming home right away!” After hanging up, the neighbors started discussing all at once. “Yeah, isn’t Old Jackson massaging Auntie every day?” “More than just massaging, Old Jackson is so filial, taking the old lady to see many doctors!” “Old Jackson will be heartbroken when he gets back.” I saw a trace of fear finally appear in Hazel’s ever-fearless eyes. But she quickly adjusted, suddenly covering her mouth and crying. “Waah… Grandma just gave me a few chicken wings, why did sister push her…” The originally anxious neighbors turned their eyes to me in unison upon hearing Hazel’s words. [A counter against the heavens, absolutely hilarious!] [Villains need to be dealt with by evil measures, see if they dare bully the heroine again!] In a corner where others couldn’t see, Hazel flashed a victorious smile at me. I widened my eyes, angrily shouting: “You didn’t want to eat Grandma’s cola chicken wings, so you pushed her!” Hazel’s smile became cunning: “Grandma’s chicken wings smell so good, why wouldn’t I want to eat them? Waah, sister, why are you like this to me…” Hazel’s crying face like a pear blossom in the rain made the neighbors frequently glance at me. “Ella, this girl seems so well-behaved usually, how could she become so selfish.” “Which kid isn’t selfish nowadays, do you think it’s still like our times?” “At the old lady’s age, a random fall could lead to fractures, it’s really a sin!” I clenched my teeth, unable to withstand the overwhelming opinions. Soon, I heard the sirens of an ambulance. The neighbors quickly made way, and the doctor squatted in front of Grandma with a medical kit. To prevent secondary injury, they didn’t act recklessly and chose to perform a simple check and first aid with instruments and medicine first. At this moment, I finally saw Dad’s figure at the door. Before I could voice my full grievance, another figure rushed ahead of me, flying into Dad’s arms. “Dad, I’m sorry…” Hazel’s tears flowed down. “I shouldn’t have eaten sister’s chicken wings, or she wouldn’t have lashed out, taking her anger out on Grandma, waah…” Dad was stunned. Before he could speak, a vigorous and unyielding old voice echoed in the room: “I’m just an old lady who fell, not dead yet!”

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On my birthday, my brain tumor flared up, and I lost consciousness. As the doctor worked to save me, he picked up the phone to call my family. My wife answered with irritation, “Really? Are you checking up on me at this age? I’m about to go on a trip to Florence with Declan. Don’t call me unless it’s necessary!” My daughter added, “Good riddance if he dies. The insurance payout can be deposited into my account; my boyfriend wants a new motorcycle.” Oddly enough, hearing this, I felt a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted. It’s the right time. Time to leave this cursed world behind. When I opened my eyes again, the doctor handed me the phone with a grave expression. “Mr. Jiang, your brain tumor is pressing on your nerves. You need surgery. Discuss this with your family.” Still disoriented, I loosely held the phone in my hand. In the ER, everyone looked at me with pity, and some family members even turned away to wipe their tears. I glanced at my phone, realizing my wife, Fiona, and my daughter, Phoebe, had blocked me. With no other option, I messaged my rival, Fiona’s first love, Declan: “Please let Fiona know she should come back soon.” To avoid any misunderstanding, I added, “I need to discuss a divorce with Fiona. It’s urgent.” After resting at the hospital and taking the prescribed medication, I returned home. When I arrived, Fiona was already seated on the sofa. She wore oversized sunglasses, a large sun hat, and a bohemian floral dress, clearly ready for vacation. Upon seeing me, she snorted, removing her sunglasses and tossing them onto the table. “What do you want now? Declan and I were at the airport when you called us back. You’re such a nuisance, no wonder Phoebe finds you annoying!” At forty-five, Fiona had fine lines around her eyes, but she maintained her skin well. Her wavy hair and red lipstick made her appear youthful. Declan stood behind her, massaging her shoulders and whispering affectionately in her ear, “Don’t be mad, Fiona. Let’s hear what Asher has to say. Maybe it’s really urgent.” Declan had maintained a refined appearance over the years with beauty treatments, although his expression was a bit stiff. I drifted off, remembering my daughter’s third birthday when Fiona first forgot her cake because Declan had returned from abroad. She was distracted. Later, when I picked up a drunken Fiona, I overheard her conversation with a friend, realizing I was just a stand-in. Now, my temples had turned gray, and wrinkles lined my eyes and mouth, making me look nothing like Declan. Snapping back to reality, I pulled out the divorce papers and handed them to Fiona. ” Fiona, let’s divorce.” Fiona, who had been enjoying Declan’s massage, suddenly opened her eyes, startled. Frowning, she snapped, “First, you pretended to be sick at the hospital. Now you’re talking about divorce. Asher, you’re almost fifty! What are you doing?” Her accusations didn’t stir me. Yes, almost fifty. Today is my forty-ninth birthday. If Fiona went into the kitchen, she’d see the half-prepped ingredients of her and our daughter’s favorite dishes. But when I collapsed while washing vegetables, there wasn’t a single family member by my side in our vast home. No need to voice these grievances. Saying them would only make Fiona feel I’m being dramatic. A dying person speaks kindly. I had no intention of arguing; I just smiled, “Nothing much. I just realized it’s best not to delay you and Declan any longer.” “Last month, when you went to the Arctic to see the aurora with Declan, you might not know my mom was buried.” “My dad drowned saving you, and my mom forced you to marry me out of gratitude. I know it was unfair to you, and you’ve always longed for Declan.” “I’ve worked diligently at your company for years, even helping it go public. That should count as some compensation.” “Now that my mom’s gone, you don’t have to worry about her causing any more trouble at the company.” After saying a long piece, I paused and wished, “In the future, I won’t bother you anymore. It’s been over ten years. You and Declan should be together. Give him a title.” Letting out words I’ve held in my heart, I felt relieved. Maybe it was fear of being abandoned by Declan again, or the need to stabilize the company stock. Fiona gave Declan everything but never mentioned marriage. Now, I, an outsider, was willing to complete them. Fiona suddenly crumpled the divorce papers, her voice tight, “I’ve endured you for over twenty years. What about Phoebe?” My daughter’s words, “Good riddance if he dies,” still echoed in my ears. I smiled faintly, nodding at Declan, “It’s fine. She doesn’t like me. She prefers Declan. Let him take care of her.” When our daughter was young, Fiona often had Declan help with her, trying to build a good impression. Now, I was fulfilling her wish. But her face showed displeasure, biting her lip hard. Her chest heaved, eyes glaring at me, trying to find anger or jealousy. But this time, she only saw indifference. She moved her red lips, took a deep breath, and said, “Fine, divorce, but you leave with nothing!” She looked at me confidently, expecting me to back down at the thought of leaving with nothing. After all, she often insulted me, calling me and my mom gold-diggers, only after her money. She despised me for exploiting a life-saving favor. But I just nodded. “No, I don’t want the money, the house, or the daughter.”

Before Fiona could speak, Declan started laughing, agreeing, “Asher, didn’t expect you to be so magnanimous now. Thanks for taking care of Fiona for so long. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Fiona and your daughter!” Fiona seemed not to hear, tightly gripping the pen, suddenly accusing, “After twenty years, why are you doing this? After the divorce, do you think I’ll let you stay at the company? A fifty-year-old man, who would hire you? At least now, as my husband in name, we can provide for you in old age.” Her barrage of questions didn’t ripple my emotions. I just laughed at myself. Yes, our daughter is old enough to marry. Why am I still struggling? I once used all my points to exchange with the system to live in this world for a lifetime. The system warned me it had other hosts to attend to, and I wouldn’t have a place to cry if I regretted it. At the time, holding my beloved wife and newborn daughter, I was filled with happiness, promising that day would never come. But after Declan appeared, my life changed completely. All my happiness was just an illusion. I considered divorcing Fiona, but our daughter clung to my leg, crying not to separate her parents. My mom said I was ungrateful, not realizing my blessings. As long as Fiona and I were on the same household registration, even if Declan turned the world upside down, it wouldn’t affect my inheritance rights. But I still felt oppressed, frustrated. Unhappy. This brain tumor incident made me grateful for their coldness, finally deciding to leave. Returning to the present, I said calmly, ” Fiona, my future has nothing to do with you. Are you concerned now?” I knew Fiona hated my self-pity the most. Sure enough, she looked at me like she’d swallowed a fly, quickly signing, “Asher, you better not regret it. If you make a scene at the company, I won’t let you back!” With that, she left with Declan, her heels clicking on the floor. The room returned to silence. I sat on the sofa, looking at the home I’d lived in for twenty-one years. Every piece of furniture seemed etched in my mind. Yet I felt like an outsider. After a while, hunger brought me back to reality. I went to the kitchen and threw away the beef, lamb, and salmon I had been preparing. Then I cooked myself some plain noodles. The noodles tasted of faint salt and oil. I remembered when I first got together with Fiona. She was a pampered heiress, yet she tried making noodles for me, covered in flour, hands burnt by boiling water. But she didn’t care about her injuries, smiling, urging me to eat longevity noodles for a long and peaceful life. After some time, my stomach’s hunger snapped me back to reality. I headed to the kitchen, where I threw away the half-prepared beef brisket, lamb, and salmon. Then, I made myself some simple noodles. They had just a hint of oil and salt. I remembered when I first started dating Fiona. Despite being an heiress who never touched a stove, she learned to make noodles for me. Her germaphobia didn’t stop her from getting covered in flour, and she even scalded her hand with boiling water. But she wasn’t concerned about her injury. Smiling, she urged me to eat the noodles, wishing me a long and peaceful life. To be honest, those noodles were cut too thick, undercooked, and seasoned so salty it could overwhelm even a salt seller. Yet, I ate every last bite. I once thought Fiona was my everything, someone I’d never forget. But now, her youthful face is becoming a distant memory. A sudden sharp pain shot through my head. Shakily, I took the blood pressure and pain relief pills prescribed by the doctor. Once the pain subsided, I washed the dishes, dried my hands, and started packing my belongings. There wasn’t much to pack; most of the items at home belonged to Fiona and her daughter, so I was done quickly. I stood up, looked around, and found the treasure chest I’d hidden in the closet for years. Inside were things I once cherished: ticket stubs, photos of us, our wedding pictures. Love letters Fiona wrote me, the tie clip she gave me, and other gifts. Photos of our daughter, from childhood to now, her drawings and writings. I had carefully sealed many in plastic. But now, I carried the chest to the backyard, placing it on the firepit where Fiona and Declan hosted their bonfire parties. Without hesitation, I took out a lighter and set the contents of the treasure chest ablaze. The flames reflected on my face, but suddenly, it began to rain, extinguishing the fire instantly. Under the eaves, I glanced at the treasure chest, now blackened with only ashes inside. I didn’t bother checking further. After this, I deleted all my online accounts and contact information. I had always been a drifter without roots, and now, I wanted to disappear entirely from Fiona and her daughter’s world. Since I decided to leave, I wanted to finish everything properly. After packing, I drove to the company, handed over my work to my subordinate, and cleared out my office. There was truly nothing left for me to do. Everyone at the company thought I was retiring, looking at me enviously, saying: “Mr. Asher, you’re the second-in-command of our company and retiring so early. Mrs. Fiona must really care about you. We’re so envious!” “Well, if I had a wife and kids at home, I’d retire early and enjoy life too!” I held the documents from my office and kept silent. Over the years, Fiona was secretly close with Declan, rarely home. But on the surface, to maintain a stable image for the stock market, she portrayed us as a loving couple, often attending auctions, buying luxury cars and houses, claiming to choose gifts for her husband. Everyone envied me, saying I was lucky to marry Fiona. Only I knew all the gifts were invariably sent to Declan. And I had to smile and say I was frugal, not wanting to flaunt wealth. Back to the present, the HR manager saw me moving out of my office without surprise, even immediately bringing in the latest computer to my former office. Everyone was stunned and asked: “Manager, Mr. Asher is retiring, why are you redecorating his office?” The HR manager glanced at me, cleared his throat, and said seriously: “Mrs. Fiona has a new appointee for management. I hope everyone will be cautious and avoid gossip during work hours.” As he spoke, he placed a nameplate on the desk, which read: “Vice President, Declan.” Those present were shocked, but I just smirked at myself. Over the years, I had always used the company’s worst equipment. Despite numerous upgrades, Fiona repeatedly declined my requests for replacements, frowning and calling me vain. But for Declan, she offered everything she could, never settling for less. In the past, I might have been angry or sad at such favoritism. But now, I couldn’t get angry anymore. I just sighed. Fiona was truly eager to elevate Declan; this was true love. Coming back to my senses, I nodded and turned to leave the company where I had worked my whole life. Later, I went to a funeral shop to buy my own burial clothes. Even if I were to die, I wanted to look decent. But I didn’t have much money left. Most of it went to the undertaker to ensure my burial, so I could only afford the cheapest set. Holding the burial clothes, I walked out of the shop when a rebellious youngster on a motorcycle zoomed past me, the exhaust making me cough. A few seconds later, the motorcycle came back. A girl wearing smoky makeup and a tank top jumped off the back, speaking sarcastically: “Oh, aren’t you still alive? Give me $10,000. I need to buy my boyfriend a new motorcycle!” I just frowned and said coldly: “I don’t have money, Phoebe.” “You don’t have money? You’re lying. My mom’s so generous; she’d definitely give you money.” Phoebe didn’t believe it, her face full of disdain. Who would believe a rich heir like me lived so frugally? Fiona claimed I was after her wealth, so my salary went directly to her account. Every expense needed her approval. Even if I wanted to buy a pack of cigarettes, she allowed me only $5 packs. I could only do side jobs to support the household. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, I asked Fiona for money with the medical report. She frowned, yelled that I was scamming her, wanting $10,000 as if her money grew on trees. She locked me at home to reflect, while she took Declan to the Arctic to see the Northern Lights. Locked at home, I missed seeing my gravely ill mother one last time. Relatives told me my mom died with tears, blaming me for being a selfish son with a selfish wife. I shivered at the thought, coming back to reality. Phoebe smirked, as if she had me cornered, and said: “Fine, if you won’t, I’ll ask Uncle Declan. He’s handsome and rich, a hundred times better than you!” I looked at my eighteen-year-old daughter. How did my once well-behaved child turn into this? Since Declan returned to the country, Fiona rarely came home, leaving me to raise our daughter alone. She was sensible, siding with me, often cold to Fiona and Declan. But at seventeen, Phoebe fell for a delinquent and became rebellious, quitting school and constantly asking me for money, even threatening me with supporting Declan as her stepfather. I was exhausted, trying to persuade her to stay away from that delinquent. But his gang beat me up. I was old, taking punches while my once loving daughter cheered them on, telling the old man to learn a lesson. After that, my heart grew cold, and I stopped caring for her. Later, while recovering for a month, Phoebe apologized, wanting to celebrate my birthday with me all day. I waited all day and only saw Declan’s post on social media. In the video, she smiled sweetly at Declan during a dinner party. “Stepdad, wish you and mom a fun time in Florence.” She then took the big red envelope from Declan with a smile. Seeing this social media post, I was washing vegetables when my mind went blank, and I collapsed. Now, facing the child I raised, I felt no emotional stir. I just said calmly: “Fine, ask him for money.” “By the way, your mom and I divorced. Now you can openly call Declan your dad. ‘Stepdad’ sounds so awkward.” 4 Phoebe looked at me, shocked, fiddling with her clothes, her face flushing: “How do you know? It’s all your fault for being so stingy. I had to go to him for money. He understands love!” She eyed me, mocking: “Divorce my mom? You think I’ll believe that? Stop pretending!” Her gaze fell on the clothes in my hand, puzzled: “What are you holding? It looks ugly, clothes?” Her delinquent boyfriend draped an arm around her shoulder, cigarette in hand, and said through smoke: “Aren’t those burial clothes? Did someone in your family die?” Phoebe stepped forward, trying to grab the package from me to take a closer look. “I want to see what you’re up to!” I frowned, casually pushing her away. Suddenly, she gave me a once-over and scoffed: “Divorce my mom? Do you really think I’d buy that? Stop pretending!” She noticed the clothes in my hand and asked, puzzled: “What are those? They look awful. Are they clothes?” A guy with dyed yellow hair rested a hand on Phoebe’s shoulder, holding a cigarette in the other, a cloud of smoke surrounding him. He sneered: “Aren’t those funeral clothes? Did someone in your family die?” Phoebe immediately stepped forward, trying to grab the bag of clothes from me for a closer look. “I want to see what you’re up to!” I frowned and pushed her away. The next moment, she fell to the ground, unprepared, and a card slipped out of her pocket. I picked it up—it was an ID card. The photo was hers, but the name read “Theo.” Suddenly, a severe headache hit me. When Fiona gave birth to Phoebe, she had a massive hemorrhage, and out of heartbreak, I decided Phoebe should take her mother’s surname. Later, as Fiona and I drifted apart, Phoebe mentioned several times that she wanted to take my surname, Johnson, and cut ties with her troublesome mom. But I never expected she’d start using Theo’s surname without telling me. I held my head as everything went dark, like a light had been switched off. The doctor had warned that in the later stages of a brain tumor, it could invade the nerves, causing blindness, memory loss, and even decreased intelligence. What a mess I am now. I squeezed my eyes shut and when I opened them again, I could faintly make out some details. In front of me, Phoebe hastily snatched the ID card from my hand and stuffed it back into her pocket, babbling: “Don’t be angry. I just felt sorry for Uncle Theo. He’s so old and childless. It’s just a surname change. I’m still your daughter. Isn’t it nice to have two dads who love me?” Seeing my displeased expression, she looked at me suspiciously, wrinkling her nose with a touch of disdain: “What’s wrong with you now? Are you pretending your eyes are bad again? No wonder my mom doesn’t like you—acting like a child to get attention.” I shook my head and pushed her aside. She seemed to have more to say but ultimately didn’t follow. After walking away, my overheated mind finally cleared a bit, and with the bus ticket I had bought, I returned to my old home. It’s not far, just in the suburbs. The house is an old apartment building. Back then, my dad saved Fiona from drowning, and in gratitude, she took our family in. I hadn’t been back in a long time. Now, the house was covered in dust. I cleaned the bed, closed all doors and windows, trapping all the air inside. Then, I turned on the gas tank I had someone bring over earlier. Instantly, the air filled with a strange smell. But I calmly changed into the burial clothes and lay in bed, ensuring the undertaker could find me immediately upon arrival. Just then, my phone rang. It was Fiona. I didn’t want to answer, but I subconsciously picked up. On the other end, her voice was impatient, urging: “Asher, where are you? There’s a dinner tonight you need to attend. Get ready in half an hour.” I replied calmly: “I can’t go. I’m about to die.” There was a loud crash from her end, like something had fallen and shattered. Her voice turned sharp and angry: “Asher, what’s wrong with you, saying such unlucky things!” Before I could speak, Theo’s voice came from her end, adding fuel to the fire: “Asher, are you really so broken by your divorce from Fiona that you can’t go on living? Maybe you two should get back together. I don’t mind; I can always be there for Fiona.” Classic manipulation. Too bad Fiona couldn’t see through it. As expected, Fiona got even angrier: “Asher, don’t act like you’re in charge! If it weren’t for the boss specifically asking for you, do you think I’d bother calling you?” “Fine, come if you want. Don’t come home, and don’t expect to see your daughter again!” As Fiona hung up, my grip loosened from carbon monoxide poisoning, and the phone fell to the ground. I don’t know how long passed, maybe just a few seconds, but it felt like a lifetime. My body, weakened from lack of oxygen, was still conscious enough to feel life slipping away, my face turning purple. Enough, I told myself. Soon my consciousness would retreat into space. Death, in the cool summer night, was exceptionally quiet. I seemed to hear the faint hissing of the gas tank. Thankfully, I arranged for someone to take care of my body. Otherwise, in a place like this, I’d turn to bones without anyone knowing. But then, the door was kicked open, and an uninvited guest barged in.

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Husband’s 5 AM search query: “What kind of perfume is safe for pregnant women?” But because of what I did to save him, I can never have children. When I finally resolved to leave him, he pulled me back into his embrace. “I just want a child, Nora.” “The child will only know you as their mother. Please, don’t leave me.” But my mind is set—there’s no turning back now. My engagement with my husband was never approved by his family. Declan’s father married into the family and died early under unexpected circumstances. He was raised by his mother alone, and he holds her in the highest respect, which I’m well aware of. So when Declan stood up to his mother for my sake, it felt like a profound act of love. Even though she agreed to our engagement, his mother never allowed me to call her “mom.” I had to address her as “Mrs. Declan,” just like the servants did. Mrs. Declan always regarded me with disdain, often saying I was born to bring her misfortune. Therefore, I dreaded visiting their ancestral home. Still, the monthly family dinner on the fifteenth was unavoidable. The Declan family home is vast and imposing. Usually, it only houses Mrs. Declan and a few distant relatives, but today, youthful laughter filled the air. “Aunt, you should definitely talk to Declan when he gets here.” “Why wait for him, Aunt? He’s being mischievous!” The girl with long curls and a big red bow laughed, her naturally rosy cheeks free of makeup. I touched my own face, my complexion sallow despite the thick foundation, and felt disheartened. Her name was Phoebe Thompson, a child of Mrs. Declan’s old friend. “Phoebe’s father was also a best friend to Declan’s father, a lifesaver to us,” Mrs. Declan remarked sharply, reminding me of a debt to exert pressure. I, too, owed Declan a debt of life. “Hello, Young Mrs. Declan.” Phoebe extended her slender hand for a handshake. I was taken aback. No one in the Declan home ever addressed me that way. They always called me “Hey, you.” Mrs. Declan pulled Phoebe’s hand into her own. “Why waste words on her.” She motioned for me to leave, “Go inside, don’t get in my way.” I obediently turned to leave; I’ve heard this countless times. Being sent inside was actually a relief. Phoebe’s perfume lingered, irritating my sensitive nose. I couldn’t help but gag, which earned me a look of disdain from Mrs. Declan. “Ugh, are you feigning morning sickness?” “You’re not young anymore. Have you thought about having children?” Mrs. Declan brought up children, fully aware of my inability to have any. This was one reason she disapproved of my marriage to Declan. After we started dating, his friends looked down on me, saying I wasn’t a match for him. But Declan never criticized me, insisting they didn’t see my true worth. He said as long as he understood, that was enough. I didn’t need friends, only him. I agreed; having him was all I needed. Later… We were kidnapped together. I was just collateral; they only wanted Declan. That night is a blur. The doctor said my brain protected me by clouding the memory. I only remember taking a stab meant for Declan. The knife pierced my abdomen, shattering my future as a mother. In the ambulance, Declan held me. It was the first time I saw him cry. He promised he’d never leave me. “Only death can part us.” I believed him. Teenage promises have a way of being convincing.

At the family dinner, I was seated at the far end of the long table with distant relatives. They were used to it and openly laughed at me. Declan finally returned from work, sitting right beside me. “Nora, why are your hands so cold? Get some hot tea,” he said, and someone immediately replaced my cold drink. “Mom, are you picking on Nora again?” I tugged on Declan’s arm, trying to prevent a confrontation. “As if I dare bully her,” Mrs. Declan said calmly. “Have you seen Phoebe?” Declan’s hand stiffened, his grip on mine painful. I called his name several times before he responded. “I see Phoebe as a sister, don’t overthink it.” My heart sank; he was lying. He rubbed his thumb on his hand whenever he lied. Phoebe waved from Mrs. Declan’s left, “Declan, come. I peeled shrimp for you.” Declan released my hand, quietly moving over. “Nora, we’ll go home after.” Even if it was a dream, I didn’t want to break it. The next moment, Mrs. Declan spoke, and I felt a chill to my bones. “Declan, I gave Phoebe the Phoenix Jade.” The Declan family has a pair of jade pendants, a dragon and a phoenix. Declan has the dragon, but Mrs. Declan refused to give me the phoenix. She said someone like me wasn’t worthy. My nose felt blocked; I couldn’t breathe. I opened my mouth, taking deep breaths. “Nora, don’t overthink. We don’t need any jade. Next week’s auction, I’ll buy a better one and carve it for you.” I nodded, but deep down, I knew I wouldn’t get either the Phoenix Jade or the one Declan promised to carve. Everyone watched me with mocking smiles. My heart was in chaos; I dared not look up, fearing their ridicule. Looking up, Mrs. Declan, Uncle Robert, and Declan seemed like a real family. That perfume scent returned… I felt nauseous.

I woke from a nightmare, one I often have since taking that stab for Declan. In it, I run up endless stairs, never reaching the top. Beside me, Declan slept peacefully, gently snoring. At that moment, his phone screen lit up with a notification: “Laughing at my own 5 AM search history.” I clicked it, revealing Declan’s search: “What perfume can a pregnant woman use?” I froze, dropping the phone onto the bed, the pale screen reflecting my gloomy face. I dreaded the word “pregnant” because I could never be. Phoebe’s perfume lingered in my nose, making me gag. Declan sleepily pulled me into his arms. “Nora, why aren’t you asleep? We have to get up early tomorrow.” Resting in his embrace, I murmured, “Declan, will you betray me?” My voice was a faint whisper. Declan seemed not to hear. He soothingly patted my back, “Nora, another nightmare? I’ll go with you to see a therapist tomorrow, okay?” I didn’t want therapy; I wasn’t sick. I just feared Declan leaving me. I didn’t want to return to being alone. I’d been in a warm bubble too long and feared the cold outside. Pressing against his warm chest, I stopped thinking and drifted into sleep with his voice.

I met Declan in college. I was an exchange student in a foreign country for a year. He was a campus star, tall, handsome, athletic, fluent in three languages. Not just the heir to the Declan Group, he also had his own promising projects. Such a golden boy wouldn’t notice someone like me. Once, I got lost in the school building, and he was the only one around. I gathered the courage to ask for directions. Unexpectedly, he was kind and personally led me to the office. He asked my name, learned we were from the same province, and said I could reach out if I needed anything. He said we were friends and should support each other abroad. I was touched. Growing up, I was always on the sidelines. I had an older sister and a younger brother. My family had too many children, so I was sent to live with my aunt. At ten, I was brought back because my brother still couldn’t speak. I studied hard, knowing it was my only way out. Thankfully, my efforts turned my life around. I scored so well that county, village, and town officials came for the ribbon-cutting. My parents took the scholarship money. I worked part-time and managed to go to college. I worked long and hard for this exchange opportunity. Focusing on studies left me little time for friends. In the foreign country, I had none. But now, I had my first friend, and such a distinguished one. I was almost moved to tears. Once more, I mustered the courage to ask for his contact. I thought I might never use it, but… but… I really wanted to stay close to him. Early the next morning, Declan left without recalling the late-night discussion about a therapist. I understood he was busy with work, but he wasn’t like this before. Previously, no matter how big the business was, he prioritized accompanying me to the hospital. While I was pondering this, Mrs. Declan texted me to meet. Her first words shattered my hope and broke my sheltered world. “Sophia is pregnant, and the child is Declan’s.” She explained Sophia was the child of Declan’s father’s friend. That friend had passed away, and Sophia was raised by Mrs. Declan since she was young. Suddenly, I realized why Sophia seemed familiar. I had seen her before as a child, much younger than me. But now, she’s grown up. “Sophia is a good girl; she’s liked Declan since she was young and doesn’t mind being with him without a formal title.” “She got pregnant so quickly, unlike you.”

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My boyfriend was known as a piano prodigy. He sent a video of me practicing violin to the newly transferred rich girl. “So annoying. With this level of skill, she still wants me to accompany her.” Rich girl: “Haha, she looks so stupid. How dare she?” “You’re still going to accompany her? Aren’t you afraid she’ll hold you back?” My boyfriend replied: “It’s really embarrassing.” Later, after I won an award, he knelt down and begged to accompany me. I calmly walked past him and said coldly: “Being in the same space as you makes me feel embarrassed.” My mom died in a car accident on the day of my stage performance, which caused me to develop panic attacks. Whenever I was about to perform on stage, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Because of this, I planned to give up the violin. It was my boyfriend, Lucas Foster, who encouraged me. He said he would always be on stage with me, accompanying me until the day I got better. With his encouragement, I signed up for the school’s talent show. I heard that the first-place winner would get a spot in the national competition. For this, Lucas and I practiced piano and violin concertos every day. With our perfect coordination, I regained confidence and even thought I could win first place. However, on the night before the talent show, I saw the video he sent to Vanessa Summers, the newly transferred rich girl. It was from when I first tried to perform on the street to overcome my panic attacks. This was actually Lucas’s suggestion. He said it was called exposure therapy. While I was playing the violin, he was recording nearby. He said we could review it later, so I would get better each time. In the video, as more and more people gathered to watch, my panic attack started. My face turned pale, I was breathing heavily, and the melody I played was completely out of tune. But Lucas told me I had to persist, to finish playing a song no matter what. Amidst the noisy clamor, I felt like a fish struggling to survive on a chopping board. Finally, I fainted on the roadside due to difficulty breathing. If it weren’t for a doctor in the crowd who performed first aid, I might have died from suffocation. Therefore, that night became a memory I didn’t want to recall. I thought Lucas had deleted the video. I never expected he would keep it and send it to Vanessa. “So annoying, with this level of skill, I still have to accompany her tomorrow.” Vanessa sent a row of laughing emojis. “Haha, she looks so stupid. How dare she? Don’t you agree?” “[Bitter smile jpg] I hope nothing goes wrong, or it would be really embarrassing.”

In a daze, my phone was snatched away. Lucas, who had just tried on his performance outfit, stood behind me with a displeased look and coldly asked, “Why are you looking at my phone?” I was about to explain when I suddenly realized this wasn’t the point. Besides, he never minded me looking at his phone before. “Lucas, why did you send that old video of me when I wasn’t doing well to someone else?” I thought he would explain clearly to me, but instead, his face grew even darker. “Chloe, the performance is tomorrow, and you have to cause trouble now? Do you not want me to accompany you anymore?” He angrily tore off his bow tie and threw it on the ground. “If you don’t want me to accompany you, just say so. No need to find fault with me here. Do whatever you want.” If it were before, I would have picked up the bow tie and put it back on him, then stopped pursuing who was right or wrong. In every argument, I was always the first to give in. But this time, I just coldly replied: “If you don’t want to accompany me, that’s fine. I can perform solo too.” Lucas looked at me in shock. Because he knew best that being able to perform on stage with him had always been my wish. His tone softened, “Vanessa just transferred back from abroad, and the instructor asked me to take care of her more.” “She said she wasn’t confident about her first violin solo after returning to the country, so I sent her that video of you to encourage her.” “If you’re unhappy, I can delete it.” As he spoke, he took out his phone and deleted the video in front of me. But he knew in his heart that what I cared about was far more than just this incident. There were rumors at school that the daughter of Summers Corporation was studying at our arts academy. Everyone guessed that the rich girl was Vanessa. Because she was driven to school in luxury cars every day, and both instructors and school leaders treated her with great respect. To help her get familiar with the campus environment, Lucas had left me to practice alone several times recently. He said we were already working together perfectly and there wouldn’t be any problems. But only I knew that his heart was probably no longer on this talent show.

Seeing my silence, Lucas unusually spoke again, “Chloe, I’m doing this for our future. You should know that getting Summers Corporation to continue sponsoring our overseas studies is just a matter of Vanessa saying a word.” Lucas had told me before that he was a scholarship recipient from Summers Corporation. After he finished, he looked at the canvas bag on my body and asked, “Are you one too?” I thought for a moment and answered, “I guess so.” He was very happy to hear this and held my hand, “Chloe, we must work hard together and meet at the top.” Later, he became a rising star with his extremely high talent. While I was still confined to a small practice room, struggling with panic attacks. Thinking about how Lucas had encouraged me to participate in this talent show, I sighed. Forget it, the show is tomorrow, we should indeed focus on the performance. But I still answered him. “If it’s about studying abroad, you don’t need to worry. Summers Corporation won’t stop sponsoring you.” I had originally hoped that we would make a splash at this show. But on the way to the auditorium, someone came running to tell me that there was an urgent matter and someone was looking for me in the practice room. Lucas took the garment bag and my backpack from my hands, saying he would wait for me in the rest area and told me to hurry back. But when I got to the practice room, it was empty. The door behind me slammed shut with a “bang” and was locked. I urgently wanted to call Lucas, only to realize that my phone was in my bag. I thought Lucas would surely come looking for me if he kept waiting and I didn’t show up, but he didn’t come. By the time the janitor found me, the talent show was already nearing its end. I ran to the auditorium as fast as I could, only to see that the finale that was supposed to belong to Lucas and me had become his duet with Vanessa. On stage, Lucas was wearing a white suit, the angled spotlight making him look otherworldly. Pleasant and lively music flowed from his fingertips. He played the piano while looking up at Vanessa in front of him, his eyes full of undisguised joy. I followed his gaze, and when I saw the dress Vanessa was wearing, my pupils constricted. That was my mother’s dress.

My mother was a world-renowned violinist. After my father had an affair, she resolutely chose to divorce him and then took me abroad to restart her career. When her career was back at its peak, she rushed to attend my first violin performance and got into a car accident on the way. I couldn’t participate in that performance. Instead, I went to the hospital to see her for the last time. On her deathbed, my mother left her last words. “Go back to your father. With his help, you’ll avoid many detours and reach greater heights.” “And those dresses, I want to take them with me. Remember to cremate them all for me.” In the end, I kept one dress, planning to wear it today, hoping it would give me strength. But now, that dress was on Vanessa, the original thin straps had been altered into a strapless design. I rushed over and grabbed Vanessa’s hand. “Why is this dress on you?” The performance came to an abrupt halt, and the audience below started whispering. Vanessa looked at me with a wronged expression, “Sister Chloe, we’re still performing.” Lucas stood up angrily and scolded, “Chloe, what are you doing? Get off the stage.” I pointed at the dress on Vanessa and looked at him coldly, “Explain why my dress is on her.” He came over and questioned me in a low voice, “You have the nerve to ask? Where were you?” “You never showed up, so I called Vanessa to save the day. She came on stage at the last minute without preparing any clothes, so I gave her yours.” “What’s wrong with wearing it?” I looked at him in disbelief. Lucas knew very well that this was my mother’s memento. My mother hated nothing more than others touching her dresses. I ignored Lucas and walked over to Vanessa, commanding coldly, “Take it off.” Vanessa didn’t reply to me, but looked at Lucas with tears in her eyes. Impatient, I grabbed her hand to take her to the backstage dressing room. Vanessa struggled, as if I were some kind of monster, and turned back to shout, “Lucas!” Lucas rushed over and pushed me away forcefully. He used too much strength, and I stumbled and fell to the ground. He seemed not to have expected me to fall, his expression regretful, wanting to help me up. But Vanessa grabbed him, burying her face in his shoulder and crying, “Lucas.” In the end, it was the school security guards who helped me up. Before I left the stage, meeting his gaze, I suddenly remembered the promise he made to me on the day I agreed to be his girlfriend. He said that no matter what happened in the future, he would always stand firmly by my side. Thinking about it now, I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.

Lucas and Vanessa were allowed to restart their performance. I was taken to the backstage dressing room, where the instructor asked me what had happened. After I explained the whole situation, He told me that because it was an unexpected situation, they would give me another chance to perform on stage. While waiting backstage, I listened to Lucas and Vanessa’s duet. During the performance, Vanessa played several wrong notes, all of which were well covered by Lucas’s piano. After the piece ended, I knew they had definitely performed together before. When it was my turn to go on stage, I passed by them. Lucas looked at me with a complicated expression, wanting to take my hand, but I shook him off. Behind him was Vanessa with a smug expression. She glanced at my violin with a smirk, and I immediately had a bad feeling. Sure enough, as soon as I started playing, the strings snapped. An unpleasant, jarring sound echoed throughout the auditorium. Boos rose from all around, along with mockery from those who were already upset about the earlier incident. After all, in their eyes, I had offended the Summers’ daughter. “Is she crazy or what?” “She was already acting weird earlier, and now she comes on stage to embarrass herself.” “How did Lucas ever fall for her?” Amidst those noisy voices, I saw a tall figure stand up and walk out of the auditorium. My first stage performance in life had ended in such a disaster. Back in the dressing room, I received a message from William Summers, the CEO of Summers Corporation. “You said you didn’t need my help, and now you show me this?” I didn’t reply. Because Lucas was waiting there with the dress Vanessa had changed out of. He handed me the crumpled dress that had been altered beyond recognition. “It’s just a dress, was it worth making such a scene on stage? Chloe, what will people think of you now?” I took a deep breath and said to him, “Lucas, let’s break up.” His face darkened. “Chloe, do you know what you’re saying?” “I said, let’s break up.”

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After marrying Jack Thompson, I gave up my career as a florist for him. He was so considerate that he didn’t want me to have children, so we adopted a baby instead. Until one evening when I came home. I saw his first love in my greenhouse, carelessly trampling the flowers I had carefully nurtured. Jack stood silently beside her. Lily, our daughter, helped her smash the flowers, laughing, “Aunt Emma, if you don’t like them, let’s break them all. I’ve always hated how dirty these things are.” I stared in disbelief at the scene before me. Rows of flower racks had toppled over. The succulent Jack had given me was now completely shattered. The culprit looked up at me, feigning innocence. “I was just making a phone call here and had an allergic reaction to the pollen. Jack and Lily were worried about me, that’s why the flowers ended up like this,” Emma said. “Rose, you won’t be mad at me, will you?” I looked at her neck, which showed no signs of redness. She smirked, her foot still grinding the flower petals beneath her. Jack stood beside her, looking at me coldly, without saying a word. Lily met my gaze and shouted, “Are you really going to make a fuss over these flowers? They’re already broken! Aunt Emma rarely visits, and if she leaves because you’re angry, I won’t let you take me to school tomorrow!” Just half an hour ago, I had gone to pick up Lily from school as usual. The teacher told me she had already been picked up by Jack and a woman. On my way home, I kept wondering who this woman could be. I never imagined it would be Emma Wilson – Jack’s childhood friend and his first love. Years ago, after breaking up with Jack, she had gone abroad. Jack had been depressed for a long time because of her, and then married me – the girl who had loved him for years. My six-year-long unrequited love finally came to an end. Now Emma was back, and Jack was on her side. Even our daughter, whom I had raised, was angry at me because of her. The intimate way she behaved with Jack hurt me deeply. Lily proudly showed off the dress she was wearing. “Aunt Emma, the dress you designed is so pretty! Not like the ugly ones she buys me!” Only then did I notice she had changed out of the dress I had carefully chosen for her. In the past, whenever I picked out clothes for her and Jack, he would coldly refuse them time and time again. And Lily, upon seeing them, would throw them on the ground in disgust, saying they were too old-fashioned. In my ears, Emma was telling Lily about the styles of clothes kids abroad liked. The three of them looked like a perfect family, warm and beautiful. My heart grew colder by the second. I walked past them and crouched down to carefully wrap up the broken succulent Jack had given me. The year Jack and I got together, he learned that I loved plants. He spent time carefully packaging it as a gift for me – it was the first present he ever gave me. I was overjoyed that night and tenderly cared for it ever since. It had witnessed all the years Jack and I had been together. But now it was broken, shattered by Jack’s own hands. My eyes stung with tears. Jack bent down and grabbed my arm, trying to pull me up. “Come on, let’s go eat. What’s broken is broken. I’ll buy you another one later. Emma rarely comes back, don’t make a fuss over this. Be more understanding.” Seeing that I wouldn’t get up, his tone grew harsher: “Rose, why do you have to be so stubborn?” Because of his pulling, my hand was cut by a shard from the flower pot, leaving a bloody mark. After a moment of silence, he stopped trying to help me.

By the time I reached the dining table, they were already eating happily. I froze. Emma was sitting next to Jack, and they were talking quietly. Emma was smiling, while he listened attentively. My mother-in-law saw me and frowned, “You’re a grown woman! Do we need to call you to eat?” I silently sat down next to Lily and picked up my chopsticks, only to find that the entire table was filled with spicy dishes. Emma spoke softly, “Rose, I made these myself. Won’t you try some?” I hesitated, knowing that spicy food often upset my stomach. My mother-in-law rolled her eyes, “So picky.” Once, when Jack and I went out to eat, I had hot pot to please him and ended up in pain all night. After that, he never ordered spicy food again. He would even dilute the spicy dishes for me when his mother complained about my pickiness. I looked up at Jack, my heart filling with hurt. Then Jack put some Kung Pao chicken in my bowl and said coldly, “Eat it. Don’t disappoint Emma.” Meeting his cold eyes, my nails dug into my palms. The cut on my hand from earlier stung even more. I took one bite, and the spiciness churned in my stomach. I put down my chopsticks. Lily, sitting next to me, saw that I had stopped eating. She immediately pouted, “You’re so picky. Aunt Emma’s cooking is delicious. If you won’t eat, then just go hungry.” Emma’s voice trembled, “Mom, Jack, I know Rose doesn’t like me. Maybe I should leave.” Hearing this, my mother-in-law immediately pulled her back to her chair and glared at me. Jack looked up at Emma and said calmly, “Sit down.” Then he turned to me, his voice icy, “If you’re not going to eat, go back to your room.” Lily angrily pushed my bowl and chopsticks away. My heart clenched tight as I turned and left the table. As I closed the door, I heard my mother-in-law complain, “Really, we have to cater to her? Emma, if only you hadn’t gone abroad back then. You would’ve married Jack already, and we wouldn’t have to deal with her.” My hand froze on the doorknob for a second. I didn’t dare listen anymore and quickly shut the door. I lay on the bed, crying. I opened my phone to see a message from my best friend: “Can you believe how shameless she is? She was the one who chose to go abroad, and now she’s back to ruin your marriage!” She attached a screenshot of a social media post. Emma had posted: “It’s so wonderful to see the person I like as soon as I return home. I wonder if he feels the same way about me.” She added a pouty emoji. Below, Jack’s friend had commented: “Don’t worry, Emma. Jack definitely likes you. You have no idea how depressed he was after you left. He even had to marry someone he didn’t love. I feel so bad for him.” “It’s a good thing he doesn’t have kids yet. He once said he was waiting for you to come back so you could have one together.”

I read those words over and over, feeling as if I had been struck by lightning. In our first year of marriage, I had begged Jack repeatedly, saying I wanted to have a baby. When he heard this, he looked terrified and stroked my hair. “No, I’m afraid it would hurt you to give birth. I can’t bear to see you suffer, darling.” At the time, I thought he truly cared for me. Now I realize he simply didn’t want to have a child with me. All these years, he said he didn’t want children. Because of this, his mother would scold me, calling me a “hen that can’t lay eggs” and hurling insults at me to this day. But I loved children, so Jack adopted Lily from an orphanage. At first, Lily was very attached to me. She would cling to me and call me “Mommy” in a sweet voice. Later, when she realized her grandmother didn’t like me, she started disliking me too. Her way of addressing me changed from “Mommy” to a cold “you” and “her”. Jack had tried to mediate at first, but after he got busy starting a company with his friends, he never bothered again. My heart ached, and tears fell in large drops. Jack came in, carrying a plate of food. He crouched down and looked at me, “Stop crying. I was a bit harsh earlier. You haven’t eaten, have something to fill your stomach.” My voice was hoarse as I asked, “You don’t want me to have a baby because of Emma, right?” His eyes froze, and he was speechless. I already knew the answer. Seeing his reaction now, I calmly accepted this reality. I didn’t take the chopsticks he offered. “No need to answer. I’m not hungry.” He looked troubled, “If it’s about the greenhouse, I’ll have someone fix it up tomorrow. There’s no need to throw such a tantrum.” Looking at Jack in front of me, I suddenly remembered how I used to watch him silently. Back then, he only had eyes for Emma and never looked at other girls. After we got married, he seemed cold but would show moments of tenderness towards me. He would kiss my forehead when I was asleep and prepare surprises for our anniversaries. I thought I had finally earned his affection. Now that Emma was back, I realized what I had wasn’t much at all. I didn’t respond to him anymore. I lay down on my side, turning my back to him. He made no attempt to comfort me, just put the bowl and chopsticks on the nightstand and left. After struggling for a long time, I finally messaged my best friend: “Can you help me find a lawyer to draft divorce papers?” I couldn’t sleep that night. Jack slept in the study. In the morning, Lily ran into my room, demanding that I make her breakfast. “If you don’t make me breakfast, I’ll be late! If I’m late and the teacher scolds me, it’ll be all your fault!” I looked at my daughter calmly. Even though she wasn’t my biological child, I had always cared for her wholeheartedly over the years. She often complained about my cooking, saying my fried eggs were too hard one day, or my wraps were tasteless the next. She would pout and say, “I’ve had breakfast made by my classmates’ moms. Why can’t you learn to cook properly?” Unfortunately, my sincere love couldn’t win her genuine affection. I said, “Ask grandma to make something for you. If not, your dad can…” At this, she burst into tears. “Dad! She’s bullying me, she won’t make me breakfast!” Jack immediately came in and picked her up, soothing her gently. Then he turned to me and scolded, “Rose, I thought you had gotten over your anger from yesterday. Are you still targeting Lily? She’s just a child.” I had seen this scene countless times before. Whenever Lily was unhappy, it was always my fault. Jack would always argue with me to appease her. Now I felt powerless. I didn’t answer, just looked at him coldly. He didn’t look at me again, just prepared some milk and bread for Lily, then turned and left with her, closing the door behind them.

I watched them leave, sighed deeply, and turned to pack my suitcase. As I was packing, I found a knitted toy that had fallen into the trash can. It was a knitted doll, a parent-child project assigned by Lily’s school. The fabric was now dirty. After Lily told me about this assignment, I had spent three nights working on it, my hands full of needle pricks. But all I got in return was Lily’s look of disgust. “This doll is so ugly. Your taste is really old-fashioned. I’m too embarrassed to show it to my classmates.” My heart sank a little more. When I came back to my senses, it was already noon. My best friend had sent over the divorce papers. As I held those thin sheets of paper, I heard Lily’s laughter from the doorway: “Dad, Aunt Emma designed a project for me today, and I won first prize! All my classmates were so envious.” Jack praised her, “You like her so much, how about making her your godmother?” Lily hugged the exquisite doll tightly, excited, “Yes! I love Aunt Emma the most. If she were my mom, my classmates wouldn’t make fun of me for having an old-fashioned mom anymore.” Earlier, I had been worried that she might cry without a project to submit. Now I realized my concern was unnecessary. I laughed quietly, watching their happy faces as my heart sank to the bottom. I threw the dirty doll back into the trash can. This action caught their attention. Jack came over and saw the doll in the trash. He looked troubled. Those nights, he had seen me staying up late to sew it by hand. He spoke, “Rose, stop being difficult. If it weren’t for Emma today, she wouldn’t have won the prize.” Ever since Emma returned, all I heard was her name. I suddenly felt irritated. Under Jack’s weary gaze, I took out the divorce papers. I said softly, “I’ve already signed. It just needs your signature.” From the corner of my eye, I saw Lily’s face light up. It stung a little. Jack didn’t understand, “You want a divorce just because of yesterday? Didn’t I apologize to you last night?” “It’s not just that. I’m tired now.” All these years, because of Lily and Jack’s mother, I had bottled up all the hurt inside. Now, because of his first love Emma, all the pain and exhaustion exploded. Lily excitedly ran to his side, tugging at his sleeve. “Dad, I heard from my classmates that divorce means you won’t be together anymore. Does that mean Aunt Emma can come over more often?” Jack gently scolded her, and she fell silent. I picked up my suitcase, intending to leave, but he grabbed me. His dark eyes fixed on me, “If you’re going to be this impulsive, I’ll sign today, and you’ll have nothing to do with Lily anymore.” I nodded firmly and shook off his hand. As I opened the door, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief. I heard Lily’s confused voice, “Dad, haven’t you always liked Aunt Emma? I saw your old photos together the other day.” As the door locked behind me, I pulled my suitcase away, never looking back.

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I’ve been in love with Michael Montgomery for ten years. During this time, I’ve used all the Sullivan family’s connections and resources to propel him to the top of the business world. I even went as far as offending Lucas Anderson, the heir to a wealthy family in the city and my childhood friend, for Michael’s sake. As a result, Lucas has held a grudge against me for as long as I’ve been with Michael. On the eve of our wedding, at the company’s celebration party, Lucas showed up with a seductively dressed woman. Right in front of me, he pushed Anna into Michael’s arms, making sure I saw their ambiguous interaction. I calmly called Lucas out, but my hand trembled as I tried to slap him, shaken by his words. “Sophia, do you still think Michael truly loves you?” 0 Lucas and I stood outside the private room. The sound of my slap was drowned out by the laughter from inside. Lucas gripped the back of my neck tightly, pinning me against the doorframe. He hissed through gritted teeth: “Take a good look! Do you still think this Michael loves you?” Inside, Michael had his arm around Anna’s waist. They were laughing about something, their faces full of joy. Anna wore a low-cut evening gown, and Michael’s gaze never left her chest. Her hand traced his Adam’s apple, causing Michael to chuckle repeatedly. He caught her hand and brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss. The guests in the room were still teasing: “No wonder even the self-controlled Mr. Montgomery is smitten with Miss Anna’s charm!” “You flatter me,” Anna replied coyly. “I’m no match for Mrs. Montgomery. Isn’t that right, Mr. Montgomery?” Anna boldly took Michael’s hand and removed his wedding ring, playing with it. That ring was specially designed with both of us involved in every step, from material selection to production. Michael frowned and reached out to take it back, but Anna deliberately leaned in and kissed him directly on the lips. He didn’t push her away. After the kiss, he looked at Anna nestled in his arms and smiled helplessly: “Fine, play with it if you like.” I leaned against the door, my face ashen, watching as they started kissing again. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and turned to push Lucas away. Lucas let out a cold laugh and started questioning me: “Sophia, are you really willing to ruin the rest of your life for ten years of feelings with this scumbag?” “It’s because he’s drunk!” I retorted, my eyes red. I suddenly turned back, making sure my outburst hadn’t alerted the people inside. Then I grabbed Lucas’s collar and pushed him into a corner. “You deliberately took advantage of him being drunk to send that woman to ruin his reputation!” I deliberately lowered my voice, feeling my throat go dry. I instinctively continued to defend Michael. “We’ve been in love for ten years! Ten years, do you understand? I know him better than anyone!” “And you, heir to a wealthy family, what are you? You’re just a jerk!” I composed myself and pushed past Lucas to enter the private room. Inside, Michael and Anna had already resumed their proper postures upon hearing the commotion. Seeing me enter, Michael habitually stood up to pull out a chair for me, placing a plate of prepared seafood in front of me. The ring was still in Anna’s hand, and Michael deliberately avoided that empty hand as he held the plate. Noticing my upset expression, he pulled me into his arms, asking with concern: “What’s wrong, Sophia? Are you feeling unwell?” I buried my head deeper into his chest and said softly, “It’s nothing. I might have had too much to drink. I feel a bit tipsy.” Michael called over a waiter, giving him a generous tip to buy some stomach medicine and prepare a bowl of sobering soup. He was always like this, attentive to every little detail about me. I looked up at him steadily and tentatively asked, “What were you talking about with Miss Anna just now? You seemed so happy.” Michael hesitated for a moment before responding, “Oh, nothing much. Just some work stuff.” But as I lowered my head, I saw what was happening under the table. Anna kept rubbing her leg against Michael’s, and Michael was using his shoe to lift her skirt and caress her, the atmosphere incredibly intimate. A wave of nausea hit me, and suddenly Michael’s embrace felt utterly disgusting. I abruptly stood up, grabbing my bag to leave. “I’m not feeling well. I’m going home first.” Michael instinctively wanted to follow, but Anna caught his hand and placed it on her collar: “Mr. Montgomery, I’m feeling a bit drunk too.” Michael hesitated for a moment, choosing not to move his hand away. He only called for a driver, instructing him to take me home safely. As I was leaving, I bumped into Lucas, who hadn’t left yet. He was smoking, and through the smoke, I couldn’t clearly see the look in his eyes as he gazed at me. But I imagined it must have been mockery. On the way home, I looked at the ring on my finger, tears falling uncontrollably. Michael, did he truly love me? 0

Michael didn’t come home all night, only returning at dawn to freshen up before preparing to leave again. Last night’s events had kept me awake all night. I listened to him making phone calls while washing up in the bathroom, his tone intimate. Before leaving, he came to the bedside to kiss me, his voice gentle: “Sophia, I’ve prepared breakfast in the kitchen. Remember to eat when you get up. I’m off to the company now. Love you.” The moment he closed the door, I opened my eyes and walked to the laundry basket near the bathroom. His shirt collar was covered in lipstick marks, and his suit jacket and pants were stained with countless wet spots. The maid knocked and entered upon hearing movement. I threw the clothes back into the laundry basket and instructed her: “No need to wash these. Just throw away this entire basket. And ask the chef to prepare a lunch box for my husband. I’ll take it to him at noon.” The maid was momentarily stunned but quickly regained her composure and agreed. The reason was simple: previously, I had always personally prepared Michael’s meals, never letting anyone else handle them. But today, strangely enough, I didn’t feel like doing any of these things for him. When I arrived at the company with the lunch box, it was just around lunchtime. The employees coming and going all greeted me with “Mrs. Sullivan.” After all, the company’s successful IPO was largely due to my networking efforts. But I failed to notice the hesitant looks from the secretary and receptionist when they saw me. Just as I reached the office door, I saw two intimate silhouettes through the transparent glass. Michael’s clothes and a woman’s garments were scattered on the floor, accompanied by a series of seductive moans. The woman sitting on Michael’s lap turned her head, flashing me a challenging smile before leaning down to kiss Michael. It was Anna. I fled in panic, only wanting to escape this place. My hands shook so much I repeatedly pressed the wrong elevator buttons. When I finally escaped to the lobby, I leaned against the wall, repeatedly dry heaving. The receptionist, seeing my condition, hurriedly brought me a glass of water to help me calm down. I waved her off, thanking her, and handed her the lunch box: “Thank you for your trouble. Please share these dishes with your colleagues. Don’t tell Michael I was here.” I got into my car to compose myself, but message notifications kept interrupting my thoughts. I opened my phone to check, and an unknown number was continuously sending photos. The photos showed intimate poses between Michael and Anna, with Anna wearing my engagement ring on her ring finger. I felt as if I had fallen into an icy abyss. I don’t remember how I got home, only that when I came to my senses, I had already packed up all my belongings. I sat powerlessly by the bed, listening to Michael’s voice message playing on the phone: “Sophia, I have to work overtime tonight, so I’ll stay at the company and won’t be coming home. Get some rest early.” I laughed bitterly. Men are all the same, always using such clumsy excuses. My phone rang, and I answered: “Hello? Is this Mrs. Sullivan? This is City Hospital. The results from your previous check-up are ready.” Only then did I remember that I had gone to the hospital for a check-up due to feeling unwell. At that time, because Michael said the company needed an investment, I had been too busy attending business dinners to secure funding and hadn’t picked up the report. “Congratulations, the report shows that you’re pregnant. When would you like to come in with your husband for—” “I want to schedule an abortion,” I interrupted. The person on the other end of the line clearly hadn’t expected this development and uncertainly asked, “What?” I repeated, “I said, I want to schedule an abortion.” The doctor was silent for a moment before saying, “Alright. Come in tomorrow for a check-up, and we’ll arrange it for you.” I suddenly felt that Lucas was right. I no longer wanted to be trapped in this ten-year relationship, sacrificing my own lifelong happiness. 0

The next day, Michael came home early, taking care of both breakfast and lunch. At the dining table, he took out a jewelry box and proudly opened it in front of me. Inside was a necklace I had once admired in a shop window, casually mentioning how beautiful it was. At that time, Michael’s company hadn’t gone public yet, and all the money my family had given me had been invested in it. No matter how much I liked it, I didn’t dare to even think about buying it. But now, seeing it, I felt no joy at all. Seeing my reaction, Michael’s smile faded a bit, and he cautiously asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?” I shook my head, took it, and put it aside, saying, “I do like it. Let’s eat first, I’m hungry.” Michael’s face immediately lit up with a smile, and he started putting my favorite dishes into my bowl: “If you’re hungry, eat up. Here, Sophia, have some more. You’ve gotten so thin.” However, Michael’s phone kept ringing incessantly, annoying me. I glanced at it and said flatly, “You should answer it. It might be something important.” Michael observed my expression, and seeing how calm I was, he hurriedly went to the balcony to take the call. After a while, Michael came back, starting with an apology: “Sophia, I can’t stay with you today. The company…” “Go ahead. The company’s matters are important. I’ll be fine on my own.” I smiled, letting him put his guard down, and watched him leave in a hurry. What Michael didn’t know was that as soon as he hung up, I received an audio file. In the conversation, Michael and Anna addressed each other intimately. Anna was complaining about feeling unwell in a coquettish voice, and Michael sounded very concerned. I left the house right after him and headed straight to the hospital’s obstetrics department. At the hospital entrance, I ran into Lucas. He glanced at the registration slip in my hand, then looked behind me, frowning as he said: “You’re having this procedure, and Michael didn’t come with you?” I ignored him and followed the doctor for various examinations. Lucas kept following behind me, asking questions. I felt a bit annoyed: “What do you want? Are you here to laugh at me?” Lucas snorted: “I’m afraid you’ll die on the operating table with no one to claim your body.” I rolled my eyes at him and entered the operating room as arranged by the doctor. Lucas just stood at the door, watching me go in. Fortunately, my body was in good condition, so I could go home the same day without staying in the hospital. When I came out, Lucas was gone, and Anna sent another message. Around her slender neck was the necklace I liked, with Michael standing behind her, smiling as he put it on her. The pain in my abdomen intensified at that moment, reaching deep into my heart. I could barely stand. A hand steadied me as I was about to fall. Lucas held onto me and helped me sit down nearby, opening a thermos flask and handing it to me. A rich, savory aroma and steam hit my face. I looked at him in disbelief, but he just handed me a spoon. “It’s a nutritious soup. Drink some, it’s good for you. It’s still hot. I heard that you feel cold after an abortion, so…” It wasn’t until he reached out to wipe the tears from my cheeks that I came back to my senses, realizing I had just lost my child. And the man I had loved for ten years. I took the spoon and drank the soup while crying. Lucas sighed helplessly: “Slow down, I’m not going to fight you for it.” Catching sight of the ring on my hand, I felt even more miserable. I took it off and threw it into his lap: “Don’t you have a jewelry business? Help me sell this. This piece of junk isn’t worth keeping. Might as well get some money for it.” Lucas seemed to want to say something but hesitated. His gaze shifted between me and the ring. I heard him take a deep breath before saying: “Sophia Sullivan, let me marry you.” 0

I froze on the spot. Lucas scratched his head and laughed awkwardly: “I’m just kidding! It’s… it’s normal if you don’t want to. After all, we… I… ah…” “Okay, I’ll marry you,” I said firmly after some thought, wiping away my tears. Lucas stood up, delighted. “Great! Great!” He even started talking to himself: “Engagement, yes, let’s get engaged first! I’ll notify my family to start preparing. How about we set it on your birthday? What do you think?” I had just nodded in agreement when Lucas turned and dialed his parents’ number. The Anderson family and mine were old friends. Mrs. Anderson had always liked me, but because of my unwavering love for Michael, she had to give up on the idea. Now that I was actively choosing to leave Michael, the Anderson family was overjoyed. They even informed my parents. When my parents called to inquire, I only sent them the messages Anna had sent me. My mother cried uncontrollably after seeing them: “Sophia, don’t make yourself suffer. As long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter who you choose. You can always come home too. Dad and Mom will always be here for you.” After reassuring them, I specifically instructed them not to say much to Michael’s family. Lucas and I agreed to hold the engagement party on my birthday. Before that, I would completely remove myself from Michael’s life. That night, Michael rarely came home. He hugged me from behind, carrying a strong scent of perfume. “Sophia, your birthday is coming up in a few days. Tell me what you want, I’ll buy anything for you.” “I just want you to be with me. I don’t need anything else.” The person behind me fell silent. I persisted, “What’s wrong? Can’t you be with me, Michael?” “Of course I can!” Michael said softly. “It’s just that there’s an important deal that day, so I might be late coming back to celebrate with you.” I shook my head, indicating it was fine. Only then did Michael breathe a sigh of relief. He didn’t know that Anna had sent me a video clip that evening. In the video, the two of them were lying on the bed in our marital home. Anna, pressed close to Michael, cooed: “Mr. Montgomery, come see me on the 7th too. I have a surprise for you.” “I can’t. It’s Sophia’s birthday that day, I—” Anna silenced him with a kiss, then maneuvered her body in a way that made him breathe heavily, and he immediately agreed to meet her. Perhaps out of guilt, Michael stayed home with me for several days in a row. For a moment, I felt as if we were back to how we were when we first fell in love. However, on my birthday, Michael said goodbye early in the morning, telling me to wait for him to come back and celebrate. I couldn’t wait for him anymore. As soon as he left, Lucas sent people to move all my things to his house, and then personally picked me up to go to the beauty salon. I left my phone in the villa, along with my abortion report and an invitation card. Lucas had a custom-made engagement outfit prepared for me and even invited reporters from the city newspaper. He said he wanted to tell the whole world that I was now his lover, not Michael’s. As soon as the engagement party started, related videos and reports spread everywhere. In our marital home, Michael had just finished his tryst with Anna and was preparing to go home when he was drawn to the news on TV. On the screen, I was arm in arm with Lucas, my face radiating happiness, and we shared a passionate kiss in front of the distinguished guests. Both Michael and Anna were stunned. They heard the reporter announce: “We are now at the engagement party of Lucas Anderson, the eldest son of the Anderson family, and Sophia Sullivan, the daughter of the Sullivan family. Here…” Michael grabbed his clothes and rushed out the door, stumbling several times on the flat corridor. His expression was panicked, more horrified: “Impossible… This can’t be…”

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Eight years, six months, and 25 days after I started dating Ryan. We broke up. The reason? While we were having dinner, he placed his phone face down on the table. The buzzing vibration sounded like a countdown to the end of our relationship. I put down my knife and fork. “Ryan, let’s break up.” Sitting across from me, he seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief. He didn’t even bother to ask why, just said, “Okay.” He finally didn’t need to pretend anymore. All because of what he said in front of all the teachers and students back in high school. “Aria, I will never break up with you in this lifetime.” So. He was waiting for me to say it. It took him less than ten minutes to pack up his things. As if he had already decided in his mind what to take and what to leave behind. Just like our relationship. There were clearly problems long ago. But because of that vow, he still took meticulous care of me, playing the role of the perfect boyfriend. But while his body could do it. His heart. Couldn’t. He would unconsciously smile when he opened his phone. When buying sanitary pads with me, he’d instinctively recommend another brand, saying it was less likely to leak. He even started to take an interest in cooking. Unfortunately, he never made the dishes I liked. I watched him, from loving me. Gradually detach from this relationship. Finally, when he even forgot my mother’s death anniversary. I said we should break up. And he. Agreed without hesitation. So quickly. I thought it was an illusion.

Less than an hour after the breakup. A friend sent me a video of him announcing his new relationship. My hand involuntarily tightened around the phone. So. It was her. That new intern at the company. Vivian, who used to follow me around every day, sweetly calling me “Aria.” “Aria, I don’t understand this report, can you teach me?” “Aria, don’t worry about your business trip, I’ll take care of your cat at home!” “Oh Aria, just go ahead, isn’t your boyfriend just in the hospital for a few days with food poisoning? He’s not that delicate, I can bring him meals, right?” … I looked at the cold food in front of me, with a thick layer of oil on the surface. A wave of nausea surged up. I rushed to the bathroom and threw up violently. Disgusting. How disgusting.

I took three days off from work. The day Ryan left, I started vomiting. At first, I thought it was my body’s reaction to the double betrayal from my boyfriend and friend. But later, even when I was about to clean up the dishes, just the smell of fish made me throw up again. With a bad feeling, I went downstairs to buy a pregnancy test. Those glaring two lines made me see black. Isn’t it ironic? Just half a month ago. Ryan was still crazy in bed with me, taking me all night long. He said: “Aria, let’s have a baby?” That time, we didn’t use any contraception. How. Could it be so coincidental? I closed my eyes. It took me three days to barely accept. The fact that Ryan had left me. My hand unconsciously rested on my abdomen. I’m sorry. You who are not expected. You were never meant to come into this world.

A friend said there was a dinner gathering today and asked if I wanted to go. After staying at home for three days, the negative emotions almost suffocated me. I thought, it might be good to go out for a while. But I didn’t expect. At the gathering, he actually brought his new girlfriend, and even confronted me face to face. “Aria, what happened between us is over.” “Vivian is different from you, she’s pure and shy, don’t bully her with your business tactics.” I put my wine glass down on the table. It really wasn’t interesting at all.

When Ryan said those two sentences, the scene went quiet. The friends present all looked at me awkwardly. I raised my eyes to look at Ryan, as if I had never known this man who had been with me for eight years. Seeing me look over, Vivian trembled like a little white rabbit and hid behind him. Ryan frowned and protected her. “Aria, this isn’t the company, don’t use your tactics of bullying newcomers on her.” Huh. I chuckled lightly. I put down my wine glass and picked up my coat from the back of the chair: “I’ve already paid for the meal, everyone enjoy yourselves.” “I’ll be leaving first.” As I passed by, I saw Ryan give me a complicated look. While waiting for a ride at the entrance, my phone rang. “Aria, you’re a rational person.” “I hope our situation won’t affect Vivian’s work.” “Don’t target her at the company.” Seeing my car arrive, I put away my phone expressionlessly.

Vivian was a new intern at the company. A girl who had just graduated was always cautious and prone to making mistakes. So I was a bit strict with her, but sometimes when I saw her crying alone in the corner, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, thinking she was just like myself when I first entered society. So I took care of her a bit more in daily life. Sometimes when she didn’t have suitable clothes to meet clients, I would buy them for her without hesitation. I even brought Vivian along on dates with Ryan sometimes, just so she could eat something good. But when did she and Ryan start to become different under my nose? Was it when Ryan got sick, and I was out of town on a business trip, so I asked her to bring him cold medicine? Or was it when Ryan was hospitalized with food poisoning, and I was busy with a big deal, so she volunteered to bring him nutritious meals at the hospital every day? I was completely unaware. I only thought that the tacit understanding between Ryan and Vivian at those times was just because they had similar tastes. But. It doesn’t matter anymore.

After a dazed night’s sleep at home, the alarm for work rang punctually. The adult world is like this. Even if the sky falls, there’s only limited time to recover your emotions. Three days of leave, today even if the world was ending, I had to work normally. I looked at myself in the mirror. A heavy layer of dark circles under my eyes. But for today’s promotion dinner, I still dressed up nicely. The Director resigned a month ago, and before she left, she recommended me to the Vice President. As of yesterday, the probation period was over, and from the Vice President’s words, it seemed he would announce my appointment as Director today. This news had already spread through the group chat yesterday, and some people were even urging me to treat everyone. Everyone had already agreed yesterday to go to the newly opened trendy restaurant for dinner. My treat. But when I entered the company, everyone gave me meaningful looks. When I looked back, they all avoided my gaze. I frowned. Sure enough, just as I sat down, Vivian walked into the company wearing a high-end suit, with light steps. Behind her were two people carrying hands full of coffee. She clapped her hands energetically: “Thank you all for your hard work recently, don’t leave after work today, it’s my treat!” After saying this, the two colleagues distributed the coffee to everyone. When the coffee was all handed out, everyone had one. Coincidentally, I was left out. I already had a vague idea of what was going on. Vivian seemed to just notice me, apologizing: “Oh, Aria, you’re here too, I’m sorry I thought you weren’t coming today, so I didn’t buy your coffee.” She walked a few steps closer, handing me her coffee: “I haven’t drunk from this cup yet, Aria, if you don’t mind, have mine.” Seeing that I didn’t take it, she pushed the coffee into my hand, but just as the coffee touched my fingers. She let go. With a “bang”, a cup of coffee exploded all over the floor. “Aria, what are you doing?” Before I could speak, I was pushed hard. The man protected Vivian and stepped back, his eyes full of concern: “Are you okay? Did you get burned?” “Oh no, Manager Aria is hurt!” a colleague exclaimed. As Ryan instinctively looked at my hand. Vivian gently tugged at Ryan’s clothes, her eyes brimming with tears, as if they would fall at any moment. “I’m fine, don’t blame Aria, she just didn’t hold it steady, it wasn’t intentional…” “Don’t blame her, really it wasn’t…” Ryan calmly withdrew his gaze and patted Vivian’s head. “You’re too kind, you’ll be taken advantage of like this in the future!” Vivian looked at Ryan with eyes full of smiles and stuck out her tongue. The two talked more and more… I quietly watched the two of them. So love really can be transferred. Ryan, who was so caring towards me just a few days ago. In the blink of an eye, could transfer the same love to another person. Huh.

At closing time, I sat in the Vice President’s office. I’ve been with the company for seven years, working diligently. When the company started as a small startup with only three to five people, step by step to where it is now. Every step has my shadow. In my view, the Director position was well-deserved. The Vice President helplessly rubbed his forehead. “I know you’re a meritorious employee of the company, but you know…” He paused, as if throwing caution to the wind. “You know, Ryan Tech has given us a big deal, this deal can save us five years of hard work!” “Aria, you can’t fight against the tide, do you understand what I mean?” I lowered my eyes. So that’s how it is.

But the hand resting on my leg couldn’t help but tremble. I knew the Vice President was in a difficult position too. To avoid losing control of my emotions here, I nodded and left the office. It was already closing time, and the company colleagues were leaving in twos and threes. I sat in a bathroom stall, finally unable to hold back my breakdown. If Ryan’s cliff-like breakup still allowed me to maintain a calm exterior. But the Director position falling to Vivian, and moreover, it was because Ryan used his power to pressure for it, this really made me completely break down. He clearly knew how long I had worked for this position. I had even been working almost non-stop for nearly a month. But when it came down to it, Ryan stabbed me in the back. “You said Director Vivian is treating everyone today, will Manager Aria go?” “That’s hard to say! But if she goes, there’ll be a good show to watch!” “That’s true, it’s really something to sigh about.” “What’s there to sigh about, she used to be the young master’s girlfriend, of course the company favored her, now that the young master is tired of her, naturally the Director position has to be given up!” The two were washing their hands while gossiping outside. “What? Tired of her?” “Don’t you know? Director Vivian said the young master said holding her hand was like holding his own hand.” “Sleeping with her is not as good as using his own hand? Hahahahaha…” With a “bang”, I forcefully pulled open the stall door. The two turned to see me, their faces turning pale. “Ma-Manager Aria?”

I came to the sink and washed my hands leisurely. “What? Do you want to try young master Ryan’s hand too?” The two pushed each other and ran away like the wind, their footsteps fading into the distance. “Tch! What are you so proud of…” I took out a cigarette and lit it. The smoke I exhaled curled in front of me and dissipated. Huh. Ryan is still Ryan. When he likes someone, he spoils them to death. Just the day before. He was telling me not to use my position to make things difficult for Vivian. But in the blink of an eye, he used his power to pressure me. And this society. It’s really fucking messed up.

Coming out of the company, a luxury car was parked ostentatiously at the entrance. I was very familiar with this car. It was Ryan’s car. Seeing me come out of the company, he took out a cigarette and leaned against the car door, waving at me. I hesitated for a moment, but still walked over. Only when I got there did I realize. Vivian was sitting in his passenger seat. That place. That once belonged only to me. How many times before, she stood in my current position, enviously looking at me sitting in the passenger seat, saying: “Aria, your boyfriend is so good to you.” “Aria, you have to be careful of those little vixens nowadays, don’t let them steal your boyfriend, don’t worry, I’ll help you keep an eye out!” Later, one time when I got off work and saw Ryan’s car downstairs, I thought he had come to pick me up, but I didn’t expect Vivian to rush past me like a gust of wind, naturally opening the passenger door and about to sit down. I couldn’t help but call out Vivian’s name. She visibly stiffened for a moment, then naturally closed the car door, saying. “Oh Aria, I thought you were in the car!” Then she linked arms with me and said she thought I was in the car and wanted to find me after work to have dinner together. At that time, Ryan’s expression was also very natural. That bit of discomfort and suspicion quickly dissipated. Thinking about it now, I wasn’t just stupid. I was stupid and unaware of it. Seeing me come over, Vivian smiled and nodded: “Aria.”

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