In the seventh year of my relationship with Ethan Shaw, his long-dead first love “came back to life.” He reunited with her and spent every day by her side. The once arrogant Ethan would now bend down to tie her shoelaces when no one was looking, and his eyes would turn red with concern when she pricked her finger. At that moment, I knew my relationship with Ethan had come to an end. I boarded a plane to leave, but that flight crashed later that night, with no survivors among the hundred-plus passengers. When Ethan heard the news, he went mad, holding my clothes and crying day and night with regret. But what he didn’t know was that I never got on that plane. I had just finished showering when I received a text from Ethan’s best friend. “Sis, Ethan’s had a bit too much to drink. Could you come pick him up?” The location was a bar they frequented. Ethan had taken me there before, but I didn’t like such noisy environments, so more often than not, I just went to pick up a drunk Ethan. I replied, “Sure, I’ll be right there.” I quickly changed and headed out. At the bar, someone led me to the VIP room on the top floor. The decor was luxurious, and only the rich and powerful could access the top floor. The door to the room was slightly ajar, but instead of the expected noise, it was eerily quiet inside. Suspicious, I pushed the door open. Suddenly, there was a “pop,” and confetti rained down from above. Soft music filled the air, and the floor was covered with heart-shaped candles. I looked up to see Ethan standing not far away, holding a bouquet of red roses and gazing at me lovingly. “Natalie, will you marry me?” He walked towards me, one step at a time, then knelt on one knee. He took out a ring from his pocket and held it up to me. The friends in the room started to cheer, chanting in unison, “Say yes! Say yes!” My eyes welled up with tears. I had imagined this scene countless times. Him in a suit, holding roses, walking towards me, proposing in front of our friends, with their blessings. We had walked this path for seven whole years. “I wi-” Before I could finish saying “I will,” this romantic atmosphere was shattered by the sound of breaking bottles. The room was dimly lit, and we heard a waiter frantically apologizing. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to.” “What kind of clumsy waiter did they hire? Just fire them already,” someone grumbled, scaring the waiter so much that they fell to their knees. “Please don’t fire me. I’m sorry. How much was the wine? I’ll pay for it. Please don’t report this to the manager.” Not wanting to be too hard on the waiter, I quickly said, “It’s okay, you don’t need to pay. You can go now.” But they didn’t move, just kept crying on their knees. After a while, it started to get annoying. The commotion soon reached the manager’s ears. He didn’t dare delay and came running, knowing he couldn’t afford to offend the VIP guests. “I’m terribly sorry, gentlemen. It’s our fault. All the drinks in the room tonight are on the house.” The manager was very polite, bowing and apologizing as soon as he entered. We were all easy-going and not short on money, so a few bottles of wine weren’t worth making a big fuss over. But some of Ethan’s friends loved to play around. They opened a bottle of beer and put it on the table, smirking at the waiter. “Drink this whole bottle, and we’ll let it go. In fact, I’ll even give you a thousand bucks.” The female waiter was about to refuse when the manager scolded her, “Lily, drink up and apologize to these gentlemen.” “What did you say her name was?” Ethan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up coldly. His voice was trembling slightly. Someone turned on the lights, and everyone gasped. Because the waiter’s face was identical to Ethan’s “deceased” first love.

“Lily? You’re Lily? Are you human or ghost?” someone who knew Lily exclaimed. I didn’t know Lily, but I had heard about her history with Ethan. While everyone was still questioning whether Lily was real or not, Ethan suddenly pushed me aside and rushed over to her. It happened so suddenly that I lost my balance and fell to the ground, my palm landing directly on some broken glass. Blood immediately started flowing. “Is it really you, Lily? How are you here?” Ethan’s eyes were red as he held Lily tightly in his arms, completely ignoring me on the side, injured. The pain in my heart was far more lethal than the pain in my hand. “Bro, your girlfriend is still here,” the guy who had been joking earlier reminded Ethan quietly. To everyone’s surprise, Ethan then picked up the bottle of beer from the table and smashed it over the guy’s head without hesitation. “Get your medical expenses from Shaw Corp. As for our previous business deal, consider it void.” His eyes were filled with coldness. Though he didn’t spell it out, everyone present could hear the warning in his tone. The man had just been giving Lily a hard time, and Ethan was making an example of him, showing that even after seven years, Lily’s place in his heart remained unshakeable. No one in the room dared to speak, and no one came to help me up. Lily had been kneeling where there was broken glass too, and now her knees were bleeding. Without a word, Ethan took off his jacket and draped it over Lily’s shoulders. Then, in front of everyone, he put his arm around her waist and picked her up. Lily curled up in his arms, her slender body shaking with sobs, evoking sympathy from those around. This intimate scene was like a knife twisting in my eyes. He left in a hurry, only giving me a calm glance and saying flatly, “Lily’s hurt. You can go home by yourself.”

After getting bandaged at the hospital, I returned home and sat on the sofa until three in the morning before Ethan finally came back, with Lily in tow. He carried Lily straight upstairs, completely ignoring me on the sofa. “Ethan, put me down. Your wife is still here,” Lily reminded him softly, and only then did Ethan pause and look over. “Your knee just got bandaged. Don’t move around,” Ethan patiently coaxed Lily, and afraid of upsetting her, he added, “We’re not married yet. She’s not my wife.” He distanced himself from me completely, his indifferent expression as if he had never known me. The romantic proposal scene from yesterday seemed like a dream I had. I looked up at the two of them. They looked like a loving couple, while I was the intruder, out of place. Suppressing the pain in my heart, I smiled softly and said, “Ethan, I accepted your proposal yesterday.” Ethan’s body stiffened, and he looked troubled. Before, he had been afraid I wouldn’t accept his proposal. Now, he was afraid that I had accepted it. He didn’t answer me immediately. Instead, he lowered his gaze and gently comforted Lily in his arms, “Be good. I’ll take you to your room to rest first. I’ll handle things here.” Throughout all this, he never once looked at me, either out of guilt or disgust. I think he must have been disgusted with me. Ethan wouldn’t feel guilty; he would only blame my existence for interfering with his freedom with Lily. After a while, Ethan finally came down from upstairs and sat across from me. We once had countless intimate moments, but now it felt like an entire galaxy separated us. “What’s the deal with Lily?” I asked. “Natalie, let’s not rush into the wedding,” he said softly. I knew why, but I still asked, “Because of her? Are you planning to marry her?” “Lily’s not in a good emotional state. I’m afraid of upsetting her. She’s suffered a lot these years, and I want to make it up to her.” Although I already had the answer in my heart, hearing Ethan say it out loud still made my heart clench painfully. Tears welled up uncontrollably. I’m not the cool, calm protagonist from a novel. I’m just an ordinary person who cries and becomes hysterical when faced with betrayal from the one I love. “Ethan, why are you doing this to me? You feel sorry for her, but do you feel sorry for me? We’ve been together for seven years! The wedding invitations have already been sent out, and now you want to postpone our marriage for her? Should I step down and give the bride’s position to her?” “Natalie! Keep your voice down. Lily is still sleeping. This has nothing to do with her! It’s me who wants to make amends!” Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose, looking extremely impatient. My emotions exploded, and I raised my hand to slap Ethan. But before my hand could land, a small figure rushed forward and stood in front of Ethan. I couldn’t stop in time, and that slap landed hard on Lily’s face. I had put all my strength into that slap. It made Lily cry, and it also shattered the years of love between Ethan and me.

“Slap!” Almost instantly, Ethan raised his hand and slapped me hard. The taste of blood spread in my mouth, and the ringing in my ears momentarily drowned out Ethan’s curses. I only saw him protectively shielding Lily behind him. “Natalie, have you gone mad? How could you become like this? You’re acting like a shrew!” I heard this sentence clearly. I stood there, stunned, holding my face and staring at the man before me. This man, who once protected me like a precious treasure and wouldn’t let even a hair on my head be harmed, had now hit me for Lily’s sake. He drove me to madness, silently watched me go mad, and then stood on his high horse to accuse me of being a shrew. But he forgot that it was once my goodness and innocence that had attracted him. “It’s my fault. It’s my appearance that caused discord between you. Ms. Chen, if you have any grievances, take them out on me. It has nothing to do with Ethan. He’s a good person. I shouldn’t have appeared,” Lily cried in Ethan’s arms, repeatedly apologizing to me. She was naturally pure-looking, and even after all these years, her crying face still looked pitiful and heart-wrenching. “Don’t cry, Lily. It’s not your fault,” Ethan gently kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes, patiently comforting her. “No, it’s my fault. Ethan, I shouldn’t have survived. It would have been better if I had died seven years ago.” The incident from seven years ago had always been a painful memory for Ethan. He shook his head and held Lily tightly in his arms. “Natalie, you should move out for now. Lily can’t take any more shocks,” Ethan said to me seriously after comforting Lily. His eyes were filled with countless emotions, but love wasn’t one of them. “Ethan, let’s break up,” I sighed lightly. I thought Ethan would try to stop me, but when I said those words, he visibly relaxed, his whole demeanor becoming more at ease. “As you wish. Don’t regret it later.”

I moved out of Ethan’s place that very day. Ironically, after seven years, everything I could take with me fit into a single suitcase. As compensation, Ethan gave me a villa in the East District. I didn’t refuse, but I didn’t move in either. Instead, I immediately put it up for sale. That area was prime real estate, and the house attracted many potential buyers as soon as it was listed. In the end, it sold for over a million dollars. With that money, I rented an apartment in a remote neighborhood far from the city center. On the first day I moved in, I installed a hidden camera at the entrance. I knew it would come in handy someday. Since I left Ethan, he and Lily have been constantly trending on social media, either caught kissing on the streets late at night or showing affection in public. Even I, the ex-girlfriend, was dug up by netizens. Some sympathized with me for wasting seven years, some mocked me for being a homewrecker, and others envied me for getting a huge breakup settlement that would set me up for life. But the buzz came and went quickly, and it didn’t affect me much either way. Ethan called me a few times in between, but I put my phone on silent and deliberately didn’t answer. I didn’t expect him to show up at my doorstep. The door was being knocked so hard it seemed like it might break. I irritably opened it to find Ethan standing there with a dark expression. “Natalie, you’re getting bolder. You sold the villa to live in this dump?” “We’ve broken up. Where I live is none of your business, is it?” These days, I’ve slowly come to accept the fact that I’m not loved, and facing Ethan, though there’s still pain inside, I’ve become much calmer. “If I hadn’t gone to the East District to look for you, I wouldn’t have known you sold the house the day we broke up! Natalie, have I ever let you want for money in all our time together?” He specially came to find me, it seems there’s something important. “Is there something you need? If not, please leave. This dump is too small to accommodate your majesty.” I made a move to close the door, but Ethan stopped it with his hand. “Next week, I’m planning to hold a press conference to announce my engagement to Lily. But I hope you can be there to make a statement that we broke up due to incompatibility, and it has nothing to do with Lily.” I couldn’t help but laugh, and as I laughed, tears started to flow uncontrollably. He made me feel like a joke. Asking me to make a statement to justify their relationship, did he hit his head, or did I? “Ethan, I really want to know, in these seven years, did you ever love me at all?” If there was even a moment of love, he wouldn’t keep stabbing my heart like this over and over again. Ethan was silent for a long time. Finally, he looked at me apologetically, “Natalie, I tried. I just couldn’t fall in love with you.”

In the end, I didn’t go to the press conference. That day, all major platforms were live streaming the event. Ethan appeared on screen in a suit, holding Lily’s hand. In the time since I last saw her, Lily had transformed completely, looking exquisite and beautiful in a haute couture dress. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, plus the first love storyline, moved everyone present with their touching love story. I turned off the TV and threw on a jacket, planning to go downstairs for something to eat. Although where I lived wasn’t as upscale, there was a street food alley right downstairs, full of local flavor. I ate and drank my fill before leisurely heading home. The facilities in my neighborhood were old, and the street lights usually flickered. Today, they had given up working altogether. I’m quite afraid of the dark, so I quickened my pace. Just as I reached the entrance of my building, a dark figure blocked my way. I shone my flashlight on him – it was Ethan’s good friend, the one who had his head smashed at the bar that day. “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Natalie,” he said. The wound on his head hadn’t healed yet, looking particularly horrifying in the darkness. I took a few steps back. “How did you know I was here? What do you want?” I didn’t have much interaction with the people around Ethan. They were wary of him, so they usually just called me “sis” for show when we met. Only this man would let his gaze linger on me unscrupulously. He smiled lecherously, approaching me step by step. “Of course someone told me your address. Sis, oh no, Natalie, I’ve always liked you. Now that you’ve broken up with Ethan, why don’t you be with me? I don’t mind picking up his used goods.” My stomach churned, and I almost threw up everything I had eaten earlier. “I’m sorry, but I think I’m going to be sick. Could you please stay away from me?” Instead of backing off, he came closer, even reaching out to touch my face.

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The advertising executive suggested shooting at the snowy mountain peak in Alaska. I followed along, only to encounter an avalanche that cost me both my legs. My fiancée rushed to the hospital, but when I was asleep, she kissed another man’s lips by my bedside. “Adam, you scared me to death. Thank God it was Noah who lost his legs.” “Now that he’s lost his legs, how can he dance and flirt with others anymore!” The man was none other than Adam, the advertising executive who had proposed the mountain shoot. He held Sophia tightly, indulging in passionate embraces. “Silly, how could I bear to leave you? If anyone should go, it should be Noah… Why didn’t that avalanche take his life?” I lay in bed, silently shedding tears. Once upon a time, Sophia had pulled me out of the darkness, a beacon of hope in my bleak world. Yet this decade-long bond crumbled like a roadblock in the face of “true love.” If that’s how it is, why should I cling to her? But when it came time to part ways, Sophia’s eyes welled up with tears, begging me to return to her side. #

Sophia burst through the door just as the nurse was cleaning my wound. Seeing my empty pant legs, she froze, tears streaming down her face. Still unable to accept the loss of my legs, I worried about her distress and forced a smile, saying, “Sophia, I’m fine. Don’t cry.” How could I be fine? A dancer can lose anything but a pair of healthy legs. Sophia rushed over and hugged my waist tightly, her voice trembling as she comforted me. “Noah, from now on, I’ll take care of you. It doesn’t matter if you can’t dance anymore.” Her words brought tears to my eyes as I slowly realized the chain reaction of losing my legs. Unable to perform on stage, losing my source of income and skills to maintain a living, gradually becoming marginalized in society… My eyes stung with tears, “I’m sorry I can’t give you a perfect wedding now.” Sophia gently kissed away my tears, “As long as we love each other, what does a wedding matter?” Her loving gaze was like a healing medicine, allowing me to see a glimmer of hope in my desperate situation. “Noah, your fiancée is so good to you,” the man in the other hospital bed praised enviously. Before I could respond, his words suddenly turned sharp, “It’s just a pity that she’ll have to spend the rest of her life with a cripple.” I clenched my fists tightly, my heart feeling as if it had been stabbed by a thousand needles. The usually gentle Sophia’s face darkened as she scolded, “Enough! I don’t find it difficult, why are you worrying for me? Who are you to meddle in our affairs!” Other members of the production team couldn’t stand by silently either, criticizing him, “Yeah, if it weren’t for you insisting on shooting in a dangerous area and making so much noise, would there have been an avalanche?!” Adam lowered his head guiltily, his tall frame curling up in pain. “I’m sorry, I was too obsessed with perfection, which led to Mr. Lin getting hurt…” “If I could, I’d give him my legs!” Sophia sneered, “It’s too late for that now. Noah’s legs are ruined! He can never dance again!” Although I knew Sophia was standing up for me, their dialogue felt like a sharp blade, cutting deep into my heart. Suppressing the bitterness rising in my throat, I held Sophia’s trembling hand and said, “That’s enough, Sophia. I want to rest now.” Sophia always wore a gentle smile when facing me. She tucked me in, and the world finally fell silent. After receiving painkillers, my thoughts remained hazy and confused. I couldn’t sleep, but at least Sophia was by my side. Thankfully, she would stay with me. With her companionship, the rest of my life wouldn’t be too bitter. I closed my eyes heavily, and soon after, the warmth beside me gradually dissipated. I suddenly woke up, about to call out, when Sophia’s voice broke the silence of the hospital room. “Hey, are you really angry?” The next second, Adam’s voice hit my eardrums: “Who am I? You know very well, baby.” In the reflection of the window, I witnessed a shocking and heartbreaking scene. In the dim light of the bedside lamp, Sophia clung to the man’s neck and kissed him forcefully. Their lips and teeth intertwined, making intimate sounds as she gasped for air and begged. “I’m sorry, I spoke too harshly.” “But if I didn’t say that, Noah would’ve become suspicious. He’s a cripple now without his legs. What if he does something bad to you? I’d be worried sick.” Adam bit Sophia’s lips hard and sneered, “He’s lucky the avalanche didn’t kill him.” I gripped the bedsheet tightly. In that second, the pain of being buried by ice and snow magnified a thousandfold and washed over me. Was I really not dreaming? This was all… too unreal. #

Sophia gazed at Adam with deep affection and tenderness. Once upon a time, she had looked at me the same way and said, “Noah, I want to marry you.” At seventeen, I was always cooped up in the dance studio, training. Winning awards time after time, I was the envy of many, but it also brought a lot of criticism. Rumors spread around school that I liked men. The school bullies cornered me in an alley, beating me up and taking compromising photos to post on the school forum. No one dared to approach me, except for Sophia. She had grown up an orphan, fortunately raised by my mother. Facing the bullies’ abuse, she shielded me behind her back, “I’ve already told the teacher. You’d better run away quickly!” The street corner was dark, but I could clearly see her bright eyes. “Noah, don’t be afraid. I’ll always be by your side.” At seventeen, Sophia confessed her love to me. Eight years later, she was straddling another man, begging for his affection, wishing I were dead. The pain seeped into my bones, and I couldn’t help but curl up. Adam suddenly glanced at me, “Is Noah awake?” Sophia, dissatisfied with his sudden stop, coquettishly initiated another kiss, “So what if he’s awake? He’s lost his legs. It’s not like he can jump up and kick your knees.” Sharp sarcasm, passionate gasps. Every word and sound hammered into my heart. I had lost my legs, unable to escape, forced to watch them indulge in their affair, powerless. I closed my eyes in anguish, tears silently flowing all night. The procedures for returning home were quickly arranged, and Sophia supported me as we boarded the plane. She struggled to hold my arm, and passersby looked on with pity. Those glances were sympathetic when they fell on her, but mocking when they landed on me. How could such a cripple deserve Sophia’s devotion? Adam stepped forward, “Let me carry him. Consider it my atonement.” Sophia gave him a grateful smile, and I was forced to climb onto Adam’s shoulders. The familiar floral scent lingered on his white shirt – it was Sophia’s favorite perfume. The last shred of love dissipated in this foreign land. After boarding, Sophia covered me with a blanket. I turned to look at her, expressionless. I gazed at the face that had once fiercely protected me, the face I had embraced countless nights. But when I closed my eyes, all I could see were images of her passionately kissing Adam. It made me incredibly sick. “Sophia, why don’t we separate? I’ll only hold you back like this.” Sophia froze, tears suddenly flooding her eyes, “Noah, I’d rather die than hear you say such things!” I had given her a chance for a dignified separation, but she still chose to deceive me. I smiled and slowly shook my head, “Forget it. I was just joking.” During the eighteen-hour long-haul flight, everyone in the team fell asleep. I looked at Sophia’s peaceful sleeping face and, on a whim, took her phone. The password was still our anniversary date, but her phone had a dual system installed. I had known about this for a long time; Sophia had told me it was for work convenience, and I hadn’t thought much of it. Until now, when I opened the other desktop, I saw intimate selfies of her and Adam. Their dating records occupied the photo album. When I was performing on stage, they were having candlelit dinners; When I was giving an award acceptance speech thanking her for her support, she and Adam had flown to Sanya for a vacation… Even on the day I fell from the rising platform, she was by Adam’s side as he battled a fever. Only I, foolishly, was trapped in this love snare. It was truly laughable. #

In just half a month, everything had changed. Returning to the marital home Sophia and I shared, I was surrounded by memories of past happiness and sweetness, now all tinged with mockery. Two years ago, I had gained internet fame through a dance competition show, but with my ordinary looks, I hadn’t attracted much attention. Every day, apart from dancing in competitions, I would guest star in various productions. News of my amputation was leaked online by someone, immediately drawing a wave of sympathy. [So tragic, I still remember his performance of “Endless Longing” – it was otherworldly!] [Don’t be too sad, little brother… We’ll continue to support you.] The trending topic, which should have been quickly forgotten, was pushed further by someone behind the scenes. Using the hook of a talented dancer’s fall from grace, they directed traffic towards the recently shot commercial. With trembling fingers, I clicked on the video. The raging ice and snow engulfed me like a ravenous beast. The pain of that moment made my whole body shake. Sophia snatched my phone away, “This is too much! I’m going to confront him about this!” She stormed into the bedroom with an indignant face, “What Adam’s doing is nothing but profiting from someone else’s misfortune!” I desperately held back the nausea rising inside me and quietly maneuvered my wheelchair to the doorway. Sophia was coyly chatting with Adam, “Are you home yet? Ugh, that cripple can’t leave my side. I finally found a chance to call you.” Adam laughed and asked, “Does that cripple have any more misfortunes? Tell me quickly so I can post it online for more attention.” Sophia gleefully shared the darkest moments of my past suffering. “He was apparently assaulted by school bullies before. I saw his pants being pulled down outside, and they took so many private photos. The picture of him tied up with ribbons went viral on our school forum. It was hilarious.” “If it weren’t for his mom leaving all her inheritance to him, would I need to stick by his side?” I forced myself to stay calm, but my fingertips gripping the wheelchair had turned white. They talked on the phone for half an hour. I waited silently by the window. Sophia put on her fake expression again and came over to hold my hand, “That Adam is too much. I told him to take down the trending topic, but he refused.” I looked into her eyes and smiled bitterly, “But you two seemed to be having a good time chatting.” Sophia’s face instantly turned wooden, “You eavesdropped on our conversation?!” In the ten years we’d been together, I had never lied to her, and this time was no exception. Sophia, however, showed no nervousness. Instead, she laughed lightly. “This is good too. You would have found out sooner or later.” She gently caressed my cheek, her eyes filled with both love and hatred, “But Noah, you can only stay by my side for the rest of your life.” She lifted the blanket covering my body, looking scornfully at my disability. “Besides me, who else would be willing to waste their time on a cripple like you!” The woman before me seemed to have split into two faces. Each face was a stranger to me. #

Adam collected the tragic stories about me from high school and posted them online under the guise of a “high school classmate.” The hashtag #TalentedDancerBulliedInHighSchool stayed on the trending list for two whole days, and meanwhile, my Weibo followers increased by a million. Do people only get attention when they’re pitiful enough? These days, Sophia received many invitations from brands. She eagerly accepted them all, taking me to countless company meetings. “Can you show the injury? It would be more eye-catching that way.” “Mr. Lin, please try to look more in pain.” After experiencing the amputation of both legs and the betrayal of my love, my emotions had already become numb. After finishing a commercial shoot, Sophia went to collect the payment, excited. The photographer from earlier came over and asked me, “Were you really assaulted by a man?” He stared at my lower body with a lecherous gaze. I quickly moved my wheelchair away, but he reached out and followed closely, “Why are you running? Now, with just one word from me, your wife would be more than happy to send you to my bed!” I knew artists could be eccentric, but I didn’t expect him to be so blatant. “Don’t touch me, get away!” The photographer’s expression turned vicious as he grabbed my collar and threw me to the ground, “You crippled freak, I’m doing you a favor by taking an interest in you!” I crawled on the ground like an insect at his feet. Without my legs, I had no right to stand up. He left, cursing. I struggled to support myself on the floor, trying to get up. At that moment, a pair of long legs came into view. Adam looked down at me from above, “If I were you, I would have jumped off a building long ago.” I ignored him, finally managing to reach for my wheelchair to stand up. Adam suddenly kicked the wheelchair hard. “Sorry, my foot slipped.” Without support, I fell heavily to the ground again. I had no strength left and could only lie there. At that moment, I wished I had died in that avalanche. Sophia returned happily with the payment, and seeing my pitiful state, she gently helped me back into the wheelchair. She carefully adjusted my collar, “Oh my, I was only gone for a few minutes!” Passersby praised her for her attentiveness. But when no one was around, Sophia’s smile turned vicious and poisonous. “Adam, if you hurt him, what are we going to use to make money?” A wave of nausea rose in my throat, and I couldn’t help but retch. Sophia put me in the car and then wrapped her arms around Adam’s, ready for their date. Watching their retreating figures, my desire for death suddenly vanished. Enjoying yourselves with the money I earned? If I were gone, what would you do? I calmly took out my phone and called my lawyer friend, “Mr. Johnson, I need a certificate for the assets of the studio, and a notarization of my mother’s inheritance. Please help me handle this.” As my fame grew, I didn’t sign with a management company but hired a few people to run a small studio. Sophia was a nominal employee. Once the assets were certified, she wouldn’t get a penny. I took the opportunity to overhaul the studio staff, firing Sophia’s confidants. She hadn’t heard the news yet, probably busy enjoying herself with Adam. Soon, Mr. Johnson had the paperwork ready. When I maneuvered my wheelchair into the office, Sophia was sitting disheveled on the desk. Adam lifted his face from her chest and gave me a challenging smile, “Oh, here comes our cash cow.” Sophia asked what I was doing here. I silently took out the agreement, “Sign it.” She hooked her arms around Adam’s neck and planted a kiss, “Look how eager he is, can’t wait to marry me.” Indeed, six months ago, Noah couldn’t wait to marry her and bring her home. But now, things had come to this point. The deep love was a lie. Better to make a clean break and part ways amicably. Sophia picked up the agreement and flipped it open to read. Then she looked up in disbelief, “What do you mean by this?!” “Let’s separate, Sophia.” “I’ll give you a portion of the assets from these years. Let’s not see each other again in the future.”

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On Valentine’s Day, a day known as the Valentine’s Day, I made a special effort to rush home from another city to surprise my wife. When I arrived with 999 roses and her favorite stuffed bear, I opened the door to a shocking scene: my wife was asking her male “best friend” for a kiss while hugging him. She didn’t even flinch at my presence; instead, she calmly threatened to call the police if I dared to hit anyone. Her so-called friend had the audacity to say I was interrupting their private time. I snapped a photo as evidence. Love, it turns out, is fleeting; only interests last forever. When I walked in and saw Adeline kissing and embracing another man, I was paralyzed with shock. I couldn’t process what I was seeing, and the gifts I had brought slipped from my hands to the floor. The commotion snapped them out of their moment, and they turned to face me. Adeline looked displeased. “Why are you back? You didn’t mention you’d be coming. What if you scared us?” The man beside her mocked me with a dismissive gesture. “Checking in on us, are you? A grown man who can’t handle such things—how small-minded.” Rage clenched my fists, and I felt an urge to retaliate. “What are you doing?” Adeline stepped in front of him, frowning. “Assault is illegal! If you try anything, I’ll call the police!” “I was just playing a game with Lachlan, can’t you stop being so petty?” What sort of game involves kissing? Does she take me for a fool? Seeing my expression, she suddenly changed her tone. “Believe it or not, if you can’t deal with this, let’s just divorce!” Almost every argument ended with her bringing up divorce. Fine, this time I’ll give her what she wants. “Fine, divorce!” She seemed taken aback, not expecting me to agree so easily. Our daughter emerged from her room, saw the three of us there, and immediately stood by Lachlan’s side. In her innocent voice, she asked, “Uncle Lachlan, are you okay? Did Dad do something to you?” Lachlan glanced at me, feigning fear, and quickly shook his head. “No, no, I just stumbled. Your dad didn’t hit me.” When my daughter thought I had hurt her beloved Uncle Lachlan, she went wild, trying to push me away. “You’re mean! I don’t want you as my dad; I want Uncle Lachlan!” She couldn’t physically move me, but her words struck me deeply. Since she was born, I’ve been there for her, doting on her like a little princess. I cherished her so much, yet now she wants someone else to be her dad. I suddenly felt a strange calm. Adeline and Lachlan had asked for a divorce countless times. My daughter favored Lachlan because I set limits on her snacks. Each time, I begged them to come back, being nothing more than a humble admirer in their eyes. Adeline spoke in a casual tone, as if confident I would never leave. “Alright, daughter, your dad didn’t mean it. Tell him to make dinner.” The three of them snuggled together like a family. My daughter glanced at me with disdain. “Hurry up and cook. I’m hungry.” For the first time, I ignored her and threw the carefully selected gifts and roses into the trash. I took a photo of their cozy scene with my phone.

I work tirelessly away from home for the sake of this family, hoping to reunite with them sooner. Yet they spend my money and live with another man, showing no regard for my feelings. If that’s how it is, there’s no point in continuing this charade. I contacted a lawyer to discuss divorce proceedings. I definitely don’t want custody; my daughter wouldn’t choose me anyway. After the call, I lay on the couch, unable to sleep. I opened Lachlan’s Snapchat and scrolled through. He had just posted a new photo: he, Adeline, and our daughter, looking like a blissful family. The caption read: “Two beauties spending Valentine’s Day with me, I’m thrilled.” Their smiles pierced my heart. In all these years of marriage, they never took a photo with me. Whenever I asked, she claimed not to like pictures. It turns out, she just didn’t want to take them with me. Lachlan sent me a photo of him and Adeline in pajamas on my bed, full of mockery. I saved the image quietly. If he wants a woman with a tarnished past, he can have her. No matter how indifferent I act, it still hurts. How did Adeline and I reach this point? Three years ago, I chose to work in another city for a better salary. She supported me, saying she’d take care of our daughter. But gradually, she changed, complaining that I couldn’t provide her with the security she desired. She stopped sharing her daily life, and our conversations dwindled until there was nothing left to say. Our calls went from daily to weekly, then bi-monthly, each ending in an argument. But what could I do? I was buried under car loans, mortgages, and various expenses. She only knew how to ask for money, blind to the pressure I was under. My phone beeped with a message from her. She behaved as if nothing had happened and asked for money. “Rosalie needs tutoring, transfer me $1,000.” I forced myself to transfer the funds. Soon after, she messaged again, “Transfer another $2,000; I’m out of makeup.” I tossed my phone aside, refusing to respond. Drink after drink, the taste wasn’t as good as expected. I used to fear her disdain, never allowing myself to indulge. But now, the freedom to get drunk felt liberating—it let me forget my troubles, even if just for a while. The next morning, a delivery call woke me. It was our custom wedding photos. I touched the happy couple’s faces in the photo, feeling like it was from another lifetime. When we married, we had no money. She suggested skipping the wedding and photos, opting for a destination wedding instead.

That day, I cried tears of joy, grateful to have such a gentle, considerate woman. I silently vowed to give her a grand wedding once I could afford it. Two months ago, I found an excuse to take her for wedding photos, secretly planning the wedding. I intended to surprise her on the wedding day, but now it’s unnecessary. The lawyer prepared the divorce agreement, and I forwarded it to Adeline. Her call came quickly, demanding, “What do you mean? Are you really divorcing me?” I answered calmly, “Yes, I am.” My cold attitude seemed to scare her. She explained, “Don’t misunderstand. Lachlan and I were just playing around.” I stayed silent as Lachlan’s voice came through. “Oh, he can’t be serious, can he? Adeline and I are just friends. He can’t even take a joke.” “He’s always controlling you, giving you no freedom,” Adeline’s voice turned cold. “I tell you, Declan, I have the freedom to make friends. You can’t control me!” I simply replied, “Alright, if the divorce agreement looks good, just sign it.” She paused before saying, “Fine, let’s divorce. Don’t regret it!” Then she hung up. A few days later, Adeline came looking for me, ringing the doorbell continuously. I opened the door to her unhappy face. “Why did you change the lock? If you weren’t here, I’d have to wait all day!” I ignored her complaints, calmly asking, “Did you sign the divorce agreement?” She pulled out a document from her bag, coldly saying, “I want custody of our daughter. You’ll pay child support monthly.” I carefully reviewed each clause and signed my name once I confirmed everything was correct. She watched my actions and sarcastically said, “Afraid I’ll trick you? As a man, can’t you have some decency? I don’t get why I liked trash like you.” She yanked the divorce papers from my hand and stormed out. City Hall was efficient; it took less than half an hour to complete the process. After the thirty-day cooling-off period, we’d be officially divorced. As she drove away with Lachlan, her car left only exhaust in its wake. A few days later, Adeline called again. “My dad’s birthday is coming up. They want you to come. Come back for a visit.” Adeline’s parents always treated me like a son, never looking down on me for being poor. After thinking it over, I decided to visit them. On the way, she messaged, warning me not to mention the divorce to her parents. They treated me well, and I didn’t want to upset them. As soon as I entered, Adeline’s mom warmly pulled me inside, smiling at me. A few days after the call from Adeline, I received an unexpected message from her. “My dad’s birthday is coming up soon, and they would love for you to visit. Can you make it?” Adeline’s parents have always treated me like a son, never looking down on me despite my financial struggles. After giving it a lot of thought, I decided to make the trip. While on the way, Adeline texted me, cautioning me not to mention our divorce to her mother, as she hadn’t disclosed it yet. I simply responded with “okay.” They have always been kind to me, and I didn’t want to cause them any distress. As soon as I arrived, Adeline’s mother warmly welcomed me, pulling me inside with a beaming smile. “Alex, you look like you’ve lost weight. What have you been up to? Come and eat something nice.” I quickly obliged, greeting all the relatives and helping to set the table. My daughter, Rosalie, was thoroughly enjoying herself playing with Lachlan, completely ignoring me. I glanced over at them. Adeline, somewhat uneasy, explained, “Rosalie insisted on playing with Lachlan, so I brought him along. Please, just go along with it.” I nodded, feigning indifference, though it pained me inside. It’s hard for any parent to see their child growing close to someone else. At the dinner table, the adults were engaged in lively conversation, while Rosalie clung to Lachlan. She didn’t even look at me, her biological father. Adeline’s mother noticed and couldn’t refrain from saying, “Rosalie, come sit with your dad. He’s finally here; you should spend some time with him.” Rosalie shot me a glance and turned away irritably. “He’s not my dad. My dad’s right here,” she declared, happily clutching Lachlan’s arm. Adeline’s mother gave me an awkward smile and gently tried to pull her up. “What are you saying? Lachlan isn’t your dad. That’s your dad.” Rosalie resisted, loudly crying, “He divorced my mom. He’s not my dad anymore!” The table fell silent, the atmosphere unbearably tense. Adeline hurriedly went over to calm her daughter, awkwardly laughing it off. “She’s just a kid, saying things she doesn’t understand. Please don’t mind her.” Rosalie protested, “I’m not lying; I saw them divorce.” I stood up, bowing to Adeline’s parents with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Mom. Rosalie’s not wrong. Adeline and I are indeed divorced.” “I’m sorry to bring this up today. I didn’t mean to dampen the mood.” Our families have been closely connected, always happily supporting our little family. Now, hearing about our divorce, Adeline’s mom was visibly upset, clutching her chest. “How could you suddenly be divorced? Rosalie is so young. What will happen to her?” Adeline’s dad frowned, clearly displeased. “I don’t agree with your divorce.” Rosalie broke away from Adeline’s grasp and ran to Lachlan’s side. “Grandma, don’t worry about me. Uncle Lachlan will soon be my dad! Look, I have proof.” She grabbed Adeline’s tablet, opened the photo album, and confidently showed us a picture. “Uncle Lachlan and my mom are together. They’ll get married and have a baby soon.” “Once they’re married, Uncle Lachlan will be my dad! No one can stop me from watching TV and eating snacks anymore.” The photo clearly spoke for itself. Rosalie spoke with innocent excitement, unaware of the adults’ discomfort. Adeline’s face turned pale. She snatched the tablet, deleted the photo, and scolded Rosalie. “When did you take my stuff? You shouldn’t look through my album without permission!” Frightened, Rosalie hid behind Lachlan, speechless. Lachlan remained expressionless, softly comforting Rosalie and saying to Adeline, “Alright, stop scolding her. She’s young and doesn’t understand. It wasn’t intentional.” Adeline could only glare at Rosalie, anxiously trying to grab my hand to explain. “Asher, please don’t misunderstand. I was drunk that day and mistook him for you…” “Believe me, I never betrayed you. You’re the only one I love.” I avoided her hand, speaking calmly. “You don’t need to explain. We’re divorced. You’re free to be with whoever you want.” In her panic, she revealed her true feelings. “I never intended to divorce you. I just wanted to scare you into caring more about me.” “Isn’t there a thirty-day cooling-off period? We’re not officially divorced yet.” I remained silent, just looked at her coldly. She suddenly broke down, yelling at me. “Why didn’t you come to comfort me! You always did when I was angry. Why are you divorcing me now?” “If you hadn’t divorced me, I wouldn’t have drunk, and nothing would’ve happened.” “This is all your fault! You have to take responsibility. You can’t treat me like this.” Finally, someone spoke up, unable to hold back any longer. “Even though I’m your relative, I can’t side with you on this. Blaming others for your own mistakes? You’re not money; not everyone has to adore you.” “You have a child but act like a spoiled girl. Divorce is the right choice.” “And you, not even acknowledging your real dad and treating a stranger like treasure? You’re an ungrateful brat. You’ll regret it when you grow up.” The mother and daughter were left humiliated. Adeline’s mom sighed, making a strong statement. “After doing something so disgraceful, don’t come back once you leave this house. I’ll pretend I never had you as a daughter. From now on, Asher is my only child.” Her words hit hard. Adeline’s face changed, her legs giving out as she collapsed, crying without tears. Since graduation, she never worked and relied on her family for support. After marriage, I supported her, and she never faced any hardships. I wouldn’t give her money anymore, and if her mom truly cut ties, what would she do?

Realizing this, she quickly shook off Lachlan’s hand, yelling at him. “You caused all this! If not for you, I wouldn’t be in this mess. Get out! Don’t show up ever again.” She crawled to hug Adeline’s mom’s legs, crying and begging. “Mom, I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad. Don’t abandon me.” Lachlan couldn’t believe Adeline would treat him this way. For years, he obeyed her every wish, only to end up like this. “What did you say? Weren’t you the one who said Asher was treating you badly and asked me to help? Now you’re burning bridges?” Adeline angrily retorted, “I was just talking! Who told you to take it seriously? This is a family matter; you have no right to speak. Get out!” Her daughter, scared, retreated to Adeline’s mom, pleading, “Grandma, don’t leave us. I don’t want Uncle Lachlan to be my dad anymore.” Adeline’s mom, disgusted, gave him a look and ordered him out. “Leave now. Knowing someone has a family and still getting involved? Shame on you.” She looked at me, wanting to say something but holding back. I knew what she wanted to say and nodded gently. “I’m okay. Please don’t hold any grudge against them because of me.” Adeline’s mom sighed in relief, then hesitantly asked, “Is there really no chance for Adeline? Maybe she truly regrets it.” I firmly replied, “No, we can’t go back.” Leaving Adeline’s house, I slowly walked down the street alone when Lachlan caught up from behind. “Don’t get cocky. Adeline will be mine eventually. She’s just mad at me for now.” I looked at him, puzzled. I was already divorced from Adeline; what’s there to be smug about? He glared at me with malice. “Don’t think being accepted by Adeline’s family is enough. Rosalie likes me the most. As long as I ask, she’ll listen to me. If I get her to speak well of me to her grandparents, where does that leave you?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295693”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

After five years of marriage, the man I snatched from my stepsister’s hands was taken back by her. Everyone around me said I deserved it. They were childhood sweethearts, a perfect match, while I was just the other woman who came along later. The man I had schemed so hard to steal said my blood was too dirty to bear his children. Yet after I miscarried, he brought my pregnant stepsister to my door: “Didn’t you want a child? I’ll give you one.” I chose to take the money and leave. But he begged desperately: “You can have as many children as you want, even if they’re not mine.” After five years of marriage, I finally got pregnant with Gabriel and my first child. But it happened right after he reunited with his first love. I stared at the report in my hand, feeling dazed. Would Gabe welcome this child? “What are you looking at?” The bed dipped, and a familiar voice sounded near my ear. A warm arm wrapped around my waist. My heart tightened, and I quickly stuffed the report under my pillow. “Nothing, nothing.” Gabriel didn’t notice my unease and pulled me into his arms. “Did you miss me?” His thin lips pressed urgently against mine, passionate enough to make one want to drown in it. The next second, feeling the weight on my stomach, I suddenly woke up and struggled to move away. “No, Gabe, I’m not feeling well today.” Hearing this, Gabriel’s handsome face suddenly darkened, and he sprang away from me as if afraid of touching something dirty. “I thought your period wasn’t due for another two weeks. It’s half a month early this time, isn’t it?” If it were anyone else, hearing that their husband remembered their special time of the month would only feel sweet. But I knew Gabriel was afraid I might get pregnant with his child. “Gabe, actually I…” I tentatively began. Probably sensing something was off, Gabriel’s expression immediately turned serious. “You’ve been taking the morning-after pill every time, right?” His eyes were sharp, his gaze intense, his tone brooking no argument. “You know I don’t want children.” “Mm.” I hid my bitter smile and nodded in response, “Don’t worry, I always remember.” Seeing this, he finally seemed to relax. “Sophia, don’t forget how you became my wife.” “We agreed, just be content being Mrs. Young, and don’t even think about having children.” Gabriel tidied his clothes and left the room. The sound of the front door closing followed shortly after. I looked at the empty space beside me, my heart sinking deeper and deeper. Mrs. Young? I felt more like a bedmate for hire. Laughably, in these five years, we had never slept in the same bed. Every time Gabriel finished satisfying his desires, he’d leave with a reminder not to forget the pill. He gave me the status, position, and money of Mrs. Young. But when it came to children, he remained stubbornly opposed, not allowing for any deviation. Yet a month ago, I had secretly stopped taking the pills. And now I had this child. I used to think his opposition was simply because he disliked children. Until my phone lit up at that moment. The photo in the message shattered my illusions. It was an identical hospital report. Clinical diagnosis: 8 weeks pregnant Patient: Rachel Sullivan [Sophia, it’s time to return what you stole to its rightful owner.]

I had stolen Gabriel from Rachel. The golden boy of the Young family, the eldest daughter of the prestigious Sullivan family. They were the perfect match in everyone’s eyes. And I was just a lowly orphan adopted by the Sullivans. Back then, when Gabriel married me, Rachel went abroad to nurse her broken heart. People in our social circle gossiped endlessly about it. They said I had shamelessly schemed my way into Gabriel’s bed. That Gabriel had been forced to marry me against his will. And that was indeed the truth. Perhaps because of our inglorious beginning, I always felt insecure when facing Rachel. It seemed she could effortlessly take away everything I had. Ding— A new message notification. It was from Rachel again. In the photo, the man who had been kissing me half an hour ago was now lying with his eyes closed next to her. Rachel snuggled in his arms, mockingly smiling at me through the camera. [Gabe says he’s really looking forward to our baby’s birth.] So, Rachel’s child was acceptable? I suppressed the nausea in my chest and scrolled up through the messages. [Little sister, how does it feel to sleep alone in an empty bed?] [Gabe was so wild, he left hickeys all over my neck.] … [Gabe said he missed me so much.] The screen was full of taunting words and photos. They had been coming non-stop every day since Rachel returned. I had always known who Gabriel was spending his nights with recently. Counting the time, Rachel had been back for two months and was eight weeks pregnant. They really were like newlyweds after a long separation! I put down my phone. Once again, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep in the dead of night. When Gabriel pushed open the door in the morning, I was sitting on the couch in the living room. He looked up and met my gaze, his eyes flickering for a moment. “Why are you up so early?” “I had an urgent document to deal with last night, so I went back to the office.” I walked up to him, and a familiar scent wafted into my nose. “Gabe, will you stay with me tonight?” I hugged his waist tightly, burying my face in his chest. As if doing so could dispel the scent on him that didn’t belong to me. Gabriel froze for a moment, then raised his arms to hug me back. “Okay.” I savored the warmth of Gabriel’s embrace, greedily wanting more. He also didn’t push me away for a long time. Until a phone ring broke the silence. Rachel’s familiar voice came clearly from the other end of the phone, piercing and harsh. “Gabe, where are you? My stomach hurts so bad.” Hesitation flashed across Gabriel’s face, but he still hurriedly left. Before leaving, he looked back at my pale face. “If you’re not feeling well, call someone to take you to the hospital later.” “I’ll come back to stay with you tonight.” I nodded, not saying anything. Gabriel probably forgot. In my world, apart from him, there was no one else I could rely on. That night, I didn’t wait for Gabriel to return as promised. I only received new photos and messages on my phone. He had accompanied Rachel to the hospital for a prenatal check-up. [Gabe was so worried about me and the baby, the doctor said he’ll definitely be a good father.] In my memory, I was always waiting for him. Waiting for him to notice me. Waiting for him to come home. Waiting for him to fall in love with me. But it’s okay, I’m good at waiting. However, my child can’t be like me.

For the next three days, I didn’t see Gabriel. When it was time for the monthly Young family dinner, I had to go to the Young mansion alone. “Well, if it isn’t our high and mighty Mrs. Young?” As soon as I entered the main hall, Felix couldn’t help but mock me. “You’re alone today? Where’s my dear big brother?” The Young family usually treated me with disdain. When Gabriel was around, they would restrain themselves somewhat out of respect for him, not giving me too much trouble. Seeing me alone this time, they naturally couldn’t resist taunting me. Felix was Gabriel’s half-brother, and they had been rivals for a long time. In his eyes, I, the wife from a humble background, was Gabriel’s biggest flaw. Usually, when he lost out to Gabriel, he would come to pick on me. “Your brother is busy dealing with company matters. He’ll be here soon.” My calm response seemed to ignite a fire in Felix. He exploded instantly. “What do you mean?” “Don’t think you’re the CEO’s wife just because my brother became CEO. You’re nothing but a gold-digger who slept her way to the top. You can’t even compare to a single finger of Rachel’s!” Felix’s sudden outburst against his sister-in-law was far from a pleasant scene. With the Young family elders absent, the younger generation present merely watched disinterestedly. Waiting to see me make a fool of myself. But my expression remained unusually calm. I just found Felix’s anger rather amusing. An illegitimate son of a mistress, self-righteously calling me a gold-digger – it certainly fit the Young family’s style. I almost forgot, this one was also a loyal supporter of my stepsister. He hated Gabriel so much, yet still attacked me for him and Rachel. I wonder if he knows that his dear Rachel is about to give him a little nephew or niece. “That’s a question you should ask your brother, it has nothing to do with me.” My face was surprisingly calm, my attitude colder than usual. Felix was momentarily taken aback. In the past, when he said such things, I would usually look upset and then turn to Gabriel for help. “Without my brother around, you’re not even pretending anymore!” “I should let him see your true colors!” It was at this moment that Gabriel appeared. But he didn’t come alone. The handsome man and beautiful woman walked side by side, as if announcing something.

Seeing the newcomers, Felix forgot about taunting me and eagerly greeted her with a delighted expression. “Rachel, why didn’t you tell me you were back in the country?” Rachel, arm in arm with Gabriel, giggled in response, “I wanted to surprise you!” Gabriel stood beside them, his expression unreadable. The two feuding brothers, suddenly so cordial because of Rachel. Making my situation all the more awkward. The others looked at Gabriel and Rachel, then at me standing alone on the other side. Trying to find a trace of distress on my face. But they were disappointed. I ignored all of this, turning to find a seat at the dining table. The seating arrangement for Young family dinners was always fixed. Mr. and Mrs. Young sat in the middle, Felix and his mother to Mr. Young’s right, while Gabriel and I sat to Mrs. Young’s left. The rest were mostly the younger generation. The Young family didn’t have many relatives, but thanks to Mr. Young’s prolific nature, Gabriel had quite a few younger brothers and sisters. Apart from Felix and his mother who lived in the Young mansion, the others only came back for family dinners. With Rachel’s arrival, there was one seat short. Gabriel, accompanying her, didn’t rush to sit down. “Gabe, can I sit next to you?” As soon as Rachel spoke, all eyes at the table fell on me. Now there was only one empty seat left beside me, Rachel’s intention was clear. Felix was the first to chime in, “Sister-in-law, why don’t you give your seat to Rachel?” Hearing his tone that left no room for negotiation, I didn’t move. I was waiting, waiting for that person to make a decision. “Uncle Wang, add another chair next to me.” Gabriel finally spoke. The servant tactfully added a chair between me and Gabriel. The space was originally empty, so it didn’t affect much. If the rift between Gabriel and me was a crack, Rachel could easily slip into it. Rachel sat down, pressed close to Gabriel. The looks from others at the table towards me became even more contemptuous. I could probably guess what they were thinking. No doubt they thought I was willing to endure such humiliation just to keep my status as Mrs. Young. But what I cared about was never the seating arrangement at the dinner table. The year I first arrived at the Sullivan house, I was ten years old. At a similar dinner table, I was isolated to one side. Rachel threw a tantrum, yelling that I didn’t deserve to eat at the table. At that time, it was Gabriel who spoke up for me. “Your name is Sophia, right?” “I’m Gabriel.” Fifteen-year-old Gabriel was like a ray of sunshine, illuminating my gloomy world. He asked someone to add a chair for me, let me sit beside him, and slowly taught me table manners. And now, he had become the one who embarrassed me the most. “Gabe, can you move that plate of shrimp away? The smell is making me feel sick.” Rachel’s delicate voice pulled me back from my memories. She covered her nose and mouth, half-leaning on Gabriel. As she spoke, her glance towards me was full of provocation. Everyone present was shrewd enough to see through Rachel’s intention. They casually swept their gazes over Rachel’s belly. Gabriel’s brows furrowed slightly, “Uncle Wang, please remove the shrimp.” “Oh no, brother, Sophia loves shrimp the most. She’ll be upset if you do this.” Apparently, someone decided to pour salt on the wound. Felix put on a show of standing up for me. I continued eating, not looking up, “It’s fine, the smell is indeed a bit nauseating today.” I had smelled this scent on Gabriel many times before. I didn’t know what expression Gabriel had, but his words seemed to hide some guilt. As if he suddenly remembered the existence of his lawful wife. “Your sister-in-law hasn’t been feeling well lately, she can’t eat shrimp.” “Sister-in-law, you’re feeling nauseous and unwell, could it be that you’re pregnant?”

As soon as Felix finished speaking, the gazes on me suddenly became heavier. I slowly put down my chopsticks and looked straight into Felix’s eyes. “If you want to be an uncle, I’m afraid I can’t help you right now. Why don’t you ask your dear Rachel? She might have a solution.” Mrs. Young chimed in at the right moment, “You’ve been married for so long, it’s about time you had a child.” I wondered, if she knew that both Rachel and I were carrying children at this moment, what would her reaction be? Probably the same as Gabriel’s, thinking that the child of Miss Sullivan was more precious than the child of an orphan like me. “Everyone, I’m done eating. I’ll leave first.” I suppressed the nausea in my chest and stood up to leave the table. If I stayed for one more second, I was afraid I would really throw up. “Sophia, what are you upset about now?” Gabriel reached past Rachel and grabbed my arm, “Sit down, we’ll go home together later.” The familiar sensation on my arm involuntarily made me flash back to the photos on my phone. It was these same hands that had caressed Rachel’s body… The nausea intensified. I pulled away from Gabriel’s hand, “No need, you and your sister haven’t seen each other for a long time. I won’t interrupt your reunion.” “Sophia, you…” Gabriel wanted to follow, but was held back by Rachel beside him. “Gabe, I feel unwell.” Those five short words were enough to stop Gabriel from following me. I listened to the lively chatter resuming behind me as I walked out of the Young house, step by step, out of the cage I had schemed to put myself in. That night I had a dream. I dreamed of myself, Gabriel, and Rachel when we were young. I was like an ugly duckling hiding in a dark corner, peeking at the happiness of the prince and princess. But one day, I appeared in the prince’s eyes. That day, I accidentally witnessed Rachel confessing to Gabriel. Gabriel rejected her. He gently patted Rachel’s head, “Rachel, I only see you as a sister.” “I don’t want to be your sister!” “You’re lying! You weren’t like this before. It’s all because of Sophia! Ever since she came, you’ve changed!” Rachel screamed hysterically. I was surprised to hear my own name. The ripples in my heart gradually amplified. Would I be different to Gabriel? Perhaps it was greed at work, but I decided to confess. In the summer of my sixteenth year, I used up all the courage I had accumulated over the years to grasp at a possibility. “Gabriel, I like you.” I still remember clearly Gabriel’s expression after hearing this. He smiled at me, his eyes bright, “Sophia, you’re still young. Let’s talk about this when you grow up, okay?” When I was eighteen, Rachel said Gabriel had agreed to be with her. So, I waited until I was twenty-one. It was also that year when I learned Rachel was going to drug Gabriel to force him into marriage. I despicably schemed against them. I took Rachel’s place and slept with Gabriel. After that night, Gabriel’s look towards me changed completely. He said, “Sophia, how could you be so cheap?” But I had already grown up… Then came these five years after our marriage. I got my wish to stand by Gabriel’s side, even if I wasn’t the only one. At the same time, I completely lost the light I had longed for. Sometimes when he was in the mood, he would call me “Sophia” just like when I was sixteen. But more often, his eyes only held contempt when he looked at me. “Your blood is too dirty.” “I don’t want to have a child as shameless as you.” … I waited from the summer of my sixteenth year until I was twenty-six. And I finally got an answer. But it’s really so dirty! The next morning when I woke up from my dream, I opened my eyes to see Gabriel beside me. I didn’t wake him up, but got out of bed and left on my own. “Dr. Lewis, I’ve made my decision. Let’s schedule the abortion for today.”

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The Oscar-winning actor married me to spite his first love. For three years, they were caught in a tangled relationship. During filming, they would embrace and kiss, and in interviews, they spoke in suggestive tones. Online, people say I’m just a pathetic substitute. I never got angry. I simply smiled and helped him dispel every rumor. Until one day, I accidentally got pregnant and secretly had an abortion. He was furious and heartbroken, harshly demanding to know why. I gently caressed his brow and replied calmly, “Because I don’t love you.” The one I loved was his deceased brother. Everyone knows Declan married me to make Nora Carter jealous. They broke up before their wedding, and she left the country in a fit of anger. Declan didn’t chase after her; instead, he turned around and married me. I wore a wedding dress that wasn’t meant for me and married a man who didn’t love me. People said that when Nora came back, Declan would discard me. But in the third year of our marriage, Declan seemed to start liking me. He made breakfast for me, coaxed me out of bed, and kissed me when I acted playfully. At our sweetest moments, we were deeply entwined. In the quiet of night, he would softly urge, “Sweetie, give me a child, one just as sweet as you.” We were like a typical loving couple. Until the day I found out I was really pregnant. Before I could tell Declan, Nora came back. That day, they reconciled.

Nora returned on the day of their class reunion. I heard her family went bankrupt, and she was borrowing money from everyone. When Declan walked in with me, he saw a wealthy classmate pressuring Nora to drink. He said for every glass she drank, he’d lend her a hundred thousand. Nora’s eyes watered as she forced a smile and drank it all. When she saw Declan, she panicked, feeling embarrassed, and quickly lowered her head. Someone egged her on, “Nora, if you’re short on cash, ask Declan.” “Given your history, a few nights with him, and he wouldn’t deny you anything.” Declan glanced over coldly and said slowly, “Stop it.” With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he leaned against my shoulder and continued, “Anyone who upsets my wife can shut up and leave.” Everyone laughed, calling me “sister-in-law,” envious of Declan’s affection for me. No one knew that if Nora hadn’t shown up, Declan wouldn’t have been there. Nora glared at me, biting her lip to hold back tears. The man who had forced her to drink kneaded her shoulder and asked, “What now? Looks like Declan doesn’t want you.” “But it’s okay. If he doesn’t, I do.” “If you’re willing to undress and please me in bed, I’ll give you some pocket money, how about that?” Declan stubbed out his cigarette, visibly displeased, his face icy. He still cared. Nora fought back tears and looked up at Declan. She softly said, “I don’t want to.” “In this life, I love only one person. Even if he doesn’t want me, I won’t let anyone else touch me.” Declan suddenly tightened his grip, hurting me. The male classmate, having lost face, laughed and cursed Nora. “You think you’re some pure maiden? Damn, you don’t appreciate the kindness. I’ll definitely sleep with you today.” He dragged Nora outside, Nora drunk and weakly leaning against him, struggling half-heartedly. Declan’s eyes were fixated on Nora. I could tell he was ready to kill for her. Just before they left, Declan couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped forward, kicked down the man holding Nora, and pinned him to the ground, beating him. With reddened eyes, he cursed, “If you dare touch Nora again, I’ll cut off your filthy hand!” The scene became chaotic. Someone was recording, and I quickly grabbed Declan’s sleeve, trying to stop him. He turned around and coldly asked, “Who do you think you are to interfere?” I froze, lightly releasing my grip. Nora rushed over, hugging him, crying, “Declan, don’t fight for me. If you get hurt, I’ll be heartbroken.” “I was so scared just now that you would really leave me…” Declan didn’t push her away. He held her in his arms, protecting her. Everyone watched as he took Nora away. Leaving me behind.

That night, Declan didn’t come home. Nora tweeted in the early morning, “You said you’d never hold anyone else’s hand again.” The picture showed ten fingers interlocked. The hand in the photo had a red mole on the back—Declan’s. And I was the “someone else” he wouldn’t hold hands with again. Ten minutes later, the tweet was a trending topic. My haters left messages for Nora, “Go, Nora, you and the Oscar-winning actor are a perfect match! You must get back together!” “I’m throwing away my values. I support the Oscar-winning actor cheating! Just can’t stand that scheming witch, Lydia, being happy!” Many were waiting to see me humiliated. Some left messages for Declan, “Bro, that’s not you, right? I’ve been your fan for so long, I know how good your wife is to you. Don’t let her down!” Declan and I were tied to many couple endorsements, with sky-high penalties for breach of contract. A scandal was the last thing we needed. The agent couldn’t reach Declan, so they called me, asking me to find a way to fool the netizens by saying Declan and I were still together. I flipped through the photo album and realized how few pictures I had with Declan. In those few pictures, only I was smiling. Finally, I posted a photo from long ago, of Declan reading under a lamp. The hazy light enveloped him, reminiscent of the person who always appeared in my dreams, making me cry. As soon as the photo was posted, netizens began commenting. “See, Declan’s at home with his wife! Anyone saying our Declan’s cheating, I’ll tear their mouth apart!” Everyone started cursing Nora for being shameless and loving to stir up drama. Until a few minutes later, Declan retweeted Nora’s tweet. Under that hand-holding photo, he said, “It’s me.” He openly admitted they were together, exposing my self-directed clarification. Once again, he abandoned me for Nora. Nora’s fans flooded my Twitter, mocking me, “Pretentious b*tch got slapped in the face, love it, Lydia, you lying b*tch.” “Sister Nora gave you three years, and you still couldn’t win Declan’s heart, you’re useless.” Who said I wanted Declan’s heart? I deleted everything in my phone related to him. I wanted a divorce.

The next morning, the company called me in to handle Declan’s rumor crisis. Unfortunately, I ran into Nora. Declan probably couldn’t bear to leave her alone and brought her along. As soon as she saw me, she apologized, “Lydia, sorry about last night. I got drunk and tweeted nonsense, and Declan joined in, causing you trouble.” “I’ve already told him off. He only thinks of me and not you at all, such a big dummy.” “The things people say online are so harsh, calling you my stand-in. It’s hilarious.” “They don’t know how much I want to thank you for taking care of Declan all these years…” She smiled sweetly at me. I smiled back, “I’m Declan’s wife. A wife taking care of her husband doesn’t need thanks from outsiders.” “But you, being called the other woman last night, don’t take it to heart.” Nora’s expression changed. She glanced me up and down, suddenly fixating on my ring. She smirked, “Lydia, you’re wearing my wedding ring, you should return it to me.” She reached for my hand, and I, annoyed, swung my arm, accidentally hitting her face. Nora suddenly swung her bag at me, the metal scraping my forehead, drawing blood. She used so much force, it made my ears ring. I raised my hand to hit back but someone grabbed my wrist from behind. Declan appeared, coldly warning me, “Lydia, try touching her.” When I turned, he saw the blood on my face, paused, frowned at Nora, and asked, “Did you do this?” Nora, with teary eyes, shook her head, “Declan, she called me the other woman and tried to hit me. I dodged, and my bag accidentally hit her. I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry!” When she cried, Declan’s heart ached. Hearing her, Declan ruffled her hair, praising her. “Anyone hits you, hit back. With me here, you don’t need to apologize to anyone.” I suddenly envied Nora. Actually, I’m quite the crybaby too, but the one who cared for me is gone. Agent Fiona couldn’t take it anymore and pointed at me, yelling at Declan, “This is your wife! Declan, are you blind? Holding onto a green tea witch and not letting go!” “How is Lydia any worse than Nora?” “Did you forget you said you wanted a child with Lydia? Did you forget you said being with Lydia felt like home?” “Now you’re hurting her like this, are you sure you won’t regret it later?” I subconsciously touched my belly. Inside my body was a budding child. Declan chuckled, casually glancing at me, emotionless, speaking calmly. “Lydia, Phoebe, Cora—they all need to step aside.” Perhaps, at one time, Declan’s feelings for me were fleeting and superficial. But now that Nora has returned, he’s ready to love her. I removed the ring from my finger, a ring that was never truly mine, and handed it back to Declan. His smile slowly faded. After a brief pause, he reached out to take it. Aunt Hazel caught my arm, glanced at my stomach, and gave me a meaningful look. “Lydia, don’t be foolish, you’re already…” Nora interrupted, grabbing the ring. She tried it on, but it was a bit tight. Her smile stiffened slightly, and she tossed the ring into the trash. “Forget it. Declan, don’t be upset for my sake. I don’t want a ring that’s been worn by another woman. It’s tainted.” Declan ignored her, keeping his eyes on me as he asked in a serious tone, “What’s going on with you?” I looked at him indifferently, then turned and walked away. Declan, I’m pregnant, but you don’t need to know. 5 Declan is extremely perceptive. Aunt Hazel’s hint was obvious enough; I think he can probably guess most of it. I’ve been on medication for a long time, which isn’t good for the baby’s development. This pregnancy was unexpected, and the doctor suggested I terminate it. I don’t want to be entangled with Declan because of this child. Before the abortion, I moved out to avoid running into him and causing any trouble. Although, Declan probably… doesn’t care at all. He didn’t come looking for me; he’s still living his life as usual. Aunt Hazel sent me a video. It was at an auction where Declan gave Nora a lavish diamond ring; she laughed and threw herself into his arms. A perfect match. Oh right, I almost forgot. Declan said Nora is back. Whether it’s Nora or Nora’s child, they all need to step aside. It’s all fine. 6 The day before the procedure, I suddenly felt very anxious. I remembered the jade pendant my mom got for me before she passed was still in the home safe, so I planned to go get it. When I got home, I found the entry code had been changed. Standing at my own front door, unable to get in, I suddenly felt quite pathetic. I called Declan in anger. But the one who answered was Nora. Her voice was smug as she laughed, “Nora, today’s my birthday. Declan insisted on taking me to watch the meteor shower, so we won’t be home tonight.” “I once told him that couples who make a wish on a shooting star will be together forever. I didn’t expect him to remember; I’m so happy.” “But I can’t give you the code. After all, we’re not home, and it’s not appropriate for someone like you to be in our house…” I hung up immediately, opened the password lock, and entered today’s date. The door opened. The code was Nora’s birthday. Inside, all traces of my life were erased. Our wedding photo on the TV cabinet was replaced by a photo of Declan and Nora. They looked so young. Declan was holding her, both smiling happily. My succulents were thrown out, pots and all. My study had turned into Nora’s piano room. I was stunned for a moment, then rushed into the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. It was filled with a line of sexy lace nightgowns, none of which were mine. The safe was at the bottom. I pressed my fingerprint, my hands shaking, and took out all the jewelry, cash, and documents inside. But I couldn’t find the jade pendant my mom left me. It was the only thing she left me. Nora knew that too. So she threw it away. 7 Nora has always hated me and my mom. When I was in school, my mom worked as a nanny at Declan’s house. Nora came over with her parents, and when they first met, Declan’s parents introduced me, saying I was obedient, sensible, hardworking, and smart. Nora pretended to be friendly, saying she wanted to be friends with me. Behind my back, she said, “So what if she studies well? Even if she gets into a good university, she’ll still work for us.” “Her mom is annoying too, always smiling. What’s a nanny so happy about? Old miser giving birth to a little miser, it’s disgusting.” When my mom picked me up from school and met Nora, she would laugh and call my mom a b*tch in English. My mom, not understanding, would praise her for being pretty and cute, even giving her homemade sweet potato snacks. Nora would turn around and throw them in the trash, mocking my mom, saying, “It smells, even a dog wouldn’t eat it.” My mom was so flustered, her face turned red, and she couldn’t lift her head, which made everyone around laugh. I threw down my backpack and went to pull Nora’s hair. My mom saw me getting hit and rushed to shield me. She got kicked over by Nora’s friend, and suddenly a lot of blood flowed from her. That day, my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Those horrible cancer cells appeared silently, then quietly took my mom’s life. That jade pendant was something my mom secretly prayed for me, bowing step by step up Ling Mountain before she died. She said the Buddha on Ling Mountain was the most powerful one. I held back my tears and asked her why. She smiled and said it was a secret and couldn’t tell me. But I knew she prayed to Buddha when I was seriously ill as a child. She wished to exchange half her lifespan for my health and peace. Later, I got better. The compassionate Buddha took my mom away. After Nora found out, she mocked my mom, saying, “All the poor know is superstition. What’s the use of leaving garbage behind? Better to sell a kidney or liver for some money for her daughter.” 8 At two in the morning, Declan came back with Nora. As they entered, Nora clung to Declan’s neck, purring, “Declan, will you sleep with me tonight? I want to give myself to you…” As she spoke, she leaned in to kiss him, but Declan dodged. I sat on the sofa, watching Nora act shamelessly. Declan’s gaze landed on me. Nora paused, turned back to see me, and smiled provocatively. “Nora, if I’d known you were home, I would have asked Declan to come back earlier.” “We didn’t see any shooting stars tonight. He was afraid I’d be disappointed, so he insisted on taking me to set off fireworks.” “Nora, I’m sorry. If you want to blame someone, blame me, not Declan.” I had a bit of alcohol, feeling drowsy as I stood up and approached her, directly asking, “Where’s my jade pendant?” Nora blinked guiltily, still smiling, “Are you talking about that jade pendant from the safe?” “I accidentally broke it while packing. It didn’t seem valuable, so I threw it away.” My tears fell suddenly. A chill spread through my limbs, and my lips trembled uncontrollably. My mind filled with the afternoon my mom died, holding me tightly and wiping away my tears repeatedly. She told me not to be afraid, that she wouldn’t leave. She said she had already spoken to Buddha. “As long as the jade pendant is here, so is Mom.” I threw the wine glass at Nora, the glass shattered on the marble, and shards cut her leg. She was scared, took two steps back, and hid behind Declan, pitifully crying out, “It hurts.” I grabbed her collar, hysterically asking, “Where did you throw it? Where did you throw it?” Declan came to stop me. I slapped him, cursing, “We haven’t divorced yet. Why did you bring her back? Why did you let her touch my things? Why!” “Are you that desperate to sleep with her? Declan, aren’t you disgusted!” He held me tightly, soothing my hair, overpowering my voice as he said calmly, “Nora, calm down.” “I’ll take you to find your jade pendant, okay?” “Please stop crying. It hurts me to see you cry.” 9 Nora threw away my jade pendant this morning, so it probably hasn’t been processed yet. Declan drove me to the landfill, speeding all the way. He rummaged through the trash with me, not caring about dirt or smell, getting mud all over his hands. From nightfall until dawn, I found nothing. When the sun rose, I suddenly felt utterly helpless. The golden light pierced my eyes. I bit my lip to hold back tears, forcing myself not to cry. An elderly couple at the landfill took pity on me and helped me search. Finally, when I was about to give up hope, the grandma called out, “Dear, come see if this is it?” I stood up abruptly, the world spinning, but I didn’t care. I ran over, pulling on my shoes from the trash pile. Grandma held a sandalwood box, inside were scattered pieces of jade. It was my jade pendant, but it was truly broken. I should be happy, I suppose. At least I found it. I tried to smile, but as soon as my mouth moved, tears fell in large drops. Mom, you said as long as the jade pendant is here, you are too, right? But now it’s broken. Will you still be here? Please don’t leave me. Don’t abandon me. Declan pulled me close, attempting to comfort me, “Don’t worry, I’ll find someone to fix it.” I shook my head, telling him it was fine, unnecessary. A moment later, Declan’s voice hardened, almost gritting his teeth, “Nora, every time you say it’s fine, I swear I want to shake some sense into you. Can you rely on me just once? Is that too much to ask?” I watched him quietly. His phone rang—Nora was calling. He hesitated briefly before answering. On the other end, Nora was sobbing, “Declan, I wanted to come and apologize to Nora properly, but I got lost, and now some guy is following me. I’m terrified…” Declan rushed off, leaving me behind. Just then, I received a message from the hospital, reminding me of my scheduled abortion later that day.

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On my birthday party, Lucas, my childhood friend and fiancé, brought a girl with him. He said she was strong-willed, resilient, and radiant – his true soulmate. And that a proud and aloof rich young lady like me could never be his future wife. The arrival of this girl disrupted my birthday celebration. But then I discovered she was the sister of a boy Lucas had bullied and disabled in high school. I had been told by Lucas’s friends that he’d been getting close to a girl recently. But I never expected him to bring her to my birthday party. Under the fiery glare of Mr. Thompson, Lucas still said those words: “This is my girlfriend, and my future wife.” The girl he was holding hands with blushed, her eyes shy. She didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with crashing my birthday party. Mrs. Thompson’s face clouded over. Catching sight of my mother’s darkened expression, Mrs. Thompson rushed forward and pulled Lucas aside. Lucas refused to let go of the girl’s hand, so they were both dragged to a corner of the banquet hall. Mrs. Thompson scolded in a low voice: “What do you think you’re doing?” Lucas glanced at me watching the show and said without any courtesy: “Lily is kind and strong. The moment I saw her, I knew she was my true love. I can’t cater to a snobbish heiress like Rachel.” If it wasn’t my birthday party and I wasn’t the one being embarrassed, I would have applauded for this pair of star-crossed lovers. But the Rachel he mentioned was still me. Whispers and murmurs spread around us, with many people giving me curious looks. They seemed to want to see how I, the pampered heiress of the Deer family, would handle this situation. I folded my arms and tilted my head slightly: “If you don’t want to cater to me, does that mean you’re looking for someone to cater to you?” There was no need for further words. Understanding my implication, Lily’s face turned pale. Lucas reached out and shielded Lily behind him: “Rachel, I know you’re angry that I broke our engagement, but Lily and I are truly in love. Nothing you say will change my mind.” I asked him: “Are you done?” Lucas stared blankly for a moment, then nodded. “If you’re done, then I’m going to cut the cake.” I turned and walked to my mother’s side. Mrs. Wilson, our housekeeper, pushed the cart with the cake closer to me. I picked up the knife, glanced at Lucas, smirked, and viciously cut the little figures on the cake in half. My parents’ friends were tactful. Despite the drama that had just unfolded, they still said things like: “Your Rachel has grown into such a beauty. My nephew is still single, why don’t we have dinner together someday?” As if I had never had Lucas as a fiancé, they dissolved the awkwardness of the scene Lucas had created with just a few words. I smiled slightly, occasionally responding with a word or two. In my peripheral vision, I saw Mr. Thompson angrily slap Lucas. The sound of the slap was so loud that it drew everyone’s attention again. In this tense atmosphere, Lucas grabbed the girl’s hand and left. Before leaving, Lily glanced at me. I felt her face was somewhat familiar. It wasn’t until the party ended and I was about to go to sleep after a rose petal bath that I finally remembered. The girl looked about 80% similar to one of my high school classmates. And that classmate had been bullied by Lucas, eventually becoming disabled and dropping out of school.

Lucas, like me, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But unlike his name suggested, he wasn’t a gentle young man, but rather had a violent streak. In high school, a poor student transferred to our class. But on his first day, this boy wore a pair of Air Jordans. For Lucas, Air Jordans weren’t anything special. But he couldn’t stand what he saw as poor people pretending to be rich. So he picked a fight, asking the boy where he got the money to buy Air Jordans, and if he had become a male prostitute. The boy wasn’t one to take things lying down, and immediately punched Lucas. But what he didn’t know was that Lucas’s aunt was one of the school’s shareholders. From that day on, the boy’s school life became a living hell. Lucas had strong backing, and bullying a powerless poor student was a piece of cake for him. The boy realized how powerful Lucas was and didn’t dare to fight back anymore. When Lucas was in a bad mood, he would kick the boy, and sometimes even drag him into the bathroom for a beating. Later, things got serious once when the boy fell down the stairs and became paralyzed. The Thompson family paid a sum of money to send away the poor student’s mother who came to make trouble at school. And Lucas was unaffected, graduating smoothly. I thought I would never see that boy again, but today, Lily’s face stirred my memory. Their faces looked as if they were cut from the same mold.

I asked my mother’s secretary to investigate this “Lily”. Within a day, the information was in my hands. Lily Ho, a barista at a coffee shop, met Lucas at the café. Lucas fell in love with her at first sight, pursuing her madly for several months, spending a fortune just to make her smile, and finally won her heart. I wasn’t so interested in these details, but Lily’s former name caught my attention. Lily’s parents were divorced, and she was given to her mother, taking her mother’s surname. Her original surname was Fung. Turning to the next page of the report, I got the result I wanted. Lily had an older brother named Felix Fung. He was that poor student who had been bullied.

Mr. Thompson brought Lucas to my house to apologize. When Lucas saw me, his suppressed resentment surfaced again: “I just wanted to pursue true love! I don’t like Rachel, why should I be with her?” Mr. Thompson was about to slap him again. I interrupted with a smile: “It’s okay, Mr. Thompson.” Lucas glanced at me: “Don’t pretend to be nice!” “I’m not speaking up for you,” I leaned back on the sofa, “I have suitors lined up from here to New York. If you’re gone, there’s always the next one. Who cares?” Hearing this, Mr. Thompson’s face darkened even more, probably thinking my words were unpleasant. “Lucas, I don’t care if you want to find true love and go against your family, but why did you bring someone I don’t even know to ruin my birthday party?” I looked him up and down. Probably because of the issue with Lily, he looked unusually haggard today, even wearing the same suit from yesterday’s birthday party. You should know that in the past, Lucas always carefully coordinated his outfit from head to toe to maintain his image as a young gentleman. He would never let others see him in such a state. Mr. Thompson apologized first. “Rachel, I’m sorry about this,” Mr. Thompson said, “but I will never allow Lucas to be with that girl…” Lucas, who had always been willful, went crazy upon hearing this: “What right do you have to control my life?” “Because I’m your father!” “I don’t want you to manage me!” Lucas turned and ran. Mr. Thompson’s face turned red with anger: “Do you believe I’ll cancel your credit card?” I laughed so hard my shoulders shook: “Mr. Thompson, Lucas isn’t a child anymore, don’t threaten him with that.” After graduating from university, Mr. Thompson had invested in a clothing company, and Lucas became the general manager. The threat of canceling his credit card couldn’t scare him anymore. Mr. Thompson forced a smile: “This rebellious son, I won’t cover for him anymore.” Lucas was arrogant and self-centered, never considering market demands, just producing whatever clothes he wanted. The clothes he made either violated ergonomics or went against popular aesthetics. The designers in his company often complained bitterly. But he would say: “The clothes I make were never meant for the lower-end market.” His clothing line was ignored as soon as it hit the market. Each time, Mr. Thompson had to dig into his own pocket to cover Lucas’s losses. Lucas’s fragile ego was bruised, and when facing me, he would make excuses: “Those people just have no taste.” To protect his little bit of self-esteem, I never said anything negative.

After Mr. Thompson chased after Lucas and left, Mrs. Wilson placed a bowl of noodles in front of me. She nervously wiped her still-wet hands on her apron: “Miss, in our hometown, we eat longevity noodles on birthdays. It means wishing for a long life.” “You ate cake yesterday and went to bed early, so I thought I’d make this for you today.” Mrs. Wilson was hired as a maid when I was born. She had worked for our family for over twenty years, always diligent and never overstepping her boundaries. I took the chopsticks from her hand and put two strands of noodles in my mouth. Seeing that I had finally eaten, Mrs. Wilson relaxed and smiled: “Although it’s a bit late now, but, Miss, happy birthday.” There were tears in her eyes, as if she was looking at someone else through me.

I thought Lily would be patient. But to my surprise, just a week later, she came to find me. My mother had an entertainment company, which she had handed over to me to manage before I graduated. Perhaps one of Lucas’s friends had let it slip. Lily waited for me at the company entrance when I came to work. I glanced at her and walked straight into the company building. Lily followed behind me, looking as if she wouldn’t leave until she talked to me. So I instructed my secretary: “Get a cup of tea for that young lady.” After I finished dealing with some urgent matters, I finally had time to see Lily. Her face was already displeased, but she still didn’t say a word. I laughed at her: “You’re quite patient.” She finally spoke: “Lucas’s card has been canceled by his dad. Can you tell his dad that you voluntarily gave up the engagement, so he’ll unfreeze the card?” I was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing: “Is this how you ask for a favor?” Lily said: “What’s the use of holding onto him? If this continues, he’ll only hate you more.” Seeing that I didn’t respond, Lily played her trump card: “Don’t worry, I’ll just make a quick buck from Lucas and leave. He’ll still be yours in the future.” Lily’s words made me laugh. I asked her: “Are you sure you just want to make a quick buck and leave?” “Isn’t it because Lucas’s card was canceled, making it impossible to pay for your brother’s medical bills, that you came to find me?” “Or are you trying to completely ruin Lucas to avenge your brother?” Lily’s face turned ashen the moment I mentioned her brother, and when I spoke of revenge, she turned pale. The next second, her face flushed red as she slammed the table: “You investigated me?” I shook my head: “I just thought you looked familiar, didn’t expect to dig up something big.” She asked me: “You remember my brother?” In my mind, I recalled the boy who always sat in the back row, his eyes hidden behind long bangs. Probably because his bangs were so long, it was hard to see his face clearly, which is why Lucas couldn’t see the resemblance between Lily and Felix. A tear fell from the corner of Lily’s eye: “Then why didn’t you help him back then? If you had said something, Lucas and the others would have listened, right?” I said: “At that time, Lucas and I weren’t that close anymore. Boys and girls needed to keep their distance. I had other friends to hang out with, and although we were in the same class, I didn’t interact much with Lucas and his group.” “I’m sorry about what happened to your brother.” Lily collapsed onto my desk, sobbing. A moment later, she raised her head, looking at me with tear-filled eyes: “Can you help me?” “Help you with what?” Her eyes turned cold: “Help me bring down Lucas.” “But what’s in it for me?” “You can take over his company. Isn’t that good?” I raised an eyebrow: “That’s not a bad suggestion. After all, who doesn’t like more money?” Lily added: “But after it’s done, you must ensure my safety.” I pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly: “Alright, I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”

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Five years into our marriage, I discovered a hickey on Adrian’s neck – one that didn’t come from me. When I confronted him about it, he just laughed it off. “You could try it too, you know. I wouldn’t mind. But do you have the guts?” He knew all too well about my feelings for him – how I’d secretly loved him for years before we got together. And he took full advantage of that knowledge, confident I would never leave. He assumed, quite arrogantly, that I would forgive him yet again, tears and all. What Adrian didn’t know was that his best friend had been sending me shirtless photos every day. Later, when my body bore marks that weren’t from my husband, Adrian demanded answers. I simply smiled and said, “Didn’t you tell me to try it? Well, he’s got a lot more stamina than you do.” Adrian flew into a rage, his eyes rimmed red. “Who gave you permission to take me seriously?!” “Stop hiding and look at me!” Adrian’s voice was cold and hoarse, barely containing his anger. Blue veins bulged on his forehead as he forcibly gripped my chin, making me face him. I couldn’t move, trapped in his icy gaze. Adrian smiled with satisfaction. “Eight calls a day, even dragging my mother into this… Chloe, you went to all this trouble just to get me to come home. Why act like this now?” I pushed against him as hard as I could. “Is being full of yourself the only thing you’re good at?” He still couldn’t believe that I was utterly disappointed in him. Gripping my chin tighter, he sneered, “For years, you’ve always had endless excuses to get my attention. It’s annoying…” I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. As he turned away, my palm stung and trembled. Never had I regretted anything more than I did at that moment. I regretted falling in love with Adrian. I regretted marrying him. But Adrian hadn’t always been like this. In the beginning, things were different. Somewhere along the way, everything changed. A shrill ringtone broke the tense silence. Adrian answered the phone, his face still cold but his tone suddenly gentle. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll have Kevin take you to the hospital. I’ll be there soon.” A woman’s voice on the other end sobbed that she was scared. After hanging up, Adrian got up without hesitation. But instead of leaving right away, he roughly pulled me up from the bed and held me tightly against him. Out of nowhere, he said, “Chloe, if you beg me to stay, I will.” He seemed to have forgotten that I had begged him before. The first time he left me alone for that female secretary of his. I had pleaded with him not to go: “Adrian, my stomach hurts so much…” But he had walked out expressionlessly, that woman in his arms. That time, I lost my first child. I looked at him, my wet hair clinging to my cheeks. Weakly, I patted his face and asked with a bitter smile, “Beg you? Are you even worth begging?” Adrian’s expression darkened. He sneered, “Fine then. Get lost.” Despite his words, his hand gripped my waist like an iron vise. I lowered my head and pried his fingers off one by one. The phone rang again. This time he put it on speaker. “Adrian, are you almost here? I’m alone at the hospital and I’m scared…” He stood up, looking down at me with cold eyes as he replied, “Be good, wait for me. I’ll be right there.”

After Adrian left, I heard the sound of tires screeching from the underground garage. The car sped away, betraying the driver’s urgency. Less than 30 minutes later, Amber’s Instagram was updated right on schedule. The photo showed a private hospital. In the background, a man’s half-visible body could be seen. His hand, adorned with a diamond ring, gently touched her forehead. Amber smiled with closed eyes, tilting her head up to meet him. If there was anything different about Amber compared to Adrian’s previous women, it was that she truly was special to him. She was his first love, once cherished deeply before leaving for another country. Today marked exactly three months since her return. During these three months, Adrian spent all his time either working or with Amber. That’s why Adrian’s mother had been insisting I keep calling to urge him to come home. Amber had debuted as an idol overseas for the past few years. Now back in the States, she found the idol path difficult and switched to acting instead, becoming a C-list actress. Since her return, Adrian had been showering her with resources, as if to make up for lost time. He gave her whatever he could directly, and for what was out of reach, he wasn’t above lowering himself to schmooze with others on her behalf. In just three short months, Amber’s popularity skyrocketed and her fanbase grew exponentially. This was compounded by her daily “rekindled love” diary updates on Instagram for the past three months. Out of boredom, I took a peek at her posts. In Amber’s narrative, she and Adrian were childhood sweethearts separated by a misunderstanding. When they reunited, he was a handsome, wealthy CEO and she was a cool, stubborn starlet. Fans were eating it up. Looking back on these five years now, I could only laugh at my own naivety back then. If someone doesn’t love you, time only becomes a knife, leaving you scarred and bitter in the end. I lit a cigarette and glanced back at the messy bed sheets. If Adrian had been more attentive, or if he still cared about me even a little, he should have noticed that my belongings in this house had dwindled to almost nothing. When I first married Adrian, I was truly happy, feeling blessed by fate. When we moved into this house, I would smile from ear to ear just seeing our suits and dresses hanging side by side in the closet. But now the vanity was empty, and the huge closet only held his suits and shirts. The dresses that once hung next to his clothes had vanished without a trace. The phone on the nightstand rang. I ignored it, but it rang again. By the fifth persistent call, I finally answered. It was Amber’s voice, taunting me sweetly: “Mrs. Walker, don’t say I’m bullying you. I gave you five whole years. It’s not my fault you weren’t good enough to keep him.” I replied flatly, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose you as the other woman to the media?” She suddenly raised her voice shrilly: “I’m not the other woman! If you hadn’t taken advantage of my absence when I went abroad, you never would have married Adrian. If you didn’t look a bit like me, he wouldn’t have given you a second glance!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. “Fine, you’re so capable. Then please convince Adrian to agree to divorce me. I sincerely wish you both the best – a scumbag and a homewrecker, perfect for each other.” Amber was speechless for a moment before angrily hanging up. She knew that I had asked Adrian for a divorce two weeks ago. At the time, she had even rushed over to celebrate in front of me. “Smart of you to know when to give up. First love is something that can never be erased unless you’re dead. So you proposing divorce is the wisest move,” she had gloated, wearing the designer outfit Adrian had specially ordered from Milan for her. Who knew that the next second, Adrian would suddenly appear, glaring at me with eyes like a venomous snake. He grabbed Amber by the hair and said coldly, “Who the fuck told you I’m getting divorced? Get out!” I remember vividly how Amber had run out crying that day.

After hanging up, my phone lit up with several notifications. I dealt with some work messages and exited the app, when suddenly I noticed a red dot on a muted conversation. For some reason, I tapped on it. The contact had no name, just the character “Yi” as the username and a faded mountain-top photo as the profile picture. If I remembered correctly, this was Lucas, Adrian’s current best friend. I heard they met at a cocktail party and somehow became as close as brothers. Compared to Adrian’s business background, Lucas’s background was heavily guarded, layers upon layers of protection. Even Adrian only knew the general outline. Yet this man had sent me a selfie. Black bangs partially covered his deep-set eyes, a child’s fever patch stuck to his forehead. His thin jacket was unzipped halfway, revealing hints of abs. He looked damp all over. The message below read: [Sis-in-law, I think I have a fever. I feel awful /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~] I zoomed in on his abs, then scrolled through his previous messages. Although I had never replied, he seemed to have made it a daily routine to send one message and one photo every day. If it wasn’t his long, slender fingers, it was his well-defined abs. It was as if he was persistently and shamelessly trying to steal me away from my husband. Coincidentally, the first time he sent me these messages was the day Adrian was caught cheating with his secretary. I returned to the chat and casually typed a reply. [Nice abs.] As if holding my breath, I sent it without a second glance and immediately exited the app. Early the next morning, Adrian’s mother was sitting on the downstairs sofa, her expression unreadable. Seeing me come down, she asked coldly, “Where’s Adrian? Gone to that hussy again?” I nodded calmly, taking breakfast out of the fridge. I even politely offered, “Mom, would you like some?” She looked startled, seemingly surprised by my attitude. After all, in the past, I had desperately tried to please her for Adrian’s sake. When she said she didn’t like Walkers’ daughters-in-law to be in the public eye, that marrying Adrian meant being a proper housewife, I even gave up my beloved dance career. “Are you useless?” Her face darkened with anger. “Five years and you can’t even keep a man’s heart. If Adrian wants to divorce you someday, don’t expect me to help you!” I suddenly put down my fork and looked at her with a mirthless smile. “You couldn’t keep Mr. Walker’s heart for thirty years either, could you? If there’s anyone to blame, it’s the Walker family’s inferior cheating genes, passed down from generation to generation.” The elegant lady stood up like a fury: “You! You’ve gone too far! I’ll tell Adrian to throw you out! I want you two divorced!” I looked at her and quickly said, “I’m sorry.” I had lost my temper for a moment. No matter what, I shouldn’t have provoked her with this. Years ago, when she was pregnant with their second child, Mr. Walker was caught in bed cheating. The other woman was Amber’s mother. Adrian’s mother and Amber’s mother had been best friends. After Amber’s father died, she took pity on the mother and daughter, even buying them a house in the same neighborhood. Who would have thought that Amber’s mother and Mr. Walker would have an affair behind her back, sneaking around for five years? When she found out, the shock and anger caused her to miscarry. The scandal blew up, and Amber’s mother was sent to the countryside by Mr. Walker, but the car overturned on the way. At the time, Adrian and Amber were already an acknowledged couple, but Adrian’s mother could never accept the daughter of her husband’s mistress as a daughter-in-law. So Amber was forcibly sent abroad. This incident was the greatest pain of her life. I really shouldn’t have used it to attack her. Hearing my apology, she sat back down. After a while, she got up to leave. Before going, she threw out one last sentence: “Your father is still in the hospital. You should know what to do!” My father? She didn’t know that the doctor had already called me, saying my father only had a few days left.

Five years ago, when my father was driven to desperation by bankruptcy, he jumped from the roof of our apartment building. Fortunately, he was caught by some trees and survived, but he’s been kept alive only by expensive machines and medications ever since. All these years, the money has been paid monthly by Adrian’s mother according to our original agreement. That evening, my phone rang. It was my best friend Rachel’s voice: “Chloe, DM Club, come save me quick!” She hung up immediately. Worried something had happened to her, I rushed to DM. But when I arrived, I found her excitedly playing drinking games with a group of male models. Seeing me, she blinked innocently: “It wasn’t me who called you…” “Then who did?” I asked, confused. “I did.” A deep voice sounded behind me, tinged with nervousness. I turned around and came face to face with the abs guy from the phone. Lucas wore a black jacket. At 6’3″, he cut an impressive figure standing there. Before I could speak, Rachel eagerly pointed at him: “Girl, this model won’t even let me touch him. Says he’s exclusively for one person. Hey, you try him out for me! Your scumbag husband has cheated how many times now? Why are you still holding back? Go for it!” “He’s not a model…” I kindly reminded her. “Don’t spread rumors outside.” After we left, Lucas followed closely behind me. He was indeed handsome – calling him a model would be an understatement. There weren’t many in Hollywood who looked this good. Back when things were occasionally still okay between Adrian and me, he often praised this good friend of his. Sometimes even Adrian wondered how he had the fortune to befriend someone of Lucas’s background and status. I felt a headache coming on. I shouldn’t have impulsively replied to that message. “This is…” I stumbled over my words, awkwardly saying, “This isn’t right. You know this makes you the other woman, right?” Lucas coughed lightly, standing just an arm’s length away. Gone was his online flirtatiousness, but he was still direct: “So, does this mean I’m officially acknowledged now?” “But I haven’t actually done anything yet, have I?” he reasoned shamelessly. “I accept criticism and correction, but I’m still firm in my goal!” “What goal?” “To steal you away!” “He’s supposed to be your best friend. Aren’t you afraid he’ll beat you up?” “What kind of good person is he anyway? At worst, I’m just seducing a married woman, a bit morally bankrupt. But what he’s done is truly despicable… Ahem, of course, I’m not badmouthing your husband.” Maybe it was the dim lighting, the temptation of his good looks. Maybe it was the exhaustion and torment from these years with Adrian. I stared at him intently and suddenly said, “Wait a little longer. While I’m still married, I won’t do anything immoral.” At least on the surface, I was still Adrian’s wife. Lucas’s eyes lit up: “When do you plan to… get divorced?” “Soon,” I smiled.

When Adrian came home, I was feeding the cat. I looked up – it was already dusk outside. He took off his coat and crouched down, reaching out to pet the cat just like he had done many times before. Fluffy turned her head away, hissing angrily at him, refusing to let him touch her. Cats are more sensitive than humans. She could smell that Adrian had been petting another cat. Amber’s Instagram often featured photos of a white ragdoll cat. An unfamiliar perfume wafted into my nose. I wrinkled my brow. Turning my head, I saw Adrian’s shirt collar open, revealing a dark hickey on his pale collarbone. It looked like someone had deliberately marked their territory. Adrian followed my gaze, lowered his eyes, and smiled arrogantly, as if trying to fool an idiot: “Tch, the cat scratched me.” I felt neither sadness nor joy. I just lowered my head to pour water into the cat’s bowl. “When can we sign the divorce papers?” “In such a hurry?” Adrian leaned close, his lips brushing my ear. I recoiled in disgust. He laughed: “You care that much about me? Trying to test me with divorce talk over and over? Don’t worry, there’s only one Mrs. Walker, and no one can take that from you.” I looked up at him, my gaze utterly calm. If only he knew… Never mind. Adrian’s body stiffened for a moment before his face turned cold: “Is this too much for you already? When you and my mother schemed against me back then, didn’t you anticipate this day would come?” I said quietly, “I regret it. I shouldn’t have walked into that room back then. I shouldn’t have married you.” Adrian suddenly kicked the table, sending it flying. He grabbed my chin roughly: “Regret? What right do you have to regret? Did I give you permission to regret?” I no longer had the energy or desire to argue with him. In the past, when he was angry, I would think of all sorts of ways to cheer him up, not bearing to see even a frown on his face. But now, the closer he got to the edge of rage, the more annoyed I felt. I could refute him with countless words, but on this matter, I could only remain silent whenever he brought it up. I just said softly, “Since what we had was wrong from the start, and things have come to this point, divorce is the only way out.” Adrian didn’t respond immediately. He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, eyes lowered as he lit a cigarette. Then, from a distance, he slowly blew a puff of smoke in my direction. The smoke momentarily blurred his chiseled features. He tapped his forehead with his finger, then pointed at the hickey on his collarbone, curling his lips: “Is it because of this?” “Actually, if you like, you could try it too.” He shrugged carelessly. “I don’t mind. But Chloe, do you have the guts?” I looked into Adrian’s eyes – those upturned phoenix eyes that seemed alluring whether he smiled or not. I used to love those eyes. I had thought that even if he didn’t love me, he would at least have some respect for me. The first time he crossed the line, I nearly went insane. Back then, I hadn’t loved him to the point of exhaustion, and I still held some hope for Adrian and our future. I couldn’t accept betrayal. I made a scene until everyone knew, until I lost a child, in exchange for his promise that it wouldn’t happen again. I was willing to take another gamble, only to lose even more thoroughly in the end. In Adrian’s eyes, I didn’t have the guts or the heart to cheat. But cheating was never about guts – it was about self-control and moral constraints. The biggest difference between Adrian and me was that I was a person with marital morals. But even the most moral person, when pushed into a corner, can fall. Just then, my phone lit up with another message from Lucas. I opened it to look – it was a photo of abs, face not shown, looking quite tempting. Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. Adrian’s presence loomed close. Adrian… he saw the photo. I gripped my phone tightly, my heart skipping a beat. I looked up at Adrian. He gazed at me with a mocking smile, his tone sarcastic: “Looking at some risqué male model photos online? Chloe, this is about all the guts you have.”

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When I Found Out My Sugar Baby Was Using My Money to Support Other Women When I discovered that the young man I was supporting was actually using my money to keep other women, I was furious. I immediately decided to break up with him and even considered suing him for fraud. But he was quite the charmer. On a rainy night, he stripped naked and knelt in my yard all night with tears in his eyes. He claimed he was young and foolish, and only made this huge mistake to repay his first love who had supported his education. Looking at his rain-soaked body, I had to admit he was incredibly handsome. I thought to myself, at least he knows how to show gratitude. In a moment of weakness, I chose to forgive him. Little did I know, he would soon conspire with his first love to blind me and steal all my assets. This time, I didn’t hesitate. I immediately called my seven ex-boyfriends… 0 “If it weren’t for your money, do you think I would have put up with you until now? You blind bitch, how dare you act like some rich princess in front of me?” Lucas Evans slapped me hard across the face before kicking me out the door. “Don’t come back until you realize your mistakes!” he shouted. I clutched the medical report confirming my restored vision tightly in my hand, my mind in turmoil. I had wanted to share the joyful news that my eyesight had returned to normal. But Lucas, who had always been gentle and caring, suddenly flew into a rage when I asked him to pour me a glass of water. He violently smashed the glass on the ground. Shards scattered everywhere, instantly cutting my cheek. Blood beaded up and dripped to the floor. I stood there stunned, staring at him in disbelief. This usually kind man was now coldly throwing me out of our home without a shred of mercy. My heart was filled with hurt and confusion. Tears I could no longer control streamed down my face. Just as I turned to leave, I unexpectedly ran into Amber Sullivan – Lucas’s unforgettable first love. She stood a short distance away, watching my misfortune with obvious glee, as if she had anticipated this all along. “Well, if it isn’t Miss Thompson! What’s the matter, dear?” she said mockingly. I shot her a cold glance, wiping the tears from my face. Not wanting to engage with her, I started walking away. But Amber wasn’t done. She blocked my path. “Is Miss Thompson too high and mighty to acknowledge me? Can’t you see I’m talking to you?” I pursed my lips, not wanting to waste my breath on her. She then feigned a sudden realization. “Oh my, silly me! Of course Miss Thompson can’t see – she’s blind after all.” With that, she burst into shrill, grating laughter. I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Being blind isn’t so bad. At least I don’t have to watch you shamelessly flirting with other people’s boyfriends,” I retorted. “Mia Thompson!” Amber shrieked in fury, charging at me. “I’ll tear that mouth of yours apart!” I was prepared for this. I stepped aside slightly, causing her to stumble and fall face-first onto the ground. Passersby stared, some even laughing out loud. Amber got up from the ground, glaring at me viciously. Her face was contorted, though I couldn’t tell if it was from the fall or from anger. “Didn’t I just tell you to get lost? What are you still doing here?” Lucas’s angry voice came from nearby. He immediately started scolding me without bothering to find out what happened. My heart ached. He always chose Amber over me, every single time. Yet I was supposed to be his girlfriend. 0

Seeing Lucas appear, Amber instantly transformed back into a pitiful damsel in distress. “Lucas, I’m so sorry,” she whimpered. “I just wanted to say hello to Miss Thompson, but she suddenly pushed me down.” “Maybe I shouldn’t have come to see you?” Amber put on an act of being bullied. Sure enough, Lucas’s heart melted instantly. He rushed to wipe away her tears. “Amber, you poor thing.” He turned to glare at me fiercely. “Mia Thompson, I can’t believe you’re still so vicious even after going blind!” “Apologize to Amber right now, or I’ll never forgive you.” Seeing that I remained silent, his anger grew. “If you won’t apologize, then get out of my sight!” He then instructed the security guard, “Don’t let her into the complex again without my permission.” With that, he took Amber inside, not sparing me another word. I clutched the medical report tightly once more, crouching down and bursting into tears. It turns out my seven ex-boyfriends were right – he only loved my money, not me. At this thought, I sobbed uncontrollably. When my phone rang, passersby were still pointing and whispering about me. They were saying I must be some rich man’s mistress who got kicked out by the wife. I held back my tears and answered the phone with a sniffle. The moment I heard Ethan North’s deep voice, tears started flowing again. Hearing my cries, he immediately panicked, asking if someone had bullied me. A warmth spread through my heart. At least they still cared about me. In that instant, I made up my mind to end this one-sided cold war with them. From now on, even if they kept telling others they were my exes, I wouldn’t get upset anymore. I grew up with those seven boys since childhood. They were all my ex-boyfriends. Officially “crowned” as such, in fact. I was young back then, obsessed with the story of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. Every day I imagined myself as the chosen empress, inducting all seven childhood friends into my “harem”. I even gave them official rankings, with Ethan as my “empress” since he was the oldest. As we grew older, I started to feel embarrassed about it and gradually distanced myself from them. But they uniformly claimed to others that they were my abandoned ex-boyfriends, making it hard for me to find a new boyfriend for a while. Finally, after college graduation, I met my current boyfriend. Gentle and obedient, with a baby face but an incredibly sexy inverted triangle physique – he made my heart race uncontrollably. I was so smitten that I even bought him an apartment to keep him as my secret lover. Who would have thought things would turn out like this? In the end, I only have myself to blame for being blinded by his looks. Fortunately, I still have seven ex-boyfriends who adore me waiting for me. After hanging up with Ethan, I immediately headed back to North City. I decided to give them a big surprise! The thought of seeing them soon filled me with excitement I could barely contain. But when I arrived at the usually quiet mansion gates, I found them crowded with young girls holding up banners. How strange. 0

Before I could think too much about it, I walked straight towards the gates, only to be stopped by the security guard. “I’m sorry, only residents are allowed in!” I was taken aback. I had sold my house in the complex before going to Sea City. “I’m a friend of Ethan North. I’m here to see them,” I said. Surely a resident’s friend would be allowed in. The guard gave me a look that said “I knew it”, his tone full of impatience as he pointed at the group of young girls, “Every woman who comes here claims to be here for them.” “And they all say they’re their girlfriends too.” He started pushing me away, “You’re so young, don’t you have anything better to do? Chasing after celebrities all the way to their homes.” “Have you no shame!” Suddenly I remembered Ethan mentioning something about their debut a while back. I hadn’t paid much attention then, but it seems they’ve become quite famous now. But how was I supposed to get in? “Wang, do you still want this job? How could you let someone rush in like that?” A familiar female voice came from behind just as we were at an impasse. The guard immediately put on a respectful demeanor, apologizing profusely, “I’m sorry, Miss Sullivan. I’ll send her away right now.” Miss Sullivan? I didn’t know many people with the surname Sullivan! Curious, I turned around, startled to see Amber’s face. It was her! Wasn’t she with Lucas? What was she doing here?! Amber looked equally surprised, but only for a moment before switching to a mocking tone, “Well, if it isn’t Miss Thompson! Just got dumped by your boyfriend and now you’re here to chase celebrities?” “Aren’t you moving on a bit too fast?” I felt extremely annoyed. Who did she think she was?! Trying to control every aspect of my life! She clearly thought I was easy to bully. Well, it was time to show her who Mia Thompson really was. “None of your damn business!” I snapped. Before Amber could respond, the guard roughly shoved me. “How dare you speak to Miss Sullivan like that!” “So vulgar. Dressed like that and claiming to be friends with Mr. North and the others. Have you no self-awareness?” “If you want to get close to celebrities like Miss Sullivan, at least buy a villa in our complex first!” Seeing the guard’s arrogant attitude, I couldn’t hold back my anger. “You think I can’t afford it?” Amber and the guard were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. Especially Amber, who was laughing so hard she could barely stand straight. “This is hilarious, Mia. I think it’s not just your eyes that are messed up, but your brain too!” She came closer, whispering in my ear, “Do you still think you’re some millionaire sugar mama?” My heart sank suddenly, an ominous feeling washing over me. I stared at her intently, my voice trembling uncontrollably, “What… what do you mean by that?” Seeing my panicked expression, Amber’s face lit up with a smug smile. She turned to instruct the guard, “Wang, make sure you guard the gate well. Don’t let any riffraff slip through.” “Especially blind ones like her. Be careful she doesn’t try to scam you later.” The guard agreed eagerly, turning to drag me out. 0

I quickly pulled out my phone and showed the call log to the guard. “I really am Ethan’s friend. Look, we just talked on the phone this afternoon.” The guard looked carefully, his expression wavering slightly. “It really is Mr. North’s number.” Amber’s face changed, but then we heard the guard continue, “But there are so many people who save a random number under a celebrity’s name. This trick is so childish.” Getting anxious, I pressed on. This guard was really difficult to deal with. “Just call Ethan and tell him Mia Thompson is outside. He’ll come out to get me.” At this point, I didn’t care about the surprise anymore. Getting inside was the priority. Plus, I wanted to know what Amber meant by her earlier comment. What happened to my money? To my dismay, the guard looked even more suspicious after hearing my suggestion. “You know Mr. North has a performance down south today, yet you’re asking me to call him. I think you’re just a scammer.” Ethan wasn’t here today? What a coincidence. “Fine, then I’ll call Ryan Frost,” I said, dialing his number immediately, praying that Ryan would pick up quickly. I glanced at Amber inadvertently. Her expression seemed a bit odd. She walked in front of me and waved her hand before my eyes. “Mia, can you see me?” The call still hadn’t connected, and I was getting impatient. I was about to tell her to shut up. Just as I opened my mouth, I suddenly realized something. Was Amber suspicious of me? Pretending to be angry, I said, “You know I can’t see. Why are you asking this?” Amber looked unconvinced but didn’t press further. I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. The person on the other end of the line finally answered, “Hello! Mia, you finally remembered to call me?” “The signal here is bad, we might get cut off…” “I’m at…” The call abruptly ended, and I felt like cursing. Damn Ryan and his jinxing habits, still the same after all these years. Holding my phone, I tried to explain to the guard, “At least this proves I know them, right? Can you let me in now?” The guard shook his head, his attitude unyielding. “Who knows if you’re using some AI call simulator? With technology these days, it’s easy to fake a call with a celebrity.” My blood pressure was rising rapidly, but remembering Ethan and the others’ current celebrity status, I forced myself to calm down. I turned to leave, planning to wait at a nearby hotel for them to contact me. Uncharacteristically, Amber called out to stop me. “Mia, let me take you in.” As if afraid I wouldn’t agree, she added, “You can’t see, so it’ll be faster if I guide you, right?” I looked at her smiling face, feeling a chill run down my spine. She wasn’t this kind-hearted. Was she planning something sinister? “What’s wrong? Are you scared?” Amber narrowed her eyes at me, her tone somewhat challenging. Yeah, right. I’ve lived here for over a decade. Why would I be afraid of her? Besides, I wanted to see what she was up to. Amber led me into the complex, finally stopping in front of my old villa. She had bought my villa! 0

As soon as I stepped inside, Amber swiftly locked the door behind us. Realizing something was wrong, I immediately turned to run out, but Amber forcefully pushed me into the bathroom. I shouted, “What are you doing? Let me out!” Her face was gloomy, her eyes filled with anger as she looked at me. “You’re not really blind!” “Lucas praised you for being pure-hearted, but I never expected you to be so cunning.” I mentally rolled my eyes. “This has nothing to do with you. If Lucas is what you want, congratulations, I’ve already broken up with him.” At this point, I just wanted to leave. Amber’s hostility was making my skin crawl. She didn’t answer me, just kept advancing step by step, her eyes seeming to drip with venom. “Mia Thompson, why do you always have to steal what’s mine!” “I finally managed to move in here, become the top fan in their fan club, get close to those seven guys, and even had a chance to go further.” “Then you suddenly show up with that seductive face of yours, claiming to be their friend.” “Do you think I’ll just sit back and let you take my place?”

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For three years of marriage, I, Evelyn, had been preparing to have a child for Jack, the gentleman from a wealthy family. However, Jack, without consulting me, directly adopted his sister-in-law’s child. Jack held his sister-in-law’s child’s hand and explained to me with a smile, “Honey, my sister-in-law’s child is our child now.” I thought he was just being partial, but I never expected that his sister-in-law’s son was actually his biological child. I was devastated. Later, with my belly swollen, I found myself in the arms of Jack’s arch-enemy. Jack, however, was crying and begging me to have his child. On my birthday, Jack’s sister-in-law, Chloe, brought her child to our home. “Evelyn, Jack has already adopted my son. You don’t mind, do you?” Chloe asked. My heart sank, and I unconsciously covered my belly, forcing a smile. “Chloe, Jack has been quitting smoking recently to have a child with me. How could he adopt your child?” I questioned. Chloe’s face was filled with smugness as she feigned shock, “Jack didn’t tell you that I was his first love?” Hearing her confident tone, I took a step back. I pretended to be calm and smiled, “Jack doesn’t mention this to me, probably because he only sees you as his sister-in-law now.” Seeing that I wasn’t angry, Chloe’s smile became more arrogant. She called Jack right in front of me. “Son, call daddy. From now on, Jack is your father,” Chloe said. Her six-year-old son, Tommy, sweetly called out to my husband on the video call, “Uncle, mom says you’re my dad now. Dad!” Jack on the other end of the video responded, “Good boy, dad will come home and cut you some cake.” Hearing Chloe’s son and my husband addressing each other so intimately, a wave of bitterness washed over me. With a stiff body, I called out to Jack in the video, “Honey, it’s my birthday today. When are you coming home to celebrate with me?” Jack’s cheerful voice paused when he heard me. “Don’t rush, I’ll be back soon,” he said. After the call ended, I looked at Chloe, who was still lingering, and made a “please” gesture, feeling not so good. “Chloe, Jack has arranged a five-star chef for my birthday dinner. You should head back first.” But Chloe just rolled her eyes at me. “I’m waiting for Jack to come home. He promised to buy cake for my son,” she said. My cake… Jack gave it to someone else?

Jack came home with a cake and saw that both Chloe and I looked upset. He bypassed me, his wife, and went straight to Chloe, asking with concern, “Chloe, who upset you? Why do you look so unhappy?” Chloe let out a coquettish huff towards Jack and glanced at me sideways. “It’s your wife. She’s trying to kick me and my son out with a cold face. You need to handle this, Jack. Don’t let someone overstep their boundaries. I am her sister-in-law after all.” Jack turned to look at me, his eyes clouded with displeasure. He spoke coldly, “Evelyn, apologize to Chloe.” I looked at him in disbelief and tried to explain, “Chloe barged in with her son, saying you were going to adopt Tommy. We were about to go out, and Chloe wouldn’t leave. Was I supposed to lock her in the house?” Jack ignored my explanation and apologized to Chloe on my behalf. “I’m sorry, Chloe. Evelyn doesn’t know better. I’ll teach her a lesson later. Let’s sit down and cut the cake for Tommy.” Seeing Jack treat Tommy like his own son, my heart ached. With tears in my eyes, I asked him, “Weren’t we supposed to go out for dinner? Is the cake you’re going to eat the one for my birthday?” Jack impatiently opened the cake box and said in front of them, “Evelyn, how have you become so petty after three years of marriage? What’s wrong with letting Tommy eat a bit of your birthday cake? He’s just a child.” With red-rimmed eyes, I questioned him, “I’ve been preparing to have a child for you for three years. Now you’re adopting someone else’s child without even discussing it with me. What does this mean?”

Jack and I had an arranged marriage between wealthy families. Originally, I started trying for a baby right after the wedding to secure my future. But over the three years of marriage, our feelings for each other grew rapidly. Before today, I really wanted to have a child with him. But now Jack said coldly, “My brother has left all his business for me to inherit. I have an obligation to help raise his child. Don’t overthink it.” I raised an eyebrow and said bitterly, “I’m not overthinking, it’s Chloe who…” Jack interrupted me, “Enough, I’ll explain this to you later.” Just as I was about to ask how we were going to celebrate my birthday, Tommy threw a piece of cake at my head and cried to Jack. “Dad, this bad woman was bullying mom earlier. Quick, kick her out!” Jack immediately looked at me with cold eyes, as if I had really done such a thing. I wiped the cake off my head and defiantly denied it, “I didn’t do anything like that. Tommy is lying.” Chloe wiped away non-existent tears and complained, “Jack, Evelyn is jealous that I have such an excellent son. She called my son a bastard. I just argued with her a bit, but I didn’t expect her to call me a shameless slut. I really didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted my son to be treated well. Is that wrong?” I laughed coldly, “I never said that. Chloe, why are you throwing dirt on me?” Jack shouted, “Enough! Evelyn, apologize to Chloe for this. Tommy is just a child, he wouldn’t lie, would he?” Looking at the biased Jack, my eyes filled with tears as I asked him, “Jack, why don’t you believe me?”

I didn’t wait for Jack to explain and drove out of the house. Jack didn’t come after me either. Before leaving, I took Jack’s hidden red wine and brought it to the riverside, drinking myself into a stupor. Unexpectedly, I ran into Ryan, Jack’s business rival. Because of Jack, he recognized me at a glance. “What’s this? Has that gentleman from a wealthy family, Jack, neglected you? You’re out here drinking alone on your birthday?” Drunk as I was, I looked at this man who was slightly more handsome than Jack and asked confusedly, “Ryan, how did you know today is my birthday?” He didn’t answer my question, instead snatching the wine bottle from my hand. “Stop drinking, it’s bad for your stomach. Let me take you home.” I brushed off his hand, my tone cold. “I’m not going back. That jerk Jack adopted his nephew without even telling me. I’ve been trying to get pregnant for three years, who wants his sister-in-law’s kid?” Seeing my intoxicated state, Ryan didn’t say another word and carried me to his car. Ten minutes later, Ryan brought me back home. Ryan carried me towards my front door. I complained, “Why did you bring me back here? I don’t want to go in.” The next second, Jack appeared with a dark face, looking at me in Ryan’s arms. “Evelyn, you’ve really outdone yourself. I say a few words to you, and you run into someone else’s arms? Do you still consider me your husband?” I got down from Ryan’s arms, drunkenly snorting, “If you really cared about me, would you adopt someone else’s child without discussing it with me, and even let them live in our house?” Jack glanced warily at Ryan, then quickly pulled me back into the house. “Evelyn, it’s not what you think between me and Chloe. She’ll move out in a couple of days, just bear with it for now.” After explaining, Jack took me upstairs to rest. I watched his retreating figure, irritably went downstairs for water, and secretly saw Jack and Chloe embracing each other. My breath caught in my throat.

Jack sat on the sofa, with Chloe lying in his arms, all lovey-dovey. “Jack, don’t you think it’s fate that we’re together?” Jack held her gently, as if Chloe was his wife. “Behave yourself, Evelyn isn’t asleep yet.” Chloe said with a giggle, “If it weren’t for your brother being sterile, we wouldn’t have our Tommy. Evelyn hasn’t given you a child in three years, why don’t you divorce her and marry me?” Jack frowned and said, “No, my marriage to her was arranged for business reasons. We can’t divorce easily.” “You heartless man, if it weren’t for my advice back then, could you have married into the Lin family?” Faced with Chloe’s complaints, Jack kissed her and said, “Wait until Evelyn is asleep, and I’ll make it up to you properly.” Hearing their conversation, I could no longer hold back my tears. That “gentleman” image is all bullshit. It’s all lies. But for the sake of our families’ alliance and interests, I didn’t want to directly confront them. Having discovered Jack’s secret, my attitude towards him cooled considerably. Three days later, Chloe and her son still hadn’t left. That night, I coldly asked Jack. “Didn’t you say they would leave after a few days?” Jack frowned and made excuses, “Chloe has been sick these past couple of days. How can you treat a sick person like this? Chloe is our sister-in-law, what’s wrong with her staying for a few days?” I looked at him angrily, “If she doesn’t leave, I will.” I packed some personal items and was about to leave with my suitcase. Chloe walked into the living room wearing a semi-transparent silk nightgown, looking at me with a victorious and mocking expression. “What’s this? Has Jack kicked you out? Having to leave in the middle of the night?”

I didn’t want to respond to her words and continued walking with my suitcase. Jack suddenly ran in front of me to block my way, coldly rebuking me: “Evelyn, stop making a scene. You’re not a three-year-old child, don’t keep running away from home. Put your suitcase back now, and I’ll forgive your childish behavior this time.” I didn’t even look at Jack, continuing to pull my suitcase out the door. Jack stood at the doorway and sneered, “Where else can you go besides your parents’ house? If you go back to your parents, aren’t you afraid of worrying them?” Hearing the implication in Jack’s words, I knew he was afraid I would go back to my parents and tell them everything. But Jack knew me well enough to know that I would worry my family if I went back, so I never intended to return to my parents’ house. I drove to the riverside where I had been drinking last time. I tossed my suitcase aside and started drinking. To hell with Jack and everything else. Coincidentally, I met Ryan again. He seemed to know where I was, always able to find me. Seeing me drinking to drown my sorrows, Ryan suddenly asked, “If I wanted to steal Jack’s wife, would you let me?” I was stunned for a moment. He was speaking English, but why did it sound so confusing when put together? But I was drunk and didn’t care about all that, so I said very frankly, “I’m willing. But are you willing to marry into my family?” Ryan nodded, “Sure, as long as I can steal Jack’s wife, I’ll give you all my money.” Although his words sounded nice, with Jack’s precedent, I was still a bit cautious. “No, I don’t want your money. I want you to marry into my family, with a written contract and everything.” Ryan quickly had his secretary print out two copies of a marriage contract and send them over. I signed the contract in a trance, then sat on Ryan’s lap, pinching his chin and drunkenly laughing, “You better not lie to me. If you do, I’ll make you a eunuch, and Jack too.” Ryan nodded and pointed at my phone, smiling, “Now that we’re engaged, shouldn’t you divorce Jack?” Having solved a big problem, I nodded seriously and dialed Jack’s number. Jack’s roar came from the other end, “Evelyn, where the hell have you been?” I wrapped my arms around Ryan’s neck and nuzzled his face. “I’m cuddling with Ryan. Young people have such nice skin, not like you with your crow’s feet.” I heard Jack grinding his teeth, “Evelyn, where are you? I’m coming to get you.”

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Three days before our silver anniversary. I stumbled upon his secret—a hidden basement. Every inch from floor to ceiling was covered in photos of another woman. I realized that from his thirties to his sixties, his heart belonged to someone else. Those crucial business trips, those mysterious souvenirs—they all made sense now, seeing the radiant smiles in the photos. I stared at my own hands, marked with the signs of hard work. Suddenly, I felt exhausted. Declan was away on a business trip, but his assistant showed up at my door. “Mrs. Carter, we really need that document. It’s important to us.” Standing at the door, Declan’s assistant looked at me with respect. I tried calling Declan three times, but there was no answer. “Are you sure it’s in the study?” The assistant nodded politely. I reluctantly went upstairs to search for it. I rarely entered Declan’s study. He didn’t like to be disturbed while working. As I fumbled around the desk, a pen holder caught my eye. It seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen it before. The assistant’s voice urged me from downstairs. As I exited, I accidentally knocked over the pen holder. With a loud thud, an opening appeared behind the bookshelf. I was taken aback, hearing the assistant calling from below. I quickly went down and handed over the document. The assistant seemed concerned by my expression. “Mrs. Carter, is everything alright?” I pressed my lips together and shook my head. After he left, I went back to the study. Staring at the lit basement, I hesitated. My instincts screamed not to enter. But my legs moved on their own, leading me inside. The room was bathed in a warm yellow light. Yet, upon entering, I was completely frozen. The walls were filled with photos of one person. Some were faded, others discolored, clearly aged. Yet, they were carefully framed by the owner. I stepped closer and gently touched a photo. Not a speck of dust—indicating the owner’s deep care for these photos. The subject was always the same person. She looked familiar—I recognized her at once. It was Declan’s first love, Nora. The wall was covered with photos of young Nora. Reading, shopping, dining—captured in many moments. The most recent showed her, with some gray hair, feeding pigeons. She was wearing a blue traditional dress, timelessly elegant and graceful. Her smile was bright as she looked at the camera. The thought that Declan might have taken this photo inexplicably upset me. Nora was Declan’s first love. Back when he was at his lowest. She left without a word to study abroad. But the travel expenses were covered by my father, who felt sorry for her troubled home life. Because of this, for a long time after I married Declan. He treated me coldly. I quietly endured a lot of grievances. Looking closely at these photos. There were quite a few of them together. Declan appeared relaxed in front of the camera. I rarely saw him so carefree. I looked at my hands, marked with the toll of labor, dull and lifeless. I sat quietly in the room, staring at the wall of photos. I thought about many things. Years ago, to be with Declan, I had a falling out with my parents. I almost missed seeing my father one last time. During Declan’s three years of studying abroad, I managed the household through all its ups and downs. I took care of his bedridden mother every day. I even financially supported him during his studies. We had a harmonious time together. During that period, we had our son, Theo. But back then, Declan’s career was just starting. He didn’t have time for household matters. I took on everything so he could focus on his career. During that time, he treated me very well. Though it was tough, it was also happy. When did things change? It was when Nora returned from her messy divorce abroad. I remember when I heard the news, Theo was only two. I worried that what I had was just an illusion, like a moonlit reflection on water. Sensing my unease, Declan comforted me for a long time. He said many things, promising he wouldn’t look back. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, without a hint of guilt, I felt relieved. Looking back, perhaps he did have genuine feelings, but true feelings can change in an instant. Suddenly, my heart felt swollen and heavy, like a sponge soaked in water. My hands trembled uncontrollably. He must have struggled to hide it from me. It’s been most of a lifetime.

An indescribable sadness spread from my chest to my entire body. I wanted to ask him why. Why did he do this? But as I picked up my phone, all my strength left me. I collapsed to the ground, letting the overwhelming emotions consume me. I carefully put everything back in its place, as if they had never been disturbed. But only I knew that beneath the seemingly flawless exterior, everything inside was already in ruins. Quietly, I packed my things, one by one. I had lived here too long. There were many scattered items, fortunately, Declan was away. It took me almost three days to pack everything. There were many things, but none of value. The valuable items I brought long ago had been sold during tough times. Leaving the house, I felt an indescribable lightness. I looked back at the house I had lived in for most of my life, still feeling reluctant. But I knew, no matter how long I stayed, it was never truly mine. It always bore someone else’s mark. I got into the car to go home. Since my parents passed away, I hadn’t returned home. In my years of wandering, I thought I had finally settled down. But it turned out to be a sugar-coated poison. I was coaxed into willingly consuming it. Three days after I returned to my hometown, someone finally called me. “Mom, where did you go?” “Tomorrow, Theo has a holiday. Leo and I are too busy. I’ll bring Theo over tomorrow.” My son’s voice was full of energy, with a hint of dissatisfaction and reproach. “Mom, did you hear me? In bright daylight, it’s so sunny. Stop running back and forth. I’ve been there several times for nothing.” His nagging continued in my ear. I was a bit dazed. I don’t think I ever complained about my parents like this, did I? I shouldn’t have. It’s been too long; I can’t remember. “Theo, let your mother-in-law bring him. I’m not convenient right now.” I calmly finished speaking and hung up the phone. Lying in the room I slept in during childhood, I felt especially at ease. A sense of security filled me. Unexpectedly, the person who should have returned in a week was standing at my door, looking worn out. Seeing Declan’s travel-worn appearance, I was surprised. “Maeve, what are you doing? Do you know the paparazzi caught you? Now everyone is saying we’re getting a divorce. The company is asking questions. It’s a big deal.” Declan’s words shattered all my illusions. I felt ridiculous for still holding onto fantasies about Declan. I thought he rushed over because he was worried about me. But his first instinct was to think about something else. “But if you don’t say and I don’t say, who knows I’m your wife?” My tone was dismissive. Noticing his harsh tone, he changed his approach. “Maeve, these days, you weren’t home. Our son and I were worried about you. What happened?” “Tell me, I’ll stand up for you.” “Did the assistant say something offensive?” Declan’s gritted teeth made it seem like he’d fight for me. Turns out, all these years, I was deceived by his act. “Declan, let’s get a divorce.” His endless chatter stopped immediately. He paused, seemingly thinking about what I just said. “Maeve, what’s wrong?” Declan’s voice was urgent. “I don’t agree. Who upset you? Let’s confront them, okay? Don’t say things in anger.” I just looked at him coldly. I never noticed before how well he acted. The praised good husband was secretly a hopeless romantic collecting photos of his first love. “Declan, I discovered the basement.” His expression froze completely at my words, his face turning visibly unpleasant. “Didn’t I tell you not to enter the study?” See, this person whom I had adored since my youth—once his secrets were exposed, his first reaction was to lash out and blame me. In that moment, all the small incidents from the past rushed into my mind. Without exception, they were all about Declan’s disdain and barely veiled contempt. Yes, a nouveau riche family like mine, being able to reach the heights of someone as educated as him, was indeed considered a stroke of ancestral luck. Reflecting on this, I couldn’t help but recall the numerous past events. “You should go back. Next time, bring a lawyer, alright? I won’t shortchange myself even a cent.” I stood, blocking the doorway, indicating for him to leave. Declan’s face turned grim.

He frowned, “Mabel, everyone has a past. Could you stop clinging to it and let it go?” “Besides, we’re both at an age where nothing could happen between Nora and me.” “And at our age, announcing a divorce would be laughable. People will gossip about you.” Declan’s words seemed to consider my welfare, yet they were continuously faulting me for being immature. “There’s no need, Declan.” “You should go back.” “I keep telling you, there’s nothing between Nora and me. Why won’t you believe me? Think it over.” Declan left, his expression stern. I had seen him off to study abroad on a ship. Sent him off on countless flights for field research. Every morning, I saw him off to work. And now, I watched him leave in a huff. I felt a whirlwind of emotions, an indescribable discomfort. Yet, I also felt an unusual sense of relief. I took all my belongings home. He should understand the firmness of my decision this time. I waited for the lawyer to arrive. After all, his company was built on the hard-earned money of my parents, whom he regarded as mere merchants. I waited and waited, but it was my son’s family who showed up instead. As soon as they entered, my son covered his nose in disdain. “Mom, this place reeks of mold. How can anyone live here? It’s covered in dust. Come back with us, okay?” Even my four-year-old grandson, Theo, mimicked him, covering his nose. In a sweet voice, he said, “It’s stinky here. Grandma, come back with us.” With that, he tried to grab my hand. I quietly avoided his hand. “Why did you bring the child here?” “Isn’t it because of you, Mom? Dad told me everything. Why are you still fussing over this? You’re both so old now. Why not just stay home peacefully with Theo?” “Why do you have to follow the young people’s trend of getting divorced? It’s a mess.” “I met Aunt Nora. She’s honest and straightforward with Dad. There’s nothing improper between them.” Declan Junior scolded me thoroughly over the phone. My expression gradually turned cold. “So why are you here? To be your dad’s messenger?” His expression paused for a moment. “I’m here to check on you. You moved out in a hurry, with no one to look after you. Of course, we worry about you.” He said that, but his eyes couldn’t help but glance around the slightly shabby house, failing to hide his disdain. My daughter-in-law stood obediently to the side. “Alright, you’ve seen me. There’s nothing wrong here. You should go back.” Declan Junior didn’t say anything, just had Theo come over and hug my leg. I patted his head. Suddenly, I remembered, Declan Junior used to be just like that. He looked so soft and fair. When I stayed up late worrying about making ends meet, working on side projects by lamplight, he would wake up and cling to me. He’d massage my forehead with tiny hands, promising to buy me a big house and ensure I lived a good life when he grew up. His hands were so small back then, his words naive, his voice soft. But now, he’s looking at me with impatience, looking at this house with disdain. He used to love visiting his grandma’s house. Children you raise with your own hands can grow so distant when they grow up. Let alone a spouse. Maybe it’s because I never really understood them. I pushed Theo back. Gestured for my daughter-in-law to take the child outside. She didn’t say much, just took the child out. I looked at the child who was now two heads taller than me. I felt a bit dazed. Time flies, and Theo has grown so much. “When did you meet Aunt Nora?” My voice was steady, but Declan Junior was impatient. “Mom! This isn’t the time to dwell on that. The company is affected. Can you stop fighting with Dad? He’s so old now, and he can’t do anything with Aunt Nora. Can’t you just see her as an ordinary old friend?” “Besides, at this age, who doesn’t have friends? You’re always at home, not interacting with others. You should go downstairs and chat with the neighbors more often. I think you’re too idle, that’s why you overthink everything.”

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