Twelve-year-old Luke Wilson picked up two things at the farmers market. One was a newborn female puppy, and the other was me. Luke brought us both home and named me Lily. He provided for me, taught me, and hoped I would grow up safe and sound. Fifteen years later, Luke rebuilt his family business. Everyone thought he loved me more with each passing year. But only I knew he wouldn’t care so much about a little trash he picked up. Finally, the person Luke had been waiting for returned to the country. Without a second thought, he handed me over to his friend: “The female dog at home started breeding with different male dogs when she was two years old.” “What makes you think you’re special?” The Hillside Club was built halfway up the mountain. Without a registered license plate, one had to walk up. Luke’s urgent text messages kept coming. By the time I reached the private room door, my heels were already blistered and bleeding. I dared not delay and pushed the door open. All eyes in the room turned to me. I immediately spotted Luke sitting in the middle of the crowd. He was intimately kissing a woman on his lap, their tongues intertwined. Their hands roamed each other’s bodies. “Well, well, if it isn’t Wilson’s little adopted pet. Cute little thing, isn’t she?” A man on the couch whistled at me, making kissing noises. I clutched my coat tightly, lowering my head in silence. Hearing this, Luke finally released the woman and beckoned me over. “What are you standing there for? Come sit.” Luke, still fondling the woman’s slender waist, pointed at an empty spot on the table: “There’s still room on the table. Make do with that.” “And didn’t I teach you how to greet people properly?” At this, everyone in the room snickered, waiting to see my performance. The woman on Luke’s lap playfully hit him. “Why are you being so mean?” The man grabbed her mischievous hand and kissed it. “She’s young. I’m just teaching her, that’s all.” He then turned to me: “This is your future sister-in-law, Vanessa.” “Come on, call her sister-in-law. Let’s hear it.”

I obediently called her “Sister-in-law” and placed the newly bought stockings and condoms on the table. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.” As I said this, I turned to leave. But the next second, Luke suddenly kicked the table: “Who said you could leave?” “You’ve really gotten spoiled. You don’t even listen to me anymore?” “I told you to sit on the table!” Luke grabbed my hand and threw me towards the table. I lost my balance, and my waist slammed against the table edge. I was in so much pain that I started sweating, my hands pressed against the table as I struggled to stand up. Everyone in the room burst into laughter. Vanessa coquettishly pushed him: “Luke, don’t be like that. She’s still a girl, not really a dog you adopted!” Luke suggestively thrust his hips against the woman: “Oh? Are you finally jealous?” The two continued their intimate behavior. Vanessa held the man’s hand, pretending to be angry: “Stop it, your sister is watching.” Luke immediately gripped Vanessa’s thigh and pressed his lips to hers: “What sister? She’s just a bitch I picked up.”

As the two kissed passionately, the surrounding men became excited and said with malicious intent: “I heard… a bitch in heat can’t be satisfied even by ten dogs!” “Is that true, Luke?” The men around started rubbing their hands and unbuckling their belts. Luke glanced at me from the corner of his eye: “Why don’t you try and find out for yourselves?” I frantically wrapped myself tighter, curling into a ball. My eyes, filled with fear and pleading, looked towards Luke: “Brother… please… don’t…” But seeing my expression only seemed to excite Luke more. He stood up, cupping the woman’s bottom in his arms and bouncing her heavily. Looking down at me, he said: “The female dog we brought home together started breeding with different male dogs when she was just two years old.” “What makes you think you’re special?”

As soon as Luke gave his permission, the surrounding men surged towards me. In my confused state, someone took off my coat and pressed a glass of wine to my lips: “A little drink will make you feel better, puppy!” Luke intervened. “Don’t give her alcohol, she’s allergic.” I foolishly thought he would save me. I struggled desperately to break free from the grip of several men, crawling urgently to his feet, placing my forehead on the surface of his shiny leather shoes: “Brother! Save me, I promise I’ll be good from now on…” “I’ll listen to you and sister-in-law! I swear!” “If you tell me to leave, I’ll go! I won’t ever appear in front of you again!” But the next second, I felt a cold liquid being poured onto my back. The people around went wild: “Luke knows how to play!” “Wine on the back, double the fun!” I was thrown onto the table once again. Someone was filming nearby, saying extremely vulgar things. A sticky tongue licked across my skin. Although there was a table behind me, I felt like I was falling endlessly. Countless hands covered my body, tearing at my clothes. In my confusion, I saw Luke take a sip of wine and pass it to Vanessa with his mouth. “That’s enough, guys. She’s my only sister.” “Don’t break her.”

In my desperation, I caught sight of a wine bottle not far away, slowly rolling towards me due to the shaking table. Seeing it as my lifeline, I grabbed the bottle and smashed it on the head of the man in front of me. Once… twice… In an instant, glass and blood were scattered everywhere. The pungent liquid also splattered onto my face. Vanessa immediately let out an ear-piercing scream. The man I had hit felt the blood flowing from his forehead and fainted shortly after from shock. The bottle was smashed, leaving only a sharp half. I held it, pointing it at the men who tried to rush towards me. They all stopped in their tracks, no one daring to come closer. Luke tried to come up and stop me: “Lily, calm down. We were just playing around…” Luke bet that I wouldn’t hurt him and slowly approached me. My hand couldn’t stop shaking, tears had long been flowing uncontrollably. Seeing Luke less than two meters away from me, my emotions became even more uncontrollable. I pressed the sharp end against my own neck. Luke was too scared to come any closer: “Lily! Are you crazy?!” “I gave you your life! You have no right to decide your own death!” Tears messily stuck to my hair strands, my vision starting to blur. “It’s just one life. I’m giving it back to you.”

If I had known this day would come, I would have rather lived with cockroaches in the sewers of the farmers market. Years ago, Luke’s father was exposed by the media for his evil deeds — behind the facade of a children’s philanthropist was a perverted pedophile. With multiple pieces of irrefutable evidence presented, Luke’s father was sent to prison, where he soon committed suicide, unable to bear the shame. The Wilson family’s assets were frozen for investigation, and the company, deeply affected by public opinion, never recovered. Luke’s mother followed in his father’s footsteps not long after, screaming her innocence until her dying breath. But no one believed her. Overnight, their world turned upside down. That year, Luke was twelve years old. Relatives stayed far away from the Wilson family, and no one wanted to take in Luke, seeing him as a burden. So, just starting middle school, he used the little cash left in the family to rent a small house outside and lived alone for years. To save money, he would always go to the nearby farmers market at dusk to buy cheap, leftover vegetables that others had passed over. Until he met a little girl stealing buns. The bakery owner was chasing her with a rolling pin, determined to teach the little girl a lesson. Luke originally wanted to quickly pay for his items and leave, but he heard the vegetable vendor complaining: “It’s that unwanted little beggar again.” “I wonder what her parents are thinking.” Luke was stunned. He thought, wasn’t he also an unwanted child? He stopped the bakery owner and paid for the buns. When he found the little girl in the sewers of the farmers market, she was feeding the stolen buns to a newborn puppy. But the puppy couldn’t eat what the little girl saw as a delicacy, only whimpering weakly. “Newborn puppies need milk.” The little girl looked at Luke in terror, immediately becoming defensive. Luke just walked up, handed the buns he had just bought to the little girl, and patted her head. “Come on, let’s go home with big brother.” “I’ll make sure you have buns to eat every day from now on.” And so, under the puzzled gazes of onlookers, he took away a little beggar girl and a female puppy. In the rented room, Luke used a warm towel to clean the little girl’s body. “Big brother doesn’t have a family anymore. Will you be big brother’s family?” The little girl didn’t have a family either. She didn’t understand what family meant, she only knew that the brother in front of her wasn’t a bad person. That day, Luke named the little girl Lily. Hoping she would grow up safe and sound, year after year.

I didn’t die, but I wasn’t really living either. I was locked in a room Luke had specially prepared for me in the Wilson house, existing in a state between life and death. The windows were locked from the outside, airtight. Inside the room, there was nothing but a bed and a bathroom, nothing else. I looked at myself in the mirror, bandages wrapped around my neck, my face already gaunt and haggard. Just like before, whenever I angered Luke, he would starve me for days. He would starve me until I had no strength to argue with him, and only when I begged him for food would he be satisfied enough to let me out. But this time, Luke noticed something was different. Because I was getting thinner day by day, but there were no signs of me begging him. So Luke changed his strategy. He started tormenting me day and night. He violently forced himself on me, ravaging my mouth. My stomach, already empty of food, kept churning with bile. I wanted to vomit but couldn’t bring anything up. Obviously, a body so thin it hurt to touch didn’t arouse much interest in him. Until one day, I started eating on my own. Luke rushed home from the company, overjoyed, stroking my head and apologizing. “I was wrong last time, it won’t happen again.” “Will you forgive your brother, Lily?” I put down the soup spoon, looked up at him, and agreed with a smile. I had figured it out. I couldn’t just die so easily. I wanted to make Luke suffer unbearably, to make him experience pain worse than everything I had gone through.

I finally stepped out of that hell, but when I returned to my room, I found Vanessa living in my bedroom. Vanessa was wearing a loose white shirt, her legs exposed. Seeing me, she pretended to be surprised and hugged me: “Oh my God, Lily, how did you get so thin?” “Have you not been eating well? When Luke gets back, I’ll scold him for you!” I didn’t have the energy to play act with her. I looked past her into what should have been my room. “Where are my things?” Vanessa took a small step back, seemingly at a loss: “Oh… were those your things?” “What should we do… I asked Luke and he said they were useless trash, told me to deal with them myself.” “I threw them all away!” “Threw them away?” “Those were my things, what right did you have to throw them away?!” Having not eaten properly for several days, this shout made my heart ache terribly. “What’s all this shouting about in broad daylight?!” Luke had appeared behind me at some point, passing by me to embrace Vanessa. “Lily, what are you doing blocking the way?” “Luke, what should we do? I think I threw away all of Lily’s things.” “Did I make a mistake? I didn’t mean to! Those things really looked like…” Luke glanced at me, carelessly wiping his still damp hair with a towel: “If it’s thrown away, it’s thrown away. It was all useless trash anyway.” “The house is so big, you can just sleep in any guest room.”

In the middle of the night, someone knocked violently on the door of the room I was sleeping in. I opened the door sleepily to see Luke, his face satisfied from recent intimacy. “Go upstairs and change the sheets, and boil some water while you’re at it. Vanessa’s throat is a bit sore.” I obediently agreed: “I have some throat lozenges here, I’ll bring them to sister-in-law in a bit.” But Luke seemed to be in a strange mood. He looked at me oddly and forcefully gripped my shoulder: “Lily, you’re not jealous, are you?” “Don’t you know that from the beginning, I’ve only ever loved Vanessa?” “You volunteered to be Vanessa’s substitute, clinging to me.” … No one knew that the reason Luke cared about a little trash he picked up was because he would embrace me on countless nights. After entering college, during summer break, Luke worked four jobs a day to save money. I wanted to follow him and work too, but he wouldn’t let me, saying male bosses outside always took advantage of young girls. He was afraid I would be treated the same way. So all I did every day was wait for him to come home. By chance one time, I saw the small box that Luke usually kept locked was accidentally left with the key together. Normally, Luke never let me look at what was inside the box, or even get near that area. Driven by curiosity, I turned the key, wanting to see what treasure was hidden inside the box. It turned out there was only a yellowed photograph and two floral hair clips inside. In the photo, a young boy shyly avoided looking at the camera, while a young girl hugged him intimately, smiling happily. That was the first time I saw Vanessa. I finally understood that the box Luke wouldn’t let me open was his last sanctuary, belonging to him alone. The box contained his most precious treasure. Out of jealousy, I hid the key. When Luke came home, he frantically searched for the key but couldn’t find it anywhere. He tried to pry it open with his fingernails in desperation, but all attempts failed. I was too scared to speak, but seeing Luke’s bloodied fingernails, I tremblingly handed the key I had hidden in my pocket to Luke, who was crying with his head down. That was the first time he got so angry with me, and he didn’t come home for several days. A week later, Luke finally came back. I clumsily tried to hug him like the little girl in the photo, hoping to earn his forgiveness. I only remember that night, he kept saying “I love you so much.” But at the end of his passionate confession, it was Vanessa’s name he uttered.

When I entered the room with fresh sheets, Vanessa had just come out of the bathroom. I greeted her and then buried my head in changing the sheets. She walked to the bed wrapped in a towel, eyeing me: “Luke really has no shame, calling you to clean up so late.” “I’m sorry, Lily, we made the sheets too dirty…” Vanessa had intended to provoke me, but found I was unmoved. Her expression changed slightly, and she quickly adopted a different tone: “But come to think of it, Lily’s sexual desires must be hard to satisfy alone, right…?” “For a bitch… does it take five? Or ten?” Memories of the private club suddenly filled my entire mind, and my body felt unbearably cold. “Last time when so many men were on top of you, tell your sister-in-law honestly, you actually enjoyed it…” Before Vanessa could finish speaking, my palm landed on her face. Vanessa was stunned by my slap, holding her face frozen in place. And this scene was just witnessed by Luke, who had just pushed open the door. “Have you fucking lost your mind?!” Luke strode over to me, and the next second, a burning red handprint was imprinted on my face. My mouth was full of the taste of blood. I watched as Luke embraced Vanessa, comforting her with utmost tenderness. Vanessa nestled in Luke’s arms, crying heartbrokenly. “Luke, I just wanted to check if Lily was scared by what happened a few days ago, and she just…!” “It’s okay, Vanessa, don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Luke looked at me like I was garbage: “You’re just a dog picked up by the Wilson family, don’t forget your place.” “It seems you won’t know your mistake without some punishment.”

Once again, I was locked in that hellish room. But this time was different. Luke brought meals to my room on time every day, watching me finish before leaving. After more than a week, I finally understood his purpose for doing this. After dinner, Luke didn’t leave. He reached out and patted my face: “If it weren’t for me, you would have rotted away in that farmers market long ago.” “You should be grateful to me,” “I’ve provided for you so well for so many years, it’s time you repay our family.” Luke wanted to send me as a gift to the boss of a rival company. He dressed me in strange clothes that barely covered anything. “I heard Mr. Qin is quite the playboy.” “Women who end up in his bed never dare show their faces in public again.” “If you can please him,” “I might consider letting you be Vanessa’s bridesmaid at next month’s wedding.” … Gradually, my body began to lose strength. By the time I realized the dinner had been drugged, it was too late. 13 My body was bound with ropes, unable to move. I didn’t know where I had woken up. My eyes were blindfolded, everything was pitch black. When the sense of sight is deprived, the remaining senses become infinitely amplified. I don’t know how long it had been when the door was opened. I shuddered in shock, the scenes from that day at the private club playing on loop in my mind. The sound of leather shoes came closer and closer until it stopped near me. A man’s breath pressed down on me. It was a familiar scent. The next second, the blindfold covering my eyes was lifted. Due to the effects of the drug, my head was pounding, and my vision was blurry. I could only vaguely see the man loosening his tie, speaking with a suppressed voice: “I’ll untie the ropes first. Tell me if it hurts.” The ropes on my body were finally untied, and the man immediately covered me, barely dressed in scraps of fabric, with a blanket. The effects of the drug intensified as time passed. I still lay on the bed unable to move, with the effects growing stronger. Luke had used a potent drug, intending for me to die on this bed. I struggled to focus my vision, trying to make out the man’s face clearly. The man used a damp towel to wipe my sweaty forehead, tucking my hair behind my ear, and spoke again: “Don’t remember me?” “That’s going to be a problem.” “Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t forget me?” 14 In an instant, memories of the past flooded back to me. In college, there were quite a few boys who pursued me, but I had forgotten almost all their faces. Except for one person. We had chosen almost the same courses, and even in a gender studies course with only three students in the entire year, he and I were already two of them. He sat in the farthest position from me, yet always looked at me without trying to hide it. Until one day, I finally couldn’t stand it anymore. After class, I stopped him and asked: “Hey classmate, you’re going to stare a hole through my head.” “Can’t you show some restraint?” I had noticed before when passing by him, he always smelled like… baby powder. It wasn’t unpleasant, it was the kind of scent you could become addicted to. The boy was very tall, always wearing a white polo shirt like he was some kind of inspecting leader. In stark contrast to the color of his polo shirt were his ears, now red as blood. “I’m sorry… it won’t happen again.” “What’s your name—?” [Ethan.] “Have you forgotten me?” The man spoke with some disappointment. I remembered now, that familiar scent from earlier was the smell of baby powder. 15 “Sleep here for the night, I’ll take you back tomorrow.” I had finally managed to leave that hell, and now he wanted to send me back? My will broke through the control of the drug’s effects, and I shouted: “No!” “Help me, I can’t go back there…!” “Please, for the sake of our college friendship…” I grabbed Ethan’s hand. I heard him mutter very quietly: “Just college classmates and you still forgot me…” But soon, Ethan regained his proper demeanor.

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I landed a multi-billion-dollar deal for the company, but at the celebration party, the CEO’s wife gave all the credit to a new assistant who’d only been with the company for six months. I turned to my wife for some support, but she only looked at me with frustration. “Brandon is the heir to the Johnson family from the state capital. Building a good relationship with him will benefit the company’s future. You’ve been here a long time; can’t you step aside a little?” “Besides, if you were a rich heir from some big family, would I need to be so deferential to others?” Later, the assistant was promoted and received a huge bonus. My wife snuggled into his arms for a picture. They gazed into each other’s eyes sweetly, like a real couple, receiving everyone’s blessings. I sat quietly in the audience, watching it unfold. Everyone expected me to be insanely jealous. But I just smiled and called the family butler. “Mr. Fortune, let’s hold off on that multi-billion-dollar investment.” As soon as the meeting ended, the CEO’s assistant, Brandon Johnson, who’d been with the company for just under six months, became the center of attention. “Oh my goodness, Assistant Johnson is incredible, casually negotiating such a big contract.” “Yeah, no wonder he’s the heir to the Johnson family from the state capital. His demeanor is unmatched; even his elegance is different from ordinary people.” “Assistant Johnson’s clothing style is also impeccable. That must be a custom-made designer piece.” Brandon just smiled silently at the flattery, but his eyes showed his pride. My wife, Sophia, stepped in to defend him. “Come on, don’t bother Brandon anymore. He just landed such a big order for the company. He needs to rest.” I was about to stand up when her words stopped me cold. Because that order was something I begged my family to help with. When did it become Brandon’s achievement? Also, I’d never heard of a Brandon Johnson from the Johnson family in the state capital. In my confusion, Sophia pulled out a bank card and a Porsche key, handing them to Brandon. “Brandon, thank you for your contributions to the company.” “There’s a million on the card. Let me know if it’s not enough.” “And here’s this car. You always say your commute is too far. I’ll get you a house near the company soon…” I stared blankly at my wife. Her eyes were full of warmth I’d never seen before. Subtle laughter echoed around us, and some employees who knew about my marriage to Sophia looked at me mockingly, whispering to each other. In the past, I’d have been overwhelmed with jealousy, rushing to confront Sophia. But now, I just wanted the truth. I picked up my jacket and left, planning to call my family to get some answers. Someone suddenly noticed, “Hey, isn’t Vice President Ethan’s jacket the same as Brandon’s?” I paused and realized they were very similar. But my jacket was a custom birthday gift from an overseas designer who had since retired and vowed never to design clothing again. So my jacket was the only one of its kind in the world. As for where Brandon’s jacket came from, I had no idea. Brandon nonchalantly waved it off, “No worries, it’s just a jacket. I just bought it on a whim. If Vice President Ethan likes it, I won’t wear it tomorrow.” Everyone praised Brandon for his generosity. Brandon even had the nerve to lecture me, “Vice President Ethan, I’m glad you like my style, but I hope you find your own style instead of imitating others.” Laughter erupted. “People rely on clothes; horses rely on saddles. Even with the same clothes, it depends on who wears them. Vice President Ethan, have you heard the story of the ugly duckling?” “Wearing the same outfit isn’t scary; it’s embarrassing if you’re the ugly one!” The taunts were sharp, but I didn’t want to argue about clothes. I just wanted to sort out the investment issue. Just as I was about to leave, Sophia blocked my way, her expression cold. “Take off the jacket!” Her gaze was as sharp and cold as a knife, piercing through my shell and stabbing into my heart. I looked at her, unfamiliar. “You don’t even believe me?” Sophia was full of doubt. “The designer of this jacket is Roly from Australia, worth at least hundreds of thousands. Do you think I don’t know how much you’re worth?” “Where did you get the money to buy such an expensive jacket?” With Sophia saying this, others were even more convinced I was imitating Brandon. They urged me, “Vice President Ethan, just take it off. It’s embarrassing.” “Yeah, even if the crow is dyed white, it can’t become a swan.” Brandon kindly shook his head, “Vice President Ethan, if you really like it, I’ll give you mine.” “You keep wearing knock-offs. Even if you don’t feel embarrassed, we all feel embarrassed for Ms. Sophia!” Sophia’s expression darkened at this, and she ordered sternly, “Ethan, I command you to take off the jacket now!” I knew Sophia was genuinely angry now. In the past, I’d have taken it off immediately, begging for her forgiveness. But now, I just stubbornly looked at her, “What if I don’t?” Sophia was taken aback. I’d always been obedient to her, accepting even her most unreasonable demands without hesitation. But today, why was I defying her in public? She felt a bit embarrassed, biting her lip. Then, she pulled a box cutter from her pocket, threatening me fiercely, “If you don’t take it off, I’ll tear it apart!”

The room fell silent. Everyone stared, not daring to make a sound. I couldn’t believe Sophia was making such a fuss over a jacket. Brandon stepped forward with fake concern, breaking the silence. “We’re all family here. No need to make a scene. If Vice President Ethan likes this jacket, I’ll just give him mine.” He smiled as he took the box cutter from Sophia’s hand, then removed his jacket and handed it to me. I could tell at a glance that his jacket was a knock-off, so I pushed him away disdainfully. “Get lost!” Brandon’s eyes flashed with malice. Before I knew it, he lunged at me, the box cutter in hand. Not only did he tear my jacket, but he also slashed my arm, leaving it bloody. The pain made me gasp. But before I could speak, Brandon was on the ground, crying, “Vice President Ethan, I was just trying to help you, and I even offered my jacket. How could you push me?” His poor acting convinced some. Sophia rushed over, cradling Brandon, and shouted at me, “Ethan, are you crazy?” “Brandon even gave you his jacket, and you pushed him? Are you even human?” “Apologize to Brandon right now!” Her blatant favoritism was too obvious, stabbing at my eyes. I stood my ground, “I won’t apologize. He pushed me first. If you don’t believe me, check the surveillance.” The truth was just a glance away. But Sophia’s expression was cold, “So many people saw you push Brandon. How dare you argue?” “If that’s your attitude, I don’t think you need to be vice president anymore.” She held her head high, looking down on me. Whenever she made that face, it was a sign for me to admit my mistakes. But this time, I wasn’t wrong, and I wouldn’t admit it. I coldly laughed, tore off my ID badge, and threw it on the floor. “Fine, then I quit.” My attitude froze Sophia’s expression. “Ethan, what do you mean by this?” “Come back and explain!” “Ethan!” Sophia kept calling after me, but I ignored her and walked away. I thought I’d feel upset, but as I stepped out of the company, I felt like a bird freed from its cage. My heart was calm and light. Taking a deep breath, I called the family butler, Mr. Fortune. Within seconds, he answered, “Young Master.” “Mr. Fortune, have you ever heard of a Brandon Johnson from the Johnson family in the state capital?” Mr. Fortune paused, then replied calmly, “Never heard of him.” I smiled, “Good, then I know. Mr. Fortune, please investigate this Brandon Johnson’s identity.” After a pause, I added, “Oh, and hold off on that multi-billion-dollar order.” “Everything is as you command, Young Master.” The call ended, and I looked up at the darkening sky, my emotions mixed. Once, I was blinded by love, wanting to give Sophia the best of everything without reservation. But now, I’ve woken up, questioning if Sophia is worthy of handling a multi-billion-dollar order. I didn’t go home. Instead, I took a cab to a nearby bar. After three years of marriage, my world revolved around Sophia. Now, I wanted to give myself a break, to relax. I partied until late, stumbling home in a haze. But when I got there, the lights were on, and surprisingly, Sophia was waiting for me. The call ended, and I gazed up at the darkening sky, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. There was a time when I was so smitten that I wanted to give Sophia everything without hesitation. But now, clarity has set in, and I find myself questioning whether Sophia is truly capable of handling the responsibility of a billion-dollar deal. Instead of heading home, I hopped into a cab and went to a nearby bar. Three years of marriage had me revolving around Sophia, but now I needed a break, some time to unwind. I stayed out until midnight, returning home in a daze, only to find the lights on and Sophia waiting, which was quite unexpected. She was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed, a chilly expression on her face. “Do you even know what time it is, coming home this late?” I didn’t answer her directly. Instead, I asked, surprised, “Isn’t tonight Brandon’s celebration party? Why are you back early?” Since Brandon showed up, Sophia seemed to cling to him every chance she got. On a night like this, I thought she’d stay out. Sophia looked disheartened. “Tonight wasn’t just Brandon’s celebration; it’s also our anniversary!” “I ended things early to bring you a gift and spend time with you, but you forgot such an important day. Do you even care about me as your wife?” In the past, I meticulously planned every anniversary, booking the best restaurants. But each time, she’d leave me alone at a table for two, watching the food go cold. This time, I didn’t plan anything and instead spent the night at a bar. Sophia pushed a gift toward me. “Try it on; I picked it out just for you.” I glanced at it. The so-called gift was just an oversized t-shirt from the supermarket, priced at $39.50, with the tag still attached. Sophia rarely gave me gifts. Once, I wanted a watch priced under $500, only to get a scolding from her. “Ethan, do you think money grows on trees?” “Since when did you become so materialistic?” “I provide for you; do I need to give up my life too to make you happy?” Yet, she didn’t hesitate to give Brandon a million-dollar bonus and a brand-new Porsche. My voice turned hoarse as I said, “Just get to the point.” Sophia’s face turned tense, and she awkwardly said, “I was wondering if you could transfer your shares to Brandon?” 3 Boom! It felt like a storm had erupted in my mind. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. These shares were something Sophia had begged me to accept. “Ethan, without you, the company wouldn’t be what it is today. These shares symbolize our love. If you don’t take them, you don’t love me.” I had no choice but to accept them, with the promise that I could return them whenever she needed. But I never imagined it would end like this. Seeing my dark expression, Sophia immediately complained, “What’s your problem?” “You know today was Brandon’s celebration, and you made a scene and left early, embarrassing him.” “I had to comfort him for ages and promised to transfer your shares to him so he’d forgive you. I did it all to cover for you…” Brandon again! Just hearing his name made my blood boil. I brushed past Sophia and headed straight for the bathroom. Sophia blocked my way, her face full of resentment. “Ethan, what’s wrong with you today? I just want you to apologize to Brandon. Is it that hard?” A lump formed in my throat. Sophia sniffed, noticing the smell of alcohol and smoke on me. Her face turned displeased, “You drank?” “You promised me that after marriage, you’d never go to such places.” “I ended the celebration early to spend our anniversary with you, but you were out partying?” “Is that fair to me?” Seeing her so aggrieved felt like a bitter irony. Back then, against my family’s wishes, I gave up everything to be with her. She wanted to start a company, and I used all my resources to help her secure funding. When she failed and lost millions, I begged my family for money to cover the loss. I gave everything silently. And she, in turn, gave my credit to Brandon. Even our wedding anniversary was just an excuse to negotiate terms to please another man! Now she had the audacity to accuse me of being irresponsible. Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly, “Yes, I do owe you. If someone else suits you better, go find them.” My words seemed to ignite a ticking time bomb. Sophia, tears in her eyes, shouted at me, “I get it. You’re just jealous of Brandon, mad that I’m too good to him, right?” “But who am I doing all this for?” “It’s for this family, for our future!” “Brandon is an heir from the Johnson family in the state capital. Being close to him helps the company’s future. You’re a veteran of the company and my husband. Instead of thinking for me, you just get jealous and argue with me all day!” “If you were an heir from a big family, would I have to lower myself like this?” Her words left me breathless. I finally understood why Sophia was drifting apart from me! Because I had no money, I wasn’t the heir of a big family! I clutched my phone tightly, my knuckles whitening. On it was the real information about Brandon, which I had planned to share with her. But now, I didn’t see the point. For a moment, I felt dazed, as if I was back three years ago. After arguing with my grandfather, I ended up on the streets, destitute, until Sophia appeared like an angel, giving me food and a temporary place to stay. Her clear eyes made me fall head over heels, willing to give up everything for her. But over time, harsh reality stained those beautiful eyes with a worldly stench. What was once pure had become murky and filled with self-interest. All I wanted was simple happiness, but Sophia drifted further away without realizing it. “Sophia, let’s get a divorce.” I croaked out the words, ignoring the stunned Sophia, dragging my exhausted body to the bedroom, and collapsing into sleep. In a half-awake state that night, Sophia climbed into bed, hugging me from behind, whispering softly in my ear, “Honey, let’s have a baby. Then you won’t always be overthinking.” The familiar tenderness made my heart skip, but the next second, I caught the unpleasant whiff of cheap men’s cologne I despised. The scent made me nauseous, and I pushed her away in disgust. Sophia was hurt, slamming the door as she left, “You’ll regret this!” 4 I thought she’d run to Brandon that night. But the next morning, as I woke, Sophia came out of the kitchen smiling. “You’re up, come have breakfast.” The table was filled with heavy, greasy foods like fried dough sticks and buns. I preferred a light breakfast, and the smell made me nauseous. I forced down the urge to gag, frowning, “I’m not hungry. You eat.” Just then, Brandon came out of the kitchen with a pot of soup, grinning, “Breakfast is served!” A wave of gamey steam wafted over, and I turned pale, covering my mouth, “What is that?” Sophia smiled slightly, “Weren’t you jealous? After finding out, Brandon offered to reconcile. He made you lamb offal soup this morning.” “Have a taste.” But she knew I never ate organ meats and that even looking at them made me sick. “Take it away!” I stifled my nausea, speaking lowly. All I wanted was to escape the house and breathe some fresh air. But Sophia, with a cold face, served me a big bowl of lamb offal soup, threateningly whispering, “Brandon gave you an out. Don’t be ungrateful.” “Drink this soup and apologize to Brandon…” Before she could finish, I couldn’t take it anymore and rushed to the bathroom to vomit. Instead of being concerned, Sophia stood outside, looking disgusted, scolding loudly, “It’s just a taste, and you’re acting like this?” “You’re wasting something so good. Do you appreciate Brandon’s effort?” After scolding me, she turned to apologize to Brandon, “I’m sorry, Brandon. How embarrassing. He’s like a boar that can’t handle fine feed.” “I’ll join you for breakfast.” She then happily linked arms with Brandon, sitting at the table, chatting and eating with him, blushing at every casual touch. Completely ignoring me as I continued to vomit. By the time I managed to stop and came out of the bathroom, Brandon had already left. Seeing me, Sophia’s face turned cold. “What a way to start the day. Someone treats you to a meal out of kindness, and you just keep throwing up. It’s revolting.” “Don’t you realize that if we could connect with the Johnson family from the state capital, our future would be secured? You almost ruined such a golden opportunity!” “Thankfully, Brandon is generous enough not to hold this little mishap against you. You should call and apologize to him later.” I stood there, staring at her. This version of Sophia felt completely unfamiliar to me. Seeing my lack of response, Sophia shouted, “I’m talking to you. Are you deaf?” I took a deep breath, calmly retrieved a divorce agreement from the drawer, and said, “I’ve already signed it. I’m leaving everything—company, house. I don’t want a cent from you.” Sophia froze, staring at me in shock. I gently pushed an open pen toward her. “Sign it.” I expected her to quickly sign and then rush off to Brandon. Unexpectedly, Sophia looked hurt, tears welling up in her eyes. “Is it just because I gave Brandon slightly more benefits than you that you want a divorce?” “I did it all for your future, the company’s future, for this home.” “Do you think you deserve all my years of devotion?” “You promised to love me forever. You’re a liar! A liar!” I couldn’t comprehend why she accused me. Seeing her unrepentant, I shook my head and silently picked up my packed luggage, leaving this home. Some people never change, and some words are better left unsaid. After leaving, I called Uncle Felix. “Cancel the billion-dollar order for Sophia’s company and open it up to all businesses in Johnson City. I’ll lead this investment conference.”

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I had just opened my eyes when I saw a little girl timidly leaning on my knee, saying: “Mom, I’m hungry.” Looking at this face that resembled Lucas Gray’s, I was instantly overjoyed. After all, my lifelong dream was to form a small family of three with him. Before I could rejoice for two seconds, I turned my head and saw our wedding photo shattered on the ground! I called Lucas: “Honey! There’s been a break-in!” The next second, I heard a woman’s coquettish laughter from the other end of the line. And then, Lucas’s voice, cold as ice: “Lily Johnson, what new trick are you trying to pull? Even if you died, I wouldn’t come back!!” Before he could finish speaking, the phone was abruptly hung up. My heart was instantly filled with a whirlwind of emotions. It wasn’t long ago that Lucas was holding me, crying non-stop because he had finally married me. In the blink of an eye, he was now holding another woman and wishing me dead?! I didn’t understand what had happened in these ten years, so I turned to look at the little girl standing beside me, looking confused. The little girl was smart. In just two or three minutes, she had figured out that I wasn’t the mother who had been by her side all along. She calmly walked up to me, her big round eyes looking straight at me as she asked: “When did you come from?” “Ten years ago.” “Are you my mom?” I didn’t know how to answer, so I gently smoothed her hair: “Ten years ago, I had just married your dad. You weren’t born yet. You can think of me as your new mom.” “My name is Emily, I’m seven years old. Can you make me some noodles?” She pulled me to the kitchen. Faced with a fridge full of vegetables, I felt a bit lost. After all, I had never cooked before. After getting together with Lucas, he had created a special menu just for me. He had hand-drawn every dish I loved. “As long as I’m by your side, I’ll never let you eat takeout. I guarantee it won’t be long before I’ve kept you healthy and happy!” But Emily clutched her stomach and mumbled: “Mom’s a great chef. She always makes everything I love to eat.” Looking at the shattered wedding photo on the ground and remembering the woman’s laughter on the phone, I suddenly realized that the love I had once been so proud of had finally crumbled. I fiddled with my phone for a while, and an hour later, I finally managed to order takeout for the girl. Seeing me sitting aside, lost in thought, Emily took the initiative to hand me her phone. On the screen was the surveillance video from last night. In the footage, I was sitting on the sofa from 6 PM, waiting until midnight. Lucas finally came home, drunk. Ridiculously, he had a pair of black stockings tied around his waist. “You went to see her again, didn’t you? What’s so good about her? Don’t forget who gave you everything you have today! If it weren’t for my uncle, do you think you’d be where you are now?!” He pushed me to the ground before I could finish speaking. A slap landed on my face. “A useless woman who can’t even give birth to a son, you have the nerve to bring this up? Don’t think I don’t know about you and that uncle of yours who’s not even related by blood. If you didn’t have two cents to your name, I would have kicked you out long ago!!” “Lily, I’ve put up with you this long already, that’s more than enough face for you! If you have any brains left, wait until I bring Zoe here, do your job as a housekeeper, and to the outside world, you’ll still be the glorious Mrs. Gray!” “Lucas, if you don’t love me, why did you risk your life to save me when I was cornered in that alley back then?” I asked him, my voice hoarse.

In the video, I had puffy eyes and was wearing a plain T-shirt. I couldn’t believe it. I used to be someone who loved beauty so much that I would dress up even at home. How could I have become like this after just ten years? I carefully picked up the photos from the ground. I remembered that the wedding dress I was wearing was bought by Lucas with cash he had saved up for a long time, just because I fell in love with it at first sight. But the wedding dress was a custom-made piece from a luxury brand. When we heard the price, I immediately grabbed Lucas’s hand and started to walk out. He understood that I was trying to save money for him. As soon as we left the bridal shop, he apologized to me with tears in his eyes: “Lily, I’m sorry. We’re about to get married, and I can’t even afford a wedding dress you like.” To comfort him, I quickly said: “Actually, I didn’t like it that much.” To my surprise, Lucas pulled me into his arms, “Don’t worry, Lily. I’ll definitely buy you that wedding dress! I won’t let you down!” The next morning, I saw that dazzling wedding dress in the living room. Later, I found out that he had sold his family heirloom bracelet to buy me that wedding dress. “Now I don’t even have the startup capital for the company. I’m afraid you’ll have to bear with me through some hard times.” Seeing my beloved crying in front of me, I went to my uncle without hesitation. Despite his objections, I insisted on giving all the inheritance from my parents to Lucas. But after I settled Emily and finally managed to find Lucas’s company after great effort, I went there with a heart full of anger and questions. I couldn’t believe that he, who had seemed to love me so much ten years ago, would cheat on me! But when I saw Lucas embracing a woman in his office, my already shaky heart finally shattered completely. I was about to push the door open and beat up this cheating couple. But when I saw the bracelet on the woman’s wrist, my hand froze in midair. Wasn’t that the family heirloom bracelet that Lucas had sold?! The next second, I saw the woman laughing as she put her arms around Lucas’s neck: “You won’t give me a fake wedding dress like you did to your wife when we get married, will you?” Lucas fondly tapped her nose: “How could I bear to let you wear a fake? If I hadn’t tricked her back then, how could I have gotten that $500,000 startup capital? Besides, how could she be worthy of such an expensive wedding dress?!” The woman burst into laughter at his words. Remembering how I had been showing off the wedding dress to my best friend before the time travel, my head full of fantasies about a beautiful married life. In that moment, I felt utterly ridiculous. I don’t remember when I left, but when I came to my senses, I found myself at a familiar villa. Before I could escape, the door behind me suddenly opened. “It’s cold outside. Come in and talk.” The familiar voice came, making my heart tremble. “Uncle…” Before I could finish speaking, my body suddenly lifted off the ground. Smelling that familiar scent, the grievances and insecurities that had been building up in my heart for the past two days finally burst forth as tears. “Why are you crying? If you want money, just say so. There’s no need to use this trick to force me to give money to that husband of yours.” “You know I can’t stand to see you cry.”

Before the time travel, I had just had a complete falling out with my uncle. To prevent me from marrying Lucas, he had tied me up and taken me to the mountains in the middle of the night. “Open your eyes and look carefully! This is where he grew up! A gambling father, a selfish mother. You’ve been pampered and spoiled by me. Do you really think you can endure it?” “I can! No matter how bad he is, he’s still better than a coward like you!” I shook off his hand and walked down the mountain on foot. The next day, my wedding with Lucas went ahead as planned. The socialite marrying a lowlife. I became the laughingstock of the entire city. But looking at the wedding dress I was wearing and Lucas’s hand tightly holding mine, I still smiled sweetly. It wasn’t until I saw that scene earlier that I realized how naive I had been. Uncle’s gaze moved to my feet, his brow furrowing deeply. It was then that I noticed my shoes had come off at some point. I realized that the soles of my feet were raw and bloody. I watched as he reached out to touch me, then pulled back. Finally, he sighed: “I’ll have the housekeeper send the money over later. You should go now. There’s no need to see someone you don’t want to see just for money.” Seeing him about to leave, I quickly grabbed him: “I don’t want money. I want you to help me divorce Lucas!” Although Uncle didn’t understand what had happened, he nodded at me. When I returned home, I saw a seductive-looking woman wearing my pajamas. She was holding my husband, looking at me provocatively. Before I could speak, Lucas questioned me first: “Lily, why are you running around outside instead of cooking at home? Don’t you know Zoe and I are starving?” “Mom, my hand hurts.” Emily ran to me, dropping the spatula. I saw that her little hand was covered in blisters. “Lucas, if you were hungry, couldn’t you order takeout? Emily is only seven years old, how could you let her cook? She’s not even as tall as the stove! You’re her father! Are you even human?!” Lucas strode over and slapped me hard. With a loud “smack” — I fell to the ground, completely defenseless. “Who do you think you are to yell at me?” Lucas’s cold rebuke made me wonder if he was still the same boy who had blushed and asked me to marry him before the time travel. Zoe stepped forward disdainfully, stepping on my hand. “She’s just a little girl. It’s her honor to cook for me. After all, I’m carrying the Gray family’s son!” I looked behind her and saw a flash of reluctance on Lucas’s face. A moment later, he resumed his cold demeanor. “As long as you obediently take care of Zoe and her child, and do your job as a housekeeper, I promise no one can threaten your position as Mrs. Gray!” Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. I forced a smile: “Of course, I’ll take good care of Miss Parker!” After saying this, I struggled to my feet and made a table full of dishes for them. Lucas looked at the blackened mess on the plates. His face darkened, and he directly stood up and flipped the table. “Lily Johnson, what do you mean by this! Who do you expect to eat this stuff! Don’t think you can pretend you can’t cook to stop me from moving Zoe in! Let me tell you, even if you leave this house, Zoe is staying!” My luggage was thrown out of the bedroom by Zoe. At that moment, Uncle sent a message. “Everything’s taken care of.” I took Emily’s hand, listening to Lucas and the woman flirting in the bedroom. I smiled: “Since you love each other so much, I’ll give you my blessing!”

I took Emily back to the villa my parents had left behind. Strangely, I hadn’t returned here since my parents passed away. But all the furniture in the house was brand new, without a speck of dust. Looking at the family photo of me, my parents, and Uncle hanging on the wall, I was extremely surprised. Because this photo had been torn to pieces the night I confessed to Uncle. But now it was hanging intact on the wall. Before I could figure out what had happened, I saw Uncle coming out of the kitchen with prepared meals. It was then that I realized that since I got married, Uncle had moved here. He had never left, always carefully looking after every blade of grass and every tree in the villa. Even the hydrangeas in the backyard were blooming more vigorously than before. At the dinner table, Uncle pushed a card in front of me. It was then that I learned that the assets my parents left me were far more than $500,000. Even the building where Lucas’s company was located was my parents’ property. “They said that this money should be given to you when you could stand on your own feet. I think now is the best time.” Uncle paused after speaking. He stared at me hesitantly for a long time, and finally said: “Are you sure you want to divorce Lucas?” Before the time travel, I saw Lucas as my salvation. With just one word from him, I gave him all my savings for his business. Even with just one promise from him, I gave my mother’s gold ring to his cousin to marry his wife. But I gave him all my heart, and what did I get in return? His betrayal. He made our seven-year-old daughter cook for him and his mistress. He kicked me out of the house in the middle of the night, almost leaving me homeless. “I’m definitely getting this divorce!” I firmly told Uncle. But when I looked down at my clothes still stained with oil, I realized that I didn’t even have a job now. If the other party sued, I definitely wouldn’t have a chance to win custody of Emily. Uncle seemed to see through my concerns. He patted the girl who was eating with her head down. “Don’t worry about the divorce. I’ll help you hire the best lawyer in the city.” Before returning to my room, I anxiously called out to him. Uncle smiled and tapped my forehead: “Don’t be afraid. No matter what happens, I’ll be with you. I won’t leave you alone again.” The blush on my cheeks spread to my ears. But I didn’t notice Ethan’s heavy breathing. When I returned to the Gray mansion the next day to pack my things, I opened the door to find Lucas sitting on the sofa in the living room. His gaze fell on me with intense pressure. “Lily, don’t you have anything to say to me?” I ignored him and walked straight towards the bedroom. But he grabbed my wrist tightly: “Who allowed you to see Ethan Johnson without telling me? Don’t forget we’re married, you’re Mrs. Gray now!” I shook off his hand and retorted without mercy: “You’re allowed to fool around and hook up with other women, but I’m not allowed to see my own family? Lucas Gray, when you can control your lower half, then you can try to control me!” Lucas stumbled as I pushed him away, and he was about to charge at me again. Just as his hand was about to fall, his phone suddenly rang. A few seconds later, he asked with furrowed brows: “Lily, that building where the company is located belongs to you?!” “Why didn’t you tell me in the ten years we’ve been married!” I looked at his shocked expression and said slowly: “For the rent of these ten years, considering we’re still husband and wife, I’ll give you a 90% discount. You only need to pay another $50 million, and I’ll throw in an extra gift.” I took out the divorce papers and threw them in his face: “Lucas Gray, let’s get divorced! From now on, you can have children with whoever you want, it’s none of my business!”

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On the wedding day, my chosen bridesmaid fell ill suddenly. Theo quickly arranged for his close friend, Quinn, to fill in. He joked with me, “Quinn is such a klutz; even in a dress, she might not seem very ladylike.” But when he saw Quinn all dressed up, he was taken aback. He instructed the wedding car to pick her up first, then come for me. When I found out, I was upset with him for his poor handling of the situation. He said impatiently, “Quinn is a good friend of mine. Can you please not be so particular?” Fine! I turned the wedding into a breakup scene. “Ella, I’m really sorry. I can’t make it. You’ll need to find a new bridesmaid.” On the wedding day, the first call I received brought bad news. The friend who was supposed to be my bridesmaid had acute gastroenteritis. She was too sick to attend. This unexpected change made my heart sink. I shared the news with Theo while frantically searching for another candidate. But after going through my options, I realized there wasn’t anyone particularly suitable. In my anxiety, Theo messaged me: “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll sort it out.” Shortly after, he video-called me. “Babe, I’ve found someone. Quinn. She was supposed to be one of the guys today, but she’ll step in as your bridesmaid.” Quinn? Hearing her name stirred an inexplicable irritation in me. Quinn was a childhood friend of Theo’s. She was outgoing, treating everyone in their circle like family. Several times, she even hugged Theo in my presence and took sips from his bubble tea. She didn’t care if Theo had just used that straw. I would get visibly upset, but Theo didn’t see the issue. After it happened a few times, I earned the reputation of being the jealous, possessive girlfriend in their circle. The last time, his friends tried to reassure me: “Sis, Quinn is just like that. We don’t see her as anything more than a buddy. It’s just how she is!” What nonsense! I was about to explode! I told Theo, “I can’t stand this. If you continue having no boundaries with Quinn, we’re done!” After that, Theo did make some changes. But Quinn wasn’t happy. She complained about me in their group chat and seized every opportunity to mock me to my face. “Sis, see? I didn’t drink Theo’s bubble tea this time, satisfied?” “Theo, if your wife says drink less, then do it! Don’t upset her again.” “Oh, we’re going out later. Theo, the henpecked one, better head home!” I never let her provocations slide. Theo told her to stop, but I could tell he was uncomfortable. Back to the present, Theo was smiling in the video: “Ha, Quinn is so clumsy; even in a dress, she might not seem very ladylike.”

Time was running out, so I agreed to let Quinn be the bridesmaid. Just after I finished my bridal makeup, my phone rang again. My eyelid twitched. Friend A: “Ella, did you know Theo instructed the wedding car to pick up Quinn first, then come for you?” “And during their video call just now, Theo couldn’t take his eyes off Quinn all dressed up.” “What?” Those words changed my expression. Anger surged, my temples throbbed. I immediately called Theo. “Did you tell the car to pick up Quinn first, then me?” Theo paused before replying, “Isn’t she being your bridesmaid? Of course, she needs to be picked up first.” Is that a reason? I questioned him, “There are a dozen cars. Any of your friends could have gone. Why you?” He seemed at a loss for words. After a few seconds, he reluctantly explained: “Baby, don’t be mad! I’ll be honest. This was Quinn’s condition for being a bridesmaid. I had no choice.” At that moment, it felt like something in my head snapped. I couldn’t help but recall how she always fought for the front seat. The first time was on my birthday when Theo came to pick me up. As I reached the car, I saw Quinn in the front seat. Smiling brightly, she waved at me: “Hey, sis! Mind if I hitch a ride? I get carsick in the back. I’ll give the seat back when we get there.” Acting all carefree and playful. Theo opened the back door, seeing me standing still, he quickly added: “We just ran into each other. I was just giving her a ride. She really does get carsick; otherwise, I wouldn’t let her sit in front!” I was about to speak when Quinn clicked her tongue, playfully pouting: “Theo, you’re really all about your girlfriend now. What, want to kick me out of the car?” “If you dare, I’ll kick you out of the brotherhood group, hmph!” Once Theo was in and buckling up, she suddenly reached to tug his ear. Just touched it and then pulled back, sticking her tongue out: “Oops, Theo’s taken now. I better watch my boundaries.” Ugh! Such a fake act! I confronted Theo over this. He was frustrated: “I told you, there’s nothing between Quinn and me. Why can’t you believe it?” Once or twice, I could ignore it. But with her appearing every now and then, Theo finally realized it was inappropriate. After refusing her a ride two or three times, things improved. I didn’t expect her to pull this stunt on our wedding day! I frowned, “Theo, turn around now. Have someone else pick her up!” He sighed. “I’m already at her place! Ella, Quinn is my buddy. She’s being your bridesmaid today. Can you please just let this go?” Sending the main wedding car for the bridesmaid before the bride? This was clearly his mishandling, yet he blamed me for being petty? Ridiculous.

I hung up the phone abruptly. Theo called back over ten times wanting to apologize, but I didn’t answer. Until he came with a big group of friends. After they got the door opened with a red envelope, Theo, surrounded by his buddies, came to my room. Quinn stood beside him, wearing a pink bridesmaid dress, looking cute and charming. “Baby!” Theo called out sweetly, opening his arms to hug me. I discreetly pushed him away. “Sweetheart, today’s our big day. Be happy, okay?” As he whispered in my ear, Quinn pulled him away. “The groom’s in such a rush! We still have games to play.” Her words were for Theo, but her eyes provocatively glanced at me. While my friends arranged games, Theo and his friends started the wedding games. Unlike the joyous atmosphere, I remained expressionless. Watching Theo actively participating in each game, I felt an indescribable feeling. I’ve liked Theo since college. He was the campus heartthrob, poor but talented, exceptionally hard-working. We officially got together at a class reunion after graduation. By then, he was working at a multinational, envied by many. I, with my parents’ help, had started my own company early on. As outstanding graduates, we became the focus for drinks. He was gentlemanly, helping me block drink after drink, eyes firm and gentle. If it weren’t for the issues with Quinn, he’d make a great husband. Sadly… Today’s events were the last straw. Someone who can’t sort out relationships before marriage can’t be trusted to do so after. Maybe, this wedding shouldn’t go on.

A scream pulled my thoughts back to reality. The wedding games were nearing the end. Theo and his friends were playing the last game, passing cards mouth-to-mouth. They were hugging, laughing, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Just as Theo tilted his head to take the card from the previous buddy, Quinn moved. In a flash, she pushed the buddy behind Theo. Then stepped forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Theo’s neck. Their bodies pressed close, intimately embraced. The room erupted. Everyone’s gaze darted between the three of us. Full of surprise, gossip, and anticipation for the drama. Theo was at a loss, quickly glancing at me. He turned his head slightly, trying to push away and distance himself from Quinn. But Quinn grabbed his face, pulling him close, and kissed him. “Wow!” A louder cheer erupted from the crowd. I widened my eyes, staring dumbfounded at the scene. It felt like those few seconds of passing the card were stretched infinitely, and my heart sank. The game ended amid laughter and cheers. Quinn, as if she won a prize, waved the card, laughing gleefully. Theo pushed her away, looking serious: “That was silly. Who let you play this game?” Quinn pouted, dissatisfied: “I’m both a bridesmaid and a buddy. So what if I play a game?” My best friend, Chloe, seeing my unhappy face, was also furious. She couldn’t help but nudge Quinn, scolding her: “Today is their big day. Why are you causing a scene? You’re really bold!” 5. Quinn blinked her big, innocent eyes, biting her lip in frustration. The atmosphere turned awkwardly silent. One of the groomsmen chuckled to ease the tension, “Hey, it’s just a game. Why get upset?” He turned to me, “Quinn was just trying to lighten the mood. I’m sure you won’t hold it against her, right?” I wasn’t having it, “What? Trying to guilt-trip me?” Theo looked a bit guilty. He rubbed his nose and walked toward me. “Listen, honey: Quinn’s just being her usual playful self. Let’s not take it to heart.” “Quinn, apologize to your sister-in-law already.” Quinn rolled her eyes and blurted out, “Apologize for what? I didn’t do anything wrong!” “Sis, I’ve already told you, there’s nothing between Theo and me. If there were, you’d be looking at a different bride today.” Hiss! The crowd murmured. I sneered, almost ready to slap her. But then I noticed the photographers in the corner and thought of a better idea. Forcing a smile, I said, “Forget it! It’s getting late, and we shouldn’t miss the perfect time.” Surprisingly, everyone seemed shocked at how quickly the matter was settled. Especially Quinn, her mouth wide open in disbelief. Theo sighed in relief. He took my hand with a loving expression. I resisted the urge to pull away and reminded him, “Hurry up and find my wedding shoes, silly.” Theo finally realized and started looking for the shoes. He quickly found them behind the curtain and helped me put them on. With the shoes on, I took Theo’s arm and walked out of the room. Quinn watched from the side, her expression unreadable. I chuckled to myself; the real show was yet to come. 6 The wedding was at the Glorious Hotel. After settling in, Theo and I stood at the entrance to greet our guests. Quinn, being a bridesmaid, naturally stayed close by. But she couldn’t help but inch closer to Theo. Under the pretext of conversation, she moved closer and closer. The two of them stood side by side, occasionally whispering and laughing loudly. To an outsider, it might seem like she was today’s bride. Meanwhile, I observed with a blank expression. Enduring it, waiting… Even the groomsmen couldn’t stand it and signaled Theo to pull Quinn away. But she pushed him aside, “What are you doing, Logan? Got a twitch?” Heh. Playing dumb while fully aware. I didn’t bother with them, and as I turned, I saw a familiar figure approaching. “Hey, Ella!” Ethan waved. He was sharply dressed in a suit, looking quite dashing. “Ethan, I’m so glad you could come.” I beamed brightly, hugging him. “Of course, Miss Ella’s wedding, I had to be here. Plus, I’ve got a big red envelope for you!” Ethan said, helping to straighten my slightly messy veil. His slightly intimate gesture made Theo uncomfortable. He immediately came over, wrapped an arm around my waist, and distanced me from Ethan. Then he asked irritably, “Are you Ella’s friend?” “Hi, I’m Ethan.” Ethan extended his hand to Theo, acting graciously. “I’m Theo, Ella’s husband.” Theo stared at the man in front of him, his eyes filled with hostility. I pretended not to notice and warmly invited Ethan, “Go on in, Chloe’s inside.” “Alright, we’ll chat more later.” Ethan gracefully turned and headed to the banquet hall. Theo noticed I hadn’t looked away and grew increasingly sullen. He tightened his grip on my waist, his jealousy evident. “What’s your relationship with that guy?” “A friend,” I replied nonchalantly. “What kind of friend hugs you in front of me? Remember, you’re my wife!” “Oh, so you know hugging isn’t appropriate?” I shook off his arm and retorted, “Haven’t you and Quinn hugged enough today? Oh, and not just hugged—you kissed too.” That left him speechless. Quinn jumped in to defend, “Sis, Theo and I are just good friends.” “Funny, Ethan and I are just good friends too!” I deliberately dragged out the words, “We’re good friends~”

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I was born as an illegitimate child after a billionaire drugged my mother. My mother and I have always been ridiculed, even humiliated by my aunt’s family. “You shameless woman, and your daughter is nothing but a bastard.” Unable to bear the insults any longer, my mother took me to seek help from my wealthy father. To our shock, he refused to acknowledge us and even accused us of extortion! “You bitch, I know you’re just after my money. I won’t give you a penny. Take that bastard child and get out of my house!” Not only that, but the billionaire’s son even beat and insulted us, throwing us out onto the street like stray dogs! I endured it all silently, until the billionaire’s son met with an accident, and I became his sole heir! “Mom, I’m home. School ran late today,” I called out as I returned home, but I didn’t see my mother’s familiar silhouette busy in the kitchen. “Mom?” I searched the house but found no trace of her. I decided to check with the neighbors. “Mrs. Zhang, have you seen my mom?” I asked at the neighbor’s kitchen window. “I saw your aunt come by earlier. I guess your mom went out with her,” she replied. My heart sank. My aunt had always been at odds with us, looking down on my mother. Why would they go out together? Sensing trouble, I hurried down the street. Sure enough, I found them in front of a shoe store, locked in a heated argument. “Wendy, stop playing innocent! You’re nothing but a shameless slut. Quit acting like a victim!” My aunt was pointing at my mother, her nose in the air, looking utterly disgusted. “What are you doing?” I rushed forward, shielding my mother behind me, glaring fiercely at my aunt. “Well, well, look who it is. The bastard child herself. Like mother, like daughter. You both make me sick,” my aunt pretended to cover her nose, clearly repulsed by our presence. It wasn’t just my aunt’s family. My grandparents, all of my mother’s relatives – almost none of them liked to associate with us. All because I was born out of wedlock. My mother had just started working when she got her first project with a billionaire named Lucas Wilson. He was a difficult client, and my mother’s project team had to drink with him several times before he even agreed to look at the contract. They thought Lucas just enjoyed drinking, but it turned out he was also a lecher. He set his sights on my mother from day one. During the final drinking session, he had his assistant drug her drink and took her away. What happened next goes without saying. The bastard didn’t even take responsibility afterward. He didn’t even sign the contract! He even blamed my mother, saying she was incompetent. Her boss, being an inconsiderate jerk, fired her on the spot. My mother, still naive and inexperienced, had no way to fight back. She could only return home, devastated. Soon after, she discovered she was pregnant. Accusations and insults came at her from all directions. Everyone thought she had been promiscuous. But she still endured the pressure and gave birth to me, naming me Zoe. “If you want to insult someone, insult me. Leave my daughter out of this!” My mother stepped forward, glaring angrily at my aunt. “Oh, spare me your mother-daughter act. You’re both just trash discarded by men. I was kind enough to offer you a job at the hair salon, and you refused. Now you dare to act high and mighty with me? Know your place!” My aunt rolled her eyes. I let out a cold laugh. “I think you were trying to sell my mother out. Everyone in the neighborhood knows the salon owner is a greedy pervert who’s had his eye on my mom for ages. I bet you got some kind of kickback for this ‘kind’ offer. Don’t insult the word ‘kindness’.” Seeing her scheme exposed, my aunt became even more furious. She pointed at us and started hurling insults like a fishwife. “Zoe, you little bitch! Don’t think you’re innocent in all this. A slut’s daughter is bound to be a man-stealing vixen too. Aren’t you ashamed? How dare you talk back to me? I’m your elder!” “So what if I am a vixen?” I sneered. I’d heard this kind of insult countless times since middle school. It no longer had any effect on me. I looked at my aunt challengingly and said with contempt, “At least I inherited my mother’s good looks. Unlike you – your face could ward off evil spirits if we hung it on the door for New Year’s.” My aunt’s eyes bulged with rage, her face contorted, but she couldn’t utter a single word. “That’s enough, Zoe.” My mother took my hand. She hated it when I insulted myself like this. “Let’s not stoop to her level. Let’s go home.” My mother tried to lead me away, but my aunt, still stinging from my retort, wasn’t about to let us leave. She lunged forward and grabbed my mother’s hair, and the two women began grappling in the street. The commotion drew quite a crowd of neighbors, gathering in small groups to watch the spectacle. “What’s going on? Why are they fighting?” “It’s just more drama from Wendy’s family. Her sister’s come to shame her again.” “Shame her? It’s just the truth. If she hadn’t messed around and had a bastard child, would her sister be this angry? She must be upset about the family losing face.” “Really? Wendy always looks so prim and proper. Who knew she was actually loose behind closed doors? And so careless too!” “Exactly! Her sister comes to make a scene every other day. I heard…” The gossiping neighbors’ cruel words pierced our ears painfully. “Enough!” I rushed forward to separate the fighting women. “Rachel! If you hate us so much, just stop coming around. Don’t take out your frustrations with life on us. We don’t owe you anything!” My voice shook as I shouted at my aunt. This was the first time things had gotten so out of hand. “Bullshit! If I wasn’t standing up for the family, if Mom and Dad weren’t hanging their heads in shame in front of the neighbors, why would I waste my time dealing with trash like you? You loose woman! Shameless!” My aunt spat on the ground, utterly disgusted. “What will it take for you to leave me and my mom alone?” I was tired of arguing with her. They had believed from the start that my mother was in the wrong. At this point, no amount of explaining our innocence would convince them. They’d just think we were making excuses for our “dirty deeds.” “That’s easy.” My aunt looked down her nose at us, fixing her disheveled hair. “Get out of our family. Get out of this neighborhood. Never let me see your faces again. You’re an eyesore!” My aunt’s demands were completely unreasonable. My mother and I were already living hand to mouth. If we left this neighborhood, we’d have nowhere to live. “Impossible! Zoe is still in her first year of high school. This house was given to me by Mom and Dad. Why should I leave?” My mother protested, ready to continue arguing with my aunt. “Fine then. If you won’t leave, I’ll make sure everyone at school knows about this. Let’s see how your daughter holds her head up then. Being called a bastard every day won’t be pleasant, especially one born to such a shameless, loose woman. Don’t come crying when people bully your daughter.” My aunt had found my mother’s weak spot. A few words were all it took to break down my mother’s psychological defenses. “It’s okay, Mom. We don’t want to stay here anyway!” My mother had become very timid after everything she’d been through, but I was different. I was tough, and I wasn’t about to let us face any more abuse in this neighborhood. I accepted my aunt’s unreasonable demand. After this incident, my mother could no longer show her face in the neighborhood. Moving away was our best option. I used the money I’d earned from part-time jobs and what my mother had saved over the years to rent a place outside the neighborhood. It was just a one-bedroom apartment, but it was enough for the two of us. “Mom, we can’t keep living like this. We have to go find that bastard and demand justice!” This was the first time I’d ever suggested confronting Lucas Wilson. He had always been my mother’s worst nightmare, so I’d never brought it up before. But now the time was right. We had to make him take responsibility for what he’d done. “He won’t acknowledge you. That beast probably doesn’t even remember who I am. Why should we go looking for more trouble?” My mother had become very introverted after everything that had happened. She didn’t have the courage to stand up for herself, so of course she rejected my suggestion. “But he’s the one who did wrong!” I stood up, agitated. “Why should we be the ones suffering? We’re being punished for his actions. It’s not fair! We need to get some kind of resolution – money, recognition, even just an apology. There has to be some kind of result!” I had made up my mind. We couldn’t keep being trapped in this whirlpool. If not for myself, then for my mother’s sake, I had to make that bastard pay.

Once I’d made this decision, I dug through our closet and found the business card my mother had thrown away long ago – the one Lucas had given her during their business dealings. Using the phone number on the card, I tracked down his current home address and found his information online. Looking at the family photo of him with his wife and son, all smiles and happiness, I clenched my fists. How could such a despicable man deserve a happy life while my mother and I endured ridicule and shame from others? Using the money I’d saved from my part-time job, I resolutely bought two train tickets to the city where Lucas lived. “I’m sorry, but you can’t go in without an appointment,” the receptionist politely informed us when we arrived at Lucas’s company building. “Just tell him his daughter is here to see him,” I said firmly. My mother tried to pull me away, but with my stubborn personality, there was no way I was backing down now. “As far as I know, Mr. Wilson doesn’t have a daughter,” the receptionist looked at us uncertainly. “You don’t need to worry about that. Just pass along the message,” I insisted. Seeing that I wouldn’t be deterred, the receptionist contacted the CEO’s office and relayed my message word for word. “What nonsense is this? Since when do I have a daughter?” Lucas clearly wasn’t going to admit anything. “Tell them to wait. I’ll be right down.” The receptionist hung up and showed us to the waiting area. Soon enough, Lucas appeared. He was stocky, of average height, with a weasel-like face that was instantly dislikeable. “Who put you up to this? Trying to extort money from me?” Lucas seemed unsurprised, sitting down with the air of someone above it all. A contemptuous smile played on his lips – he clearly didn’t take us seriously. “I guess with all your affairs, you’ve forgotten your misdeeds from over a decade ago.” I let out a cold laugh, placing the documents about my mother and me in front of him, along with a photo of my mother when she was young. “Open your damn eyes and look carefully. See who we are. Think hard about the dirty things you’ve done!” Lucas hadn’t been taking us seriously, but when he saw the photo of my young mother, the smile froze on his face. “Do you see clearly now? Fifteen years ago, you used a business dinner as an excuse to drug my mother. I don’t need to spell out what you did after that, do I? Do you have any idea how my mother and I have lived all these years? We’re here today to demand justice and settle accounts for all these years!” “Lucas, I never wanted to have anything to do with you again. Just seeing you makes me sick! But the mud slung at me and my daughter over the years has been too much, and it’s all because of you!” My mother and I tag-teamed, our eyes blazing with anger as we glared at the scumbag before us. Lucas suddenly laughed, looking at us mockingly. “It was consensual. Now you’re here trying to get something out of me? How unsightly.” “Who said it was consensual?” My mother shouted, enraged. “You said you’d discuss the contract if I drank that glass of wine. All my colleagues were watching! But you, you beast, you drugged my drink! And now you’re slandering me? You’re despicable!” “Let me ask you this – do you have any proof that it wasn’t consensual? Or any evidence that I drugged you? If not, stop making a scene in front of me! Crawl back where you came from!” Lucas threw the documents at us, snorting derisively. “What if I go to the police?” My mother stood up, shaking with anger as she glared at Lucas. I quickly pulled my mother back, signaling her not to be hasty. Seeing Lucas’s nonchalant attitude, I knew that a wealthy businessman like him must have connections in this area. That’s why he could commit such wrongs without punishment. Otherwise, how could he have kept all his shady business dealings hidden all these years? Someone must have been smoothing things over for him. “We don’t need compensation. Just let me be your daughter officially, take my mother back, and we can put this behind us,” I said, thinking of a better approach. If we could get some kind of recognition and get close to Lucas, how hard could it be to find some dirt on him? “What kind of daydream are you having? Two country bumpkin bitches like you, thinking you can waltz into my family? Take a good look at yourselves and see if you’re worthy! Ridiculous!” Lucas laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke ever. “So you’re refusing to acknowledge me as your illegitimate daughter?” I asked, my gaze darkening as I clenched my fists. “Since you’ve already called yourself illegitimate, you should stay in the gutter where you belong. Why bring it out in the open and make everyone uncomfortable? Besides, I’m not the one who’ll be embarrassed. I bet your mother’s been called all sorts of names, hasn’t she? Let me guess – a shameless whore?” Lucas taunted us, showing no fear at all. “You bastard! I won’t let you get away with this!” I gritted my teeth and grabbed the glass from the table, smashing it against Lucas’s face. After a series of crashes, Lucas’s face was bleeding, and water had splashed all over the three of us. “You crazy bitch! Do you have a death wish?” Lucas, enraged by my actions, grabbed my hair and glared at me viciously. My mother screamed and rushed forward, but Lucas shoved her to the ground with one hand. “What acknowledgment? I can see you’re just after money. Let me tell you, you won’t get a single cent from me! Take this bastard and get out of my company! Stop making me sick!” Lucas threw me to the ground, looking at my mother and me with utter disgust from his superior position. “What’s going on here? Why are they fighting?” “I heard this woman brought her illegitimate daughter to confront Mr. Wilson, but he wouldn’t acknowledge them. Then they started causing a scene.” “I bet it’s just this woman being promiscuous. So many people try to latch onto Mr. Wilson shamelessly. Who knows if this daughter is even real? How disgraceful.” “And they dare to act so righteous! If I were Mr. Wilson, I’d teach them a good lesson they won’t forget!” Our commotion had attracted the attention of many company employees. They whispered among themselves, their words unspeakably harsh. “Dad? Are you okay? What happened?” A young man about my age came running in from the company entrance, looking worriedly at Lucas’s injuries. I recognized him from memory as Lucas’s son, his legitimate heir. “It’s nothing, just dealing with two bitches trying to extort money. What are you doing here?” Lucas looked at us with disgust before turning to smile at his son. “What are they here for?” Lucas’s son, Max, eyed us maliciously. His piercing gaze made me extremely uncomfortable. “We’re here to demand justice from your father,” I said, seeing Max as another potential breakthrough. I decided to try and work on him. “Do you know how many disgusting things your father has done outside? My mother was one of his victims. He drugged her, had a one-night stand, and I was born as a result. Doesn’t that make you sick? Your father isn’t faithful to your mother. Your family is falling apart!” I tried to provoke Max, hoping to drive a wedge between them. I could see Max’s expression freezing bit by bit. Just as I thought my attack was working, he said something that shocked me to my core!

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Dad said he was bringing home a scholarship student he was sponsoring for the holidays. My first thought: Oh no, could this scholarship student be Dad’s secret daughter? I secretly did a DNA test for both of them. No match. I relaxed and got along well with Ivy Greene. The day before school started, I went to ask Dad to sign the share transfer agreement. Just as I reached his bedroom door, I heard moaning from inside. “Honey, will Melody really transfer all the shares to you? They say it’s hard being a stepmother. I don’t want to live under your daughter’s thumb.” “Of course she will. I can’t bear to see my sweetheart suffer.” Hearing the familiar voices, I froze. Damn it. I was careless. She wasn’t his secret daughter, but his mistress. 0 “Dad, why did you lock the door? I need to talk to you about something.” I knocked loudly, shouting. The noises inside stopped abruptly, followed by the rustle of clothes being put on. Five minutes later, the door opened. Dad blocked the doorway, his face wearing the usual loving smile. “Melody, what’s the matter so late?” “Let’s talk inside,” I said, pushing past him despite his attempt to block me. “Huh? It’s already 10 PM? Ivy, why are you in my dad’s room?” I feigned surprise upon seeing Ivy. Faced with my question, Dad looked guilty, avoiding my gaze. Ivy, on the other hand, came forward and linked her arm with mine. “Well, since school’s starting soon, I wanted to discuss with Mr. Sullivan about moving into your dorm as a surprise for you.” Ivy’s smile was as natural as ever, showing no signs of deceit. Ivy was a scholarship student sponsored by my family. She had worked hard and got into Starling University. This year, she was invited by Dad to spend the holidays with us. We got along well, so I let Ivy stay until now. I never imagined she’d team up with Dad to give me such a big “surprise”. “It’s all your fault for coming suddenly. Now the surprise is ruined,” Ivy said, half-pouting and half-reproachful as she clung to my arm. I laughed coldly inside. Thank goodness I came suddenly, or I might not have been able to handle this “surprise”. No wonder Ivy, who’s my age, could seduce my dad. With her psychological resilience and quick thinking, she truly lived up to her reputation as a top student. “Oh, I see. I thought you came here in the middle of the night to do something with my dad,” I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. Ivy’s smile almost faltered. She chided, “Melody, what are you saying?” Dad had regained his usual composure and came over to scold me, “Melody, reputation is important. Don’t talk nonsense.” “But the room smells funny, just like those bushes on campus that reek during spring,” I said, pretending to be wronged. “Oh my, it was like this when I came in too,” Ivy chimed in. “Melody, you need to understand Mr. Sullivan. You know, men sometimes… well…” Ivy trailed off, looking bashful. “In short, single men have certain needs. We girls shouldn’t ask too much about it.” Dad nodded approvingly at Ivy’s words, then turned to me. “Melody, why did you come so late?” I waved the share transfer agreement in my hand. Dad and Ivy’s eyes lit up simultaneously. “Melody, I won’t disturb your father-daughter talk then,” Ivy said. “Goodnight, Mr. Sullivan.” 0

Now that I’ve discovered Dad’s affair, I certainly won’t sign the share transfer agreement. The shares were left to me by my late mother. If I gave them to Dad now, who knows who he’d use them to support? I made an excuse that my grandparents’ shares also needed to be transferred, so it would take a few more days to process. Dad was overjoyed and agreed immediately. He even transferred me $10,000 as pocket money. You should know, Dad had never transferred more than $1,000 at once before. My monthly allowance was only $300. Most of my other pocket money came from my grandparents. The excuse was: to cultivate my spirit of frugality. Then I remembered the monthly transfers Dad made to Ivy after she started university. It was never less than $1,000 each time. “You’re the heir to Sullivan Corp, you’ve seen the world since you were young.” “Ivy is just a girl, and a scholarship student. She hasn’t seen much of the world.” “If we don’t give her enough money, what if some thug takes advantage of her now that she’s at Starling University?” I thought it made sense at the time. Now, thinking back, it’s laughable. They must have been involved even then. Once the veil is lifted, everything becomes clear. Ivy likes to cook, but 90% of her dishes cater to Dad’s taste. Dad’s favorite fish dish is always placed on his right side. Ivy loves hearing about Dad’s work. She either praises his brilliant decisions or sympathizes with how hard he works, always boosting his ego. Ivy is knowledgeable and likes to chat with me about various topics, but in front of Dad, she always has questions she doesn’t understand. … Ivy has been deliberately seducing Dad. Subtle, silent, unnoticed. If such tactics were used on me, I might not be able to resist either. But while Dad can remarry, he shouldn’t have a mistress. Ivy is clearly after Dad’s money. After packing my things for school, I lay on the couch, pondering how to wake Dad up and set him back on the right path. 0

Taking advantage of Ivy’s absence, I decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with Dad. After explaining the rules of no concealment and no lies, I sat down opposite Dad. The game began with some trivial matters. I seized every opportunity to pour Dad more drinks. Dad can’t hold his liquor well. After two bottles, his face was already flushed with intoxication. I took the chance to ask. “Dad, is there anything big you’re hiding from me? Anything related to relationships!” I emphasized deliberately. Dad gripped his glass, his gaze evasive, his lips opening and closing several times. My heart leaped with hope as I stared intently at Dad’s lips. If he confessed, it would prove that Dad could still be saved. That he wasn’t completely in cahoots with Ivy. Finally, Dad spoke. “Sigh, I do have something I’ve been keeping from you.” I sat up straight, already formulating comforting words in my mind. “All these years, I’ve never really gotten over your mother. I still love her.” “After your mother passed, I’ve been managing the company wholeheartedly, working day and night, pouring my heart and soul into it.” “But it’s been so hard.” “I have few shares, little influence. If I had more shares in my hands, Sullivan Corp would have reached new heights by now.” The words of comfort I had prepared died in my throat. My heart sank with each word Dad uttered. “Dad, we can’t bring back the dead. I hope you can find your own happiness. I would give you my blessing.” Dad shook his head, “I just want to expand and strengthen the business your mother left behind.” “Recently, I’ve set my eyes on a project, but unfortunately, no one else sees its potential.” “If only Dad had a few more shares in hand…” Every sentence, while not directly asking, was clearly aimed at persuading me. Dad lay back on the sofa, his face flushed, but his eyes kept darting towards me. His gaze was clear; Dad was just putting on an act to deceive me. My heart turned cold, but I maintained a smile on my face. “The CEO of Lancaster Corp just remarried, but I know Dad is the most devoted to Mom. I feel at ease entrusting the shares to you.” “However, there’s still a little trouble with Grandpa and Grandma’s side. Dad, you’ll have to wait a bit longer.” 0

Dad wants the shares Mom left me. Ivy wants Dad’s money. The two of them, equally despicable, truly deserve each other as a “match made in heaven”. I lay on my dorm bed, feeling irritated and restless. “Melody.” The dorm door opened. Ivy pulled back my bed curtain and leaned in close, acting intimate. “Do you have any sense of boundaries?” I shifted back, feeling annoyed. Under my dad’s arrangement, Ivy had moved into the same dorm as me. Ivy said this was to make it easier for her to repay the kindness, but I hadn’t seen any gratitude. Instead, she had ended up in bed with my dad. Ivy was taken aback. Then she looked a bit hurt. “Melody, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were in a bad mood today and easily irritated. I apologize.” With one sentence, she shifted the blame for her lack of boundaries onto my bad temper. Noticing the glances from our other two roommates, I suppressed my anger: “What do you want?” Ivy’s lips curved into a slight smile as she sat down and showed me her phone. It displayed a new necklace from Celestial. “Melody, look, isn’t this beautiful? And it’s limited edition.” “We could buy two, one for you and one for me.” It was indeed beautiful. I glanced at Ivy’s designer outfit. Before I discovered the affair between my dad and Ivy, I would always buy things for Ivy when I shopped for myself. This outfit she was wearing was bought by me. But now, I wasn’t going to be the sucker anymore. “It’s pretty. You can pay for it.” Ivy was stunned: “Melody, I’m a scholarship student, I…” “I know, but Dad gives you at least $1,000 for living expenses every month. Don’t tell me you’ve spent it all?” I feigned surprise, then continued. “I could buy it, even though Dad only gives me $300 a month, but I have some savings.” “But Ivy, all these things you’re wearing now were bought by me. If I pay for everything, it wouldn’t sound good if word got out.” “At best, people might say you’re friends with me for my money. At worst, they might think you have something going on with my dad.” A flash of embarrassed anger crossed Ivy’s face. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes. “Of course not, Melody. I’m genuinely your friend.” “And there’s absolutely nothing unsavory between Mr. Sullivan and me.” Ivy pulled out a DNA test report. It showed no blood relation between Ivy and Dad. My two roommates looked at me accusingly. “Melody Sullivan, I have to say, you’re really thinking the worst of people.” “Only a person with a dirty mind sees everything as dirty.” Ivy was well-prepared, wasn’t she? Well, I initially thought the same and secretly did a DNA test for both of them. Who could have imagined that a top student like Ivy would become my dad’s mistress? Seeing the other two roommates on her side, Ivy wiped her tears pretentiously. “Melody, this Celestial necklace costs $8,888. It’s very expensive for me.” “But we’re good friends. If you like it, I’ll buy it for you even if I have to sell a kidney.” “No need for that, no need,” the two roommates chimed in. I calmly watched Ivy’s act. I agreed with a simple “okay”. Ivy’s expression froze. I didn’t bother with her anymore. I quickly packed some things and drove to my grandmother’s house. I knew I couldn’t figure out a solution on my own. My grandparents have far more life experience than I do. They must have a way to handle this. 0

Ivy took a leave of absence from school, and when she returned, she gave me the necklace. At the same time, rumors about me started circulating around campus. As I went to class, I overheard: “That’s Melody Sullivan. She bullies scholarship students just because she’s rich, even making them buy her necklaces worth nearly $10,000.” “That’s right.” “Remember the entrance exam results? Ivy Greene scored higher than Melody Sullivan.” “Last semester, Melody Sullivan’s grades were better than Ivy Greene’s. Isn’t it obvious she achieved that by suppressing Ivy?” “Hmph, what’s the use of winning in grades if you lose in character? We should stay away from people like her.” I ignored it all. After class, I headed to the library with my books. Ivy was busy seducing my dad; it would be strange if her grades didn’t slip. On the way, Ivy approached me. “Melody, don’t take those people’s words to heart.” “I’ve already clarified to them that I bought it for you voluntarily.” “Rumors are just rumors. Don’t let them bother you.” I laughed coldly inside. Weren’t these rumors spread by Ivy herself? “Mm, okay, I got it,” I replied. Ivy continued to follow me. I knew Ivy must have something to ask me, but she hadn’t figured out how to bring it up yet. Since that was the case, I suddenly stopped. “Ivy, just one necklace isn’t very convincing. If you buy me a few more things, the rumors will naturally die down.” “I recently saw a dress that I like…” “Melody,” Ivy hurriedly interrupted me. “I came to you because I have something to discuss.” “Melody, I remember you like Lucas Graham. I have an idea that can help you win him over.” Lucas Graham is a senior in our major. He mentored me for a while during an activity I participated in. I had also expressed my admiration for him. I don’t know how Ivy concluded that I liked him. I stopped and raised an eyebrow: “Oh?” Seeing my interest, Ivy’s eyes gleamed with pride. “You know, as women, we shouldn’t be too strong.” “Be smart in public, give men enough face, but when facing men directly, we should act a bit naive.” “Being a bit naive makes men’s hearts flutter and brings out their protective instincts. All men fall for this, Lucas Graham is no exception.” “Men focus on their careers, we just need to know how to please them.” “This applies to husbands, and to fathers too.” Ivy was sharing her experience as a mistress with me, acting as if she was bestowing a great favor upon me. Finally, she revealed her true intention. She wanted to help Dad persuade me to quickly transfer the shares to him. I was speechless. This speech was so disgusting that I lost the desire to even rebut it. I turned away from Ivy and went to the library. Just as I arrived at the library, Dad called. Over the past few days, the frequency of Dad’s calls had been increasing. From subtle probing attempts, it had now become outright urging me to hand over the shares. “Melody, if there are still issues with your grandparents, why don’t you transfer your shares first?” I remained silent, thinking of excuses to delay. Dad seemed to have lost his patience. “Melody Sullivan, you weren’t lying to Dad about transferring the shares, were you?” “Ding dong.” A text message popped up on my phone. [Sweet Melody, Grandpa has taken care of everything. Sign with him!] I smiled. “Dad, how could that be?” “The issues with Grandpa and Grandma have been resolved. I’ll come home today to sign the contract.”

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My childhood sweetheart, Jack, is the director of one of the most expensive plastic surgery clinics in the city. He always complained that my nose wasn’t high enough, my lips weren’t full enough, and my eyes weren’t big enough. “I can do the surgery for you for free anyway,” he would say. “Lily, don’t you want to be more beautiful?” I never cared, believing that what my parents gave me was the best. After a car accident, my face was completely ruined. My husband finally got his chance. He reconstructed my face to look like the love of his life. 0 After the car accident, I lay semiconscious on the operating table, and the last thing I heard was: “Quick, bring that photo over here.” “Make sure the patient’s face after the surgery looks exactly like the one in the picture.” A nurse hesitated and said: “The patient hasn’t regained consciousness yet. Is it okay to do plastic surgery directly?” A voice I knew all too well spoke up. “It’s fine, she’s my wife. I’ll decide what her second face will look like.” I woke up from the excruciating pain all over my body. What I heard was the noisy beeping of machines and my husband’s voice. He excitedly said, “Lily, you’re awake! You’re finally awake!” “Do you know? You’ve been in a coma for nearly three months.” I looked around in confusion. As my memory returned, I realized I had survived a car accident. At this moment, I felt that my face was wrapped in bandages. It hurt so much. I asked Jack desperately: “Honey, what happened to my face? Is it disfigured?” His eyes reddened, and he nodded painfully. “After your car accident, the vehicle exploded immediately. It’s a miracle you survived. But your face…” Jack trailed off, seemingly unable to continue. I pleaded, “Can I see what I look like now?” “Okay, you’ve recovered enough now.” He slowly, carefully unwrapped the thick bandages for me. With trembling hands, I held up the mirror. The face reflected in it shocked me to my core. This, this was clearly the face of the pianist he adored! Every line, every contour, matched that person’s face perfectly. At this moment, The way Jack looked at me was full of fascination and intoxication. As if he was admiring the most perfect work of art in the world. It gave me chills. Eyes wide, I screamed in horror: “Jack, what have you done to me?!” “Why? Why do I look exactly like Emma Rose?” He looked pained, gripping my shoulders tightly, and said: “Lily, that accident completely destroyed your face.” Then, he spoke with difficulty. “To restore it, I tried everything I could and did my best to make you look beautiful through plastic surgery.” “I know this is absurd…” “Maybe I’ve watched her performances too many times, and I couldn’t help but reshape you to look like her during the surgery.” In the past, my husband often flew to watch Emma Rose’s performances. He never missed a single one, whether at home or abroad. Even if it meant missing our son’s first birthday party. Even if it meant missing my mother’s funeral, leaving me to bear everything alone… And I simply thought he was just a fan, trying my best to understand him as his wife. At this moment, my hands trembled uncontrollably as I clawed at my face. My nails dug deep into the skin, wanting to peel off this face that didn’t belong to me. Seeing this, Jack quickly pounced on me, using all his strength to control my hands. “Lily, can you just pretend you’re her twin sister?” “I promise I’ll love you more and give you everything you want.” He held me in his arms, his tears soaking my clothes. “Just don’t leave me…” That night, I slept deeply. I had no idea that he was intimately holding Emma Rose, standing by my hospital bed. “You like my son Tommy very much, don’t you? In a few years, when he gets used to this face, I’ll let you be his new mom.” “How could I let you go through childbirth? This is an opportunity for you to become a mother painlessly.” 0

A week later, I was discharged from the hospital. My husband wanted me to rest well at home. He made soup for me every day, cooked meals, and did physical check-ups. He not only picked up and dropped off our son at school but also took care of all the housework. I was happy to see this change in him. I reached out my right hand, gently stroking my cheek. If this new face could make me receive so much love, I would try hard to adapt to it. Even if every time I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, Looking at this unfamiliar face in the mirror, It was like wearing a creepy mask. One afternoon, I needed to use the computer to look up some information. I saw that Jack’s document account was still logged in. Among them, there was a blank document that stood out among a pile of work files. I opened it, and inside was a record of the girls he had known before. The first one was Emma Rose’s profile, along with her photo. It detailed her likes, birthday, and so on. And at the bottom was written: [In heaven, in my heart, just not by my side] My body suddenly froze, as if electrocuted. I quickly scrolled down to view the profiles of other girls. [Looks very similar, hard to control] [Voice identical, too ugly] [Can play the piano, bad temper] Finally, at the bottom, I saw my photo. I couldn’t believe my eyes, staring at those words as if trying to see through them. [Name: Lily Grant] [Body shape most like hers, suitable for marriage] My heart instantly sank to the bottom. I always thought I was his true love, the only one in his heart. No wonder his favorite position was to hug me from behind… Every time I wanted to lie on my back in bed, he would make me turn around. He always said gently, “Lily, your back is the most beautiful.” “Don’t be shy, let me admire it for a while.” I closed my eyes and bit my lip, the taste of blood filling my mouth. I took out my phone and called my secretary: “How’s the investigation on that car accident going?” The secretary told me that the parking lot’s surveillance had been damaged. But the dashcam in my car had picked up a fragment of sound. However, the sound was broken. Only “don’t blame me” and “bomb” could be clearly heard. It had been sent to technicians for restoration. It would take at least 72 hours to recover a small part. The secretary sighed, “Ms. Grant, although the hope is slim, we’ll do our best.” I sent Jack’s recording to him. “Use this audio clip for matching.” I looked at the date, today is February 10th. [Countdown remaining: 3 days] 0

Somehow, Jack was particularly proactive today. He came home very early and went to take a shower as soon as he got home. Soon after, he came out, his body exuding the fragrance of bath products. Wrapped only in a towel, revealing his muscular abs. Jack carried me to the bed, his voice somewhat cautious. “Lily, shall we have another child?” I was stunned. For the past few years, whenever I suggested having a second child, he always made excuses. With a hint of confusion in my voice, I responded, “Why bring this up suddenly?” “You’ve always been unwilling before.” Then he leaned down close to me, gently caressing my cheek. “You know, after this car accident, I feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world, successfully snatching you back from the hands of death.” “I’m afraid that when we’re old, our son will be lonely without siblings to keep him company.” Tonight, his tenderness in bed was irresistible. My heart was shamefully softening. Perhaps he had realized that I was the woman most suitable to spend his life with. After a night of intimacy, Jack gently got up and went to the bathroom to shower. I picked up my phone to check unread messages, my fingers sliding across the screen, my mind still savoring the intimacy we just shared. Suddenly, a message popped up: [Your VIP notification just posted a tweet.] “Emma Rose: Thank you to my loyal fan of ten years who bought 2 million digital copies of my album for me. I’ve received your enthusiasm, and this money will be donated to a charity foundation in both our names. I hope my music will become more valuable because of this.” The comments below were updating quickly: “Emma is so kind, no wonder I’ve been a fan for so long.” “A full two million copies of the album! My God, that’s over 20 million dollars!” I opened her new album, and the sound came out from the speaker. Such beautiful music, yet it stabbed into my heart like a sharp knife— That music was exactly what my husband had played on the stereo while we were intimate just now. Just now, I had been so moved by Jack’s sudden romantic gesture. My nails dug into my flesh, unable to suppress the overwhelming hatred. [Countdown remaining: 2 days] 0

In the afternoon, I was lying at home reading a book. Suddenly, my best friend sent me a message saying she saw my husband on a date with a woman. I quickly changed my clothes, put on a mask, and hurried to the marked location. It was an elegant café. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I immediately saw the familiar figure. Jack was holding her hand with such adoration. He bowed his head reverently, constantly kissing those hands that had played countless melodies. “Don’t worry, tomorrow’s concert will go smoothly. I’ll be sitting in the front row watching you perform.” Emma Rose smiled gently, even her smile was so elegant. “Jack, I knew you would come to every performance.” “With you in the audience, I feel very secure.” Jack embraced her: “Darling, I’ve prepared a surprise for you, I’ll tell you after the concert is over.” “Get a good rest tonight, call me if you can’t sleep.” He drove Emma Rose home, and I followed closely behind in a taxi. To my surprise, Jack came down shortly after sending her up. The time was so short. Not enough time for him to do more to betray me. However, it wasn’t until the evening that I understood the reason for all this. The unfamiliar scent on Jack’s body told me: He simply didn’t want to tire her out, he came back to exhaust me instead. That night, he hurt me a lot. He had pure love with his ideal woman. Yet he played cruel games with me, his childhood sweetheart of over twenty years. At this point, I finally understood. True feelings can change in an instant, love cannot be begged for. [Countdown remaining: 1 day] The next day. Jack took me to the concert together. I was also curious about what gift he would give to Emma Rose. I have to admit, hearing the music played by my husband’s lover. No matter how beautiful the melody, to me it was like a saw cruelly cutting through my body. After the concert ended, Jack told me to go home first by myself. I agreed verbally but secretly followed behind him. My footsteps were light, but my heartbeat was heavy. From inside the dressing room came their voices. I saw Jack’s eyes full of deep affection as he solemnly handed her a stack of papers. “Emma, this is my gift to you.” Emma Rose took it and flipped through it, asking: “What do you mean by giving me two medical reports?” He slowly leaned forward, pointing at the words on the report: “This is my medical report, and Lily’s pre-pregnancy check-up.” “You’ve always wanted a baby, right? But I can’t bear to let you go through childbirth, it’s too painful. And pregnancy would affect your global tour schedule.” As he spoke, he gently stroked the back of her hand with his other hand. “So we just need to implant our fertilized egg into Lily’s womb, and she will take good care of our baby.” Emma Rose was stunned for a moment, her brows furrowed: “Wouldn’t that be very risky?” At this point, the corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a cruel smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything – the hospital, the doctors. As for that stupid woman, she’ll be too happy to have a child for me to suspect anything.” “Everything is prepared, just waiting for your consent.” Jack’s body leaned slightly forward, his face full of anticipation, waiting for the answer he most desired. I stood motionless like a statue outside the door. Silently listening to the whole process. The scene before me was truly sickening. My teeth bit down hard on my lower lip, almost drawing blood. Jack, are you even human anymore?! My womb will never be the sinful cradle for your child. With such humiliation and pain, I just wanted to escape this terrible place immediately. I turned and left, melting into the crowded crowd, slowly walking home. At some point, the mask on my face was squeezed off by the crowd. The fans next to me, who had been excitedly chatting, suddenly caught sight of me and uncertainly called out: “Emma Rose! Is that you?” But quickly, he shook his head, denying himself: “No, how could she be here, and Emma isn’t this short.” I quickly lowered my head, trying to use my hair to completely cover this face of mine. As soon as these words were spoken, several fans around gathered over, one of them couldn’t help but swear: “Holy shit, how does this woman look exactly like Emma Rose!” They all cast strange glances at me, taking out their phones to photograph and video me. Some even suddenly became enraged, grabbing a bottle of mineral water and throwing it at my head. “Where did this bitch come from, trying to imitate our idol’s face, so disgusting!” The moment the bottle hit my head, I felt dizzy. “I’m not, I didn’t…” I opened my mouth, but my voice got stuck in my throat, unable to defend myself. A young man with dyed yellow hair rushed over, slapped me hard, and said viciously: “How dare you imitate her!” Then, someone else threw their drink at me, instantly soaking my clothes. Those strangers, driven by emotion, instantly turned into demons, angrily punching and kicking me. It wasn’t until security guards hurriedly arrived that they managed, with great effort, to disperse these people who had lost their reason. In the early hours of the morning, standing on the empty street, I wiped away the blood from the corner of my mouth. Just then, my phone rang. I numbly answered the call from my secretary. “Ms. Grant, the original audio matches 98.99% with the voice you sent over.” “Hello? Ms. Grant, are you still there?”

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Ryan and I had been together for seven years. When I went to deliver some documents to him, I saw him holding his young sweetheart close, proudly saying: “The one you’ve nurtured yourself is always the sweetest.” He was drinking the ginseng chicken soup I had prepared for him this morning. Amidst the envious voices of others, he said: “Zoe is suitable as a wife, but she’s terribly boring.” This man, who had proposed to me and promised a lifetime together just three days ago, was now kissing another woman amid cheers and whistles. I’m a person who loves cleanliness. A man who’s been dirtied? I don’t want him anymore. 0 Half an hour ago, I received a message from Ryan. He said he was entertaining clients at a club and needed me to urgently bring him an important document he was missing. But when I arrived, barefaced and sweating, I saw Ryan embracing the delicate Holly in his arms. I understood immediately. This must have been orchestrated by Holly, the young sweetheart in Ryan’s arms. There were no clients. It was just a gathering of Ryan and his friends. Holly had been pursuing Ryan for nearly half a year. Impatient to become Mrs. Yates, she had secretly used Ryan’s phone to message me. She tricked me into coming here, wanting me to see how cherished she was. I don’t know how much effort she put into this plan. When I arrived at the club, surprisingly, no one stopped me. Actually, I should thank her. I’m a person who loves cleanliness. A man who’s been dirtied? I don’t want him. Inside, Holly seemed to be acting coy, demanding to eat the ginseng from his bowl. Ryan’s voice carried a hint of contempt: “What are you thinking? Zoe woke up two hours early to make this. How could I give it to you?” “I’m a man of principle. You need to know your place.” Initially, I only felt a dull ache in my heart. But hearing this, I almost laughed out loud. Such absurd words, yet he seemed quite proud of them. “Ryan, you said you’d be good to me!” Holly’s voice grew louder, filled with a tearful grievance. “Now you won’t even let me have a bite of ginseng. How am I supposed to trust you in the future?” “Do you really love me or not?” Frank, Ryan’s subordinate, laughed and tried to smooth things over: “Sis, you don’t understand. Of course he loves you.” “But a wife is someone you both respect and love.” “Don’t you girls love watching those royal drama series? Zoe is like the queen, and you’re naturally the favored concubine.” “A wise king never neglects his queen for a concubine.” Ryan laughed loudly, slapping the table as he shouted, “Exactly!” “A virtuous wife and a beautiful mistress – that’s the perfect recipe for a good life!” Holly continued to protest, but her words were drowned out by the knowing laughter of the men. 0

Holly seemed to be pouting and throwing a tantrum. “Alright, alright. She’s just young and likes to be pampered,” Ryan said. “If you want to eat, I’ll have Frank go out and buy some later, okay? Anyone else want anything? We can get it all together.” Ryan stroked Holly’s head affectionately and kissed her forehead. “Holly’s only 19. Don’t tease her too much, guys.” “If she gets upset, I’ll be the one who has to comfort her tonight.” He seemed quite proud of his innuendo. Using borderline jokes to liven up the atmosphere in the private room. Ryan’s lips were close to Holly’s ear, whispering something. Holly blushed and pretended to push him away. Frank chimed in: “Ryan, Zoe’s pretty smart. Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out?” Ryan replied casually: “That woman is so dull.” “She’s either buried in her lab or at home cooking for me.” “As long as you all keep your mouths shut, she’ll never find out.” Frank asked with a smile: “I heard Zoe’s planning to switch to a teaching position for you?” Ryan grunted in agreement: “It’s not much money. She might as well stay at home to cook and take care of the kids.” “But being a university professor sounds prestigious, so I’ll let her play around for a couple of years.” “She’s so boring, yet you still want to marry her,” Holly pouted, watching Ryan’s expression. “Don’t be silly,” Ryan patted her back. Holly twisted her body slightly and pleaded: “Then say you love me the most. Just say it, and I’ll believe you, okay?” Ryan chuckled: “Alright, of course I love my little Holly the most.” He hugged the girl like a child and sighed: “The one you’ve nurtured yourself is always the sweetest.” Outside the door, I could barely stand. My body was shaking violently. My heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly, making it difficult to breathe. Three days ago, Ryan had proposed to me. The moment I nodded, he hugged me tightly, choking with emotion: “Zoe, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” “You don’t know how happy I am to be able to marry you.” Promises made so earnestly, without a thought for the consequences. Seven years together, and in his mouth, I was just a “good wife” and “boring”. Like a handy tool in his laboratory. The confession under the moonlight, the boy’s sincere and dazzling eyes. The dreams we fought for together, the tears after lifting the trophy. I never doubted the sincerity of our past. But the human heart can’t withstand the test of time. How could I have been so blind! Ryan. It was you who betrayed our love. 0

The next morning when I woke up, Mrs. Ross, our housekeeper, told me Ryan had slept in the study. I’m a light sleeper; even the slightest noise wakes me up and makes it hard for me to fall back asleep. So when Ryan comes home late from work, he usually sleeps in the study. But what used to happen only once or twice a month has become a frequent occurrence over the past six months. The signs had been there for a while. Three years ago, I first met Holly at the Yates family’s old house. At that time, Ryan held my hand and casually patted her head: “Holly? You’ve grown quite a bit.” He turned to me with a smile and introduced her: “She’s the daughter of our housekeeper, Mr. Lambert. She comes to play at our house occasionally.” “The little girl is well-behaved and sweet-talking, my mom really likes her.” I smiled and greeted Holly, but I noticed a hint of hostility in her eyes. I encountered her once or twice after that. One time when I had a migraine, Mr. Lambert asked Holly to bring me some painkillers. Thinking I was asleep, she threw the medicine on the table. She spat in my water glass and said viciously: “Old hag, one day, I’ll drive you away from my brother’s side.” Such blatant malice, spewing from her flower-petal-like mouth without any restraint. I knew teenage girls could easily go astray. I gently suggested to Ryan that he should be careful to maintain distance from the young girl. But he was completely unconcerned, “Holly’s just a kid. Are you really jealous of her?” Ryan leaned in to kiss me: “Honey, I’m just happy to know you love me so much.” I knew that a young girl’s crush was often confused with admiration. But an adult’s indulgence had led this relationship down the wrong path. But this was their fate, and I had no power to interfere. … As I was about to leave after breakfast, Ryan woke up. His hair was a mess, and with sleepy eyes, he reached out to hug me. I discreetly stepped back two paces: “I have an important meeting today. Don’t wrinkle my clothes.” Ryan’s face was full of guilt: “I’m sorry, honey. I’ve been really busy lately.” “I haven’t been able to spend much time with you. I’ll pick you up after work today and take you out for a nice meal.” I looked at his slightly dark chin, already showing some stubble. “Did you go out drinking with clients again last night?” I asked. Ryan nodded with a wry smile, saying without a hint of guilt: “You have no idea how clingy Mr. Lucas can be.” I withdrew my gaze and asked flatly: “So, you smoked too?” I hate the smell of smoke. When Ryan occasionally smoked due to social obligations, he would shower and clean up as soon as he got home. Moreover, we had agreed to start trying for a baby, and he had promised to quit smoking. But now, his breath reeked of tobacco. Knowing he couldn’t deny it, Ryan’s face fell. With a hint of pleading, he asked: “Honey, are you angry?” “I really couldn’t refuse. I just took a couple of puffs, honestly.” “In the future, I’ll…” I shook my head, interrupting his words: “It’s fine. I understand it’s not easy for you.” “I’m running late. I need to go.” “Oh, and don’t pick me up tonight. I need to prepare for my classes, so if it gets too late, I won’t come home.” As I turned to leave, Ryan seemed to think he was off the hook and let out a sigh of relief. He laughed heartily, telling me to drive carefully and remember to eat well. We both played our parts well. He hid all his false pretenses. I hid all my sadness and disappointment. Our paths had converged for seven years. But now we were heading in different directions. 0

When I arrived at the lab, my junior colleague Liam was distributing souvenirs he had brought back from his business trip. Seeing me arrive, he quickly brought over a few bags of seafood. “Zoe, try this dried squid. It tastes amazing.” I usually love seafood. But today, as soon as Liam approached, I felt my stomach suddenly churn. Without time to say much, I rushed to the restroom at the end of the hallway. The cool water splashing on my face gradually eased the discomfort in my stomach. When I raised my head, the mirror reflected a tired face. I stared blankly. Suddenly, sadness and grief overwhelmed me like a tidal wave. All my strength crumbled at this moment. Tears fell in large drops. Seven years. Seven years in which I had given my whole heart. Only to be repaid with utter betrayal. “Zoe, are you okay?” Liam called from outside, his voice not loud but very anxious. “I’m fine,” I said. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and walked out. Liam sighed with relief when he saw me come out, but his brow remained furrowed. He wanted to take me to the hospital. I refused and called my best friend, Mia. Mia works at a private hospital, and I arranged to meet her an hour later. Liam wanted to drive me there, but I didn’t agree. Ever since I got together with Ryan, I had deliberately maintained distance from all other men. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see Liam’s fondness for me. But I had constrained my behavior with moral principles, never giving any other man room for imagination. Ryan often hugged me and marveled at how lucky he was to have found such a good wife. Back then, I would pinch his face and say: “Honey, I won’t check up on you or constantly ask about your whereabouts, but trust and respect are mutual.” “What I do, you must do too. Otherwise, if I ever decide to leave, I will never look back.” Ryan laughed and pleaded: “Okay, okay, I’ll do whatever you say, my dear wife. I wouldn’t dare to have a wandering eye.” Thinking back now, the rift had started long ago. When I needed a commitment, he was brushing me off with jokes. At the hospital, Mia accompanied me through the examination. As expected, I was pregnant. My period had been delayed by almost a week this month. So when I first felt unwell, I suspected I might be pregnant. But this child came at the worst possible time. When Mia heard I was pregnant, she was initially overjoyed. But seeing my hesitant expression as I touched my belly, the smile on her face gradually disappeared. “Mia,” I looked up, forcing an ugly smile. “I’m not keeping this baby.” “Can you keep this a secret for me?” After hearing my story, Mia was furious. She cursed Ryan vehemently, then looked troubled. She held my hand and said: “Zoe, the doctor just said you have a condition that makes it difficult to conceive. If you terminate this pregnancy…” I lowered my eyes: “But I don’t intend to endure Ryan’s betrayal for the sake of this child.” “Nor do I plan to give birth to this child alone, sacrificing my future for it.” “If I’m not ready, then I won’t have it.” “I don’t want to be an irresponsible mother.” Mia sighed and said: “You… you always seem so gentle, but once you’ve made a decision, nothing can change your mind.” She stroked my face with a pained expression: “That ungrateful Ryan, he’ll regret this one day!” Mia quickly helped me schedule the procedure for the next day. That evening, after packing my clothes, I saw Holly had posted on social media. It was a selfie, with a blurred male figure in the background. But I easily recognized the man as Ryan. It looked like they were in a hotel. Holly’s caption read: “Tonight, you belong to me.” My phone dinged with a new message from Ryan at the top of the screen. It said: “Honey, I’m too busy to come home tonight. Remember to eat well at work.” When I came to my senses, my face was ice-cold with tears. I simply replied “Okay,” then buried myself in the blankets and cried silently. This is the last time, I told myself. Ryan, after tonight, I will never cry because of you again. 0

The procedure went smoothly. I stayed in the hospital for three days. Although Ryan’s messages never stopped, I used the excuse of being busy with work, and he didn’t suspect a thing. During these three days, Mia helped me rent a new apartment. I still had quite a few things at Ryan’s place that I needed to pack up. The building had an elevator that required a key card to access. As the elevator doors opened, I saw a magenta high heel at the doorway. Not far away, the other shoe had been kicked into a corner. The front door wasn’t locked properly, slightly ajar. A pair of black stockings hanging on the doorknob made me feel like an intruder. I took out my phone and discreetly started recording. From inside the room, amid the blaring music, came the intimate sounds of a man and woman. Soon, the music volume decreased. I could hear their conversation in the living room. Holly whined: “The floor is so hard. Ryan, can’t we go to the bedroom?” Then came the sound of a lighter. Ryan exhaled and said with a hint of impatience: “Zoe is a clean freak. It’s good enough that I let you into the house. Don’t ask for too much.” “But Ryan, don’t you always say Zoe is boring? If I could always be by your side, you definitely wouldn’t…” Ryan snickered: “Holly, don’t misunderstand your position.” “You’re just a plaything to relieve my boredom occasionally. If you behave, I’ll treat you well.” “But if you dare breathe a word to Zoe, I won’t hesitate to find someone more obedient.” Holly was silent for a moment, then pleaded: “Ryan, please don’t abandon me.” “I’ll never let Zoe find out. I don’t expect to become your wife.” “As long as… as long as you let me stay by your side, that’s enough. I’ll be good.” I blinked my dry eyes. It felt like watching a play that had nothing to do with me. Behind me, the elevator made a sound. I instinctively hid to the side. It was Mrs. Ross coming for her routine cleaning. A few seconds later, there were several exclamations from inside. As I left, I had only one thought. How could such a disgusting person dare to imagine spending a lifetime with me? … On my way back to the lab, I happened to pass by a cake shop we used to frequent. Back then, we had just graduated. I was still on probation, earning only $1,500 a month. Ryan wanted to start his own business and refused to join his family’s company, so his father cut off all his cards, hoping he would give up. Those times were really tough. But every time I got my paycheck, when Ryan came to pick me up from the lab, we would come here to choose a small cake. A $10 sweetness could ease a month of bitterness. Back then, we would huddle at the small table, our bodies and hearts so close. I would always complain about the cake being too sweet after just two bites, and Ryan would pick out all the fruit from the cake base to coax me into eating. At that time, there was light in his eyes and dreams in his heart. He held my hand tightly then. “Zoe, when we have money in the future, I’ll buy you the biggest, most expensive cake.” “Trust me, I’ll never let you suffer with me.” Later, Ryan’s company still went bankrupt. He returned to his family’s business and was promoted to general manager in less than a year. As money increased, he began to scorn his dreams. The cakes became more and more luxurious. But they became increasingly tasteless. I didn’t linger at the cake shop. Even remembering the past didn’t stir much emotion in my heart now. Memories belong to the past, and I’m walking towards the future. 0

Back at the lab, I first went to see Professor Wilson. I asked her if I still had a chance to join her research group. Professor Wilson was surprised at first, then asked: “Didn’t you say you were getting married and considering having children, so you were planning to switch to a teaching position?” I lowered my gaze and shook my head. “Zoe, did something happen between you and Ryan?” I smiled bitterly and nodded: “Professor, he cheated on me.” Professor Wilson looked regretful: “I thought Ryan was quite a smart boy. How could he be so foolish?” “But this research group is part of a national project. The participants will need to conduct closed research at a base for at least three years without returning home.” “You need to think it through. Once you go, there might be no chance for reconciliation between you and Ryan.” I fought back the surge of bitterness in my heart and nodded firmly: “Professor, didn’t you always say I was stubborn when I was a student?” “I’m still the same now.” “Once I’ve made a decision, I’ll never look back.”

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I had been in a relationship with James for nearly 10 years, and as he approached 30, his performance in bed was declining. His temper and behavior were becoming increasingly erratic and unpredictable. After returning from a business trip, I was shocked to find that James seemed to have reverted to the state he was in when we first started dating. Our intimate life was becoming more and more in sync. But what puzzled me was that every time we made love, he would insist on blindfolding me. At first, I thought it was just a kink. Later, I realized that during our intimate moments, I would unconsciously caress a scar on his back. But James never had any scars… Today is Thursday, and it’s been over two weeks since I returned from my business trip. Strangely, since my return, James and his mother Linda have been treating me better and better, but also more and more oddly. At first, I didn’t think anything was wrong, assuming it was because I had been promoted to manager while James was still a low-level employee with no prospects for advancement. I thought it was just because I had become the main source of income for the family. Since my return, James seemed like a different person, seeking intimacy with me every night. It left me feeling dazed and confused. My mother-in-law would also bring me a cup of white fungus soup every night before bed and in the morning. She claimed it was to nourish my body. I felt like the goddess of fortune had smiled upon me.

That day, a package I ordered arrived. It was a see-through nightgown. I thought, since James was putting in so much effort, I shouldn’t disappoint him. Coincidentally, my mother-in-law called in the afternoon to say she was going to their hometown to bring back some things. So tonight, I wanted to give James a surprise. I picked up the package and went home early. James hadn’t finished work yet, so I took a shower and carefully pampered my body. My skin was fragrant and smooth, intoxicating. I changed into the see-through nightgown and hid in the bedroom closet. After a while, I heard the door open. It was James. “Hello, Mr. Robert. Yes, I’ll send you a message when everything’s ready for you to come over.” “Mr. Robert? Why does he sound so respectful and submissive?” I thought when I heard this title. “Is a guest coming? Then I better not come out dressed like this.” Just as I was about to leave the closet, I heard James walk in. I thought it would be embarrassing to come out dressed like this, so I kept waiting. After a moment, James took a phone call and left. I came out of the closet and changed into regular pajamas with a camisole underneath. It was dinner time, and I found the white fungus soup Linda had left in the pot, still warm. “How nice,” I thought, and drank half a bowl. Just as I finished, James came back. He was surprised to see me, “Lily, why are you home?” I didn’t want to tell him about the nightgown, so I made up a lie, “Oh, I wasn’t feeling well, so I took off early.” I noticed his expression was a bit off, “Is something wrong? Problems at work?” James seemed to snap out of it, forced a smile, and came over to hug me, “It’s nothing, I just missed you, honey.” I leaned into his embrace, feeling extremely warm. At this moment, James noticed the bowl on the table, “Did you have the soup?” “Yes, I was a bit hungry, so I ate some.” “How much did you eat?” “About a bowl.” Hearing this, James seemed to relax. His hands holding me started to become restless, his lips teasing my ear, making me feel ticklish and my body soft. He picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. Just like the past two weeks, he took out a black lace blindfold, intending to cover my eyes. Seeing his actions, I pouted, “Can we not use the blindfold? I want to see you when you’re… you know.” James’s face suddenly tensed up. Thinking he was angry, and not wanting to ruin the mood, I quickly said, “Okay, okay, let’s use it. Go ahead.” James then covered my eyes. The lack of vision made my skin even more sensitive. James leaned down, continuously kissing my forehead, nose, lips, neck, and then gradually moving lower. My mind was becoming hazier, but not as severe as the previous times. At this point, I felt the warmth on my body disappear. The haziness in my mind only allowed me to express my dissatisfaction with soft moans. “Be good, I’m going to get a condom. Wait a moment.” Hearing his voice, I relaxed. After a while, I felt someone on top of me again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, accepting his increasingly rapid rhythm.

At this moment, my hands, which were restlessly roaming his back, felt a scar. It wasn’t long, about 6-7 centimeters. Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind – James didn’t have any scars… I wanted to use my hand to remove the blindfold and look at James. The next second, my hands were pinned above my head. With a shudder, the person on top of me got up and left. I waited a moment, then reached up to remove the blindfold. What I saw was James’s pale face. Seeing me move, James looked as if he had discovered something terrible, his voice shaking, “Why are you awake?” Afraid he might think he hadn’t performed well, I said, “I’m very tired and sleepy. I want to sleep again.” Then I hugged him, acting coy. James brought a face towel, “Be good, let me wipe you down.” I kissed him, “Okay!” Afterwards, James brought the white fungus soup, “Be good, drink this to replenish your energy.” I was a bit hungry, and since I had been drinking it every night, I didn’t think anything was wrong. “Okay, thank you, honey.” After that, I fell into a deep sleep.

After everything was over, James went to the hallway to make a phone call. “A total of 10 times, that should be enough! I hope you can keep your promise. Next week, I want to hear the news of my promotion to regional director.” James’s face was filled with anger, his eyes bloodshot, his fingers digging into the wall until his fingertips turned white. The person on the other end laughed, “Oh, James, James. You’re so lucky to have such a beautiful and soft wife. What can I say? I’ve become addicted.” James’s eyes widened in disbelief, “What do you mean?!” “I mean, I want one more time. One last time, and I’ll guarantee you become the regional director.” Seemingly shocked by the other party’s shamelessness, James’s face contorted, his eyes blazing red. “Absolutely not! Robert, you’ve slept with my wife 10 times already, I want to kill you!” Robert seemed unaffected by James’s anger, his tone full of confidence, “One last time, and I’ll make sure you become the head of the main office. How about that?” James’s anger seemed to dissipate instantly, replaced by disbelief tinged with excitement, “Really? The head of the main office is a much higher position than regional director!” “Of course.” James replied without hesitation, “Fine! Tomorrow night!” He hung up the phone, the hatred in his eyes instantly replaced by joy, without a trace of guilt. Naturally, he didn’t notice me behind the corner, struck by lightning, my expression devastated, yet desperately covering my mouth…

After I fell asleep, I woke up needing to use the bathroom, probably from drinking too much water. Although my body felt weak and limp, I didn’t want to wet the bed. Mustering my last bit of strength, I opened my eyes. I found that James was gone. At this moment, I heard voices from the hallway. I listened closely, it was James. I opened the door and went out. As I reached the corner, I overheard James’s conversation. “10 times”, “promotion”, “tomorrow night” Each word was like a knife stabbing into my heart, the pain unbearable. I covered my mouth tightly with both hands, my limbs growing cold, my thoughts blurry. An overwhelming hatred threatened to consume me. I needed to understand what was really going on. I struggled back to bed, lay down, and pretended nothing had happened. Moments later, James returned. I felt James kiss my forehead, murmuring, “I’m sorry, Lily. Just one last time.” I kept my eyes closed, desperately trying to suppress my body’s urge to tremble with hatred… Early the next morning, Linda returned from the countryside. Today, I noticed many things I had never paid attention to before. For instance, the white fungus soup at night and the next morning was only served when James and I had been intimate. For instance, when drinking the soup, Linda always had to watch me finish a bowl. For instance, Linda’s delighted expression and James’s unnatural attitude every time I finished the soup. For instance… every time James stopped to say he was getting a condom, but I had never seen any used ones in the house.

That day, I pretended everything was normal, drank the soup, and left for work. In reality, after leaving, I took a sample of the soup from the pot and sent it to a testing center. I requested urgent results within 8 hours. Throughout the day, thinking about what was happening at home, I felt anxious and uneasy, as if I were on pins and needles. I didn’t want to believe that the man I had been with for 10 years was a monster who would offer his wife to others for a promotion! After work, as soon as I entered the door, Linda put on a fake smile, her face full of wrinkles, “Oh, Lily’s back! Quick, quick, sit down. Mom made white fungus soup again tonight. Drink up, it’s good for your beauty and health.” I took the soup and brought it to my lips, but kept watching Linda out of the corner of my eye. Her cunning expression was disgusting. I pretended to put down the soup, “Mom, I’m not feeling well today. I don’t want to drink it.” Hearing this, Linda’s voice suddenly rose by 8 octaves, becoming piercingly shrill, “Not drinking?! How can that be? You must drink it!” She then forcefully made me drink it all. Seeing that I had finished the whole bowl, she resumed her kind and gentle demeanor, “Good Lily, you’re truly a blessing to our family.” As she spoke, she kept eyeing me up and down with a sickening gaze, like a man would. Suppressing my nausea, I said, “Mom, I’m going to take a shower.” “Good, good, go ahead. A shower is good!” I went into the bedroom bathroom and started to make myself vomit until I had thrown up all the soup! I raised my head, my fingers tightly gripping the sink. My eyes were bloodshot from the forced vomiting, filled with tears. “James! Linda! If you’re really this inhuman, don’t blame me for what comes next!” That night, I went through the motions with James as before. Having thrown up the bowl of soup, I clearly felt that today I wasn’t as dizzy as usual, but rather unusually clear-headed. As I had guessed, after blindfolding me, he got up to get a condom, and after a while, a man came. When he entered me, I clearly felt that the size was different! Every time before, my thoughts had been so muddled that I hadn’t noticed at all! I listened to his voice, my hand as always finding that scar… It was indeed him! In an instant, I tore off the blindfold. The man seemed not to expect this move from me, was startled, and immediately climaxed. I looked at this unfamiliar face, “Who are you?!”

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I’m Chloe Quinn, the orphan adopted by the Foster family and Luke Foster’s sister. He cherished me dearly. For five years after my parents passed away in a car accident, he spoiled me like a precious princess. Yet, after I confessed my feelings for him, he ignored me for three whole years. On the day he went to propose to someone else, I also accepted another’s proposal. “I’ll marry him,” I said. After I agreed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Grandma Foster smiled, “Good girl, you can prepare for the wedding this month.” She and other relatives happily discussed the wedding plans as they walked out with light steps. I sat by the window, staring blankly at the scenery outside. Sophia stood aside with red-rimmed eyes, “I’ll try to persuade Luke again. Maybe there’s still a chance things could change.” I looked at her teary eyes and chuckled lightly, “Isn’t marriage supposed to be a happy event? Look how thrilled they all are.” My agreement to marry probably relieved Luke the most. Silly Sophia still didn’t understand. “But Luke used to care for you the most,” she said with a voice on the verge of tears, pulling my thoughts back to years ago. That year, when my parents died in a car accident, relatives like wolves divided up my family’s assets, leaving only my fate undecided. “Who wants this little girl?” “I can’t afford to raise her.” “We can’t either.” They pushed the responsibility around. I huddled in a corner, shivering. A tall teenage boy appeared like a divine figure, shielding me, “I’ll take her!” He brought me home. From then on, I became the Foster family’s adopted daughter and Luke’s sister. Though he seemed cold, he was attentive enough to notice my fear of the dark and stayed up all night telling me stories. Even when he worked outside, he never forgot to search for interesting gifts for me. He took my childish words seriously. He said, “If Chloe doesn’t want to get married, the Foster house will always be your home. I’ll protect you forever.” He spoiled me to the bone, letting me grow up safely, becoming the most precious princess in our social circle. I took his vow as truth. Unnoticed feelings gradually sprouted. I also naturally felt that Luke would be mine forever. So on that Valentine’s Day, when he handed the bouquet he won to another girl, I unhesitatingly smashed the flowers and declared my feelings in front of everyone. “Luke, I don’t just see you as a brother. I like you.” I was adopted by the Foster family anyway, and Luke and I grew up together like childhood sweethearts. If it worked out, it would be a good match. But Luke avoided me like the plague ever since. I still didn’t want to give up. I thought he loved me but just wouldn’t admit it. If he didn’t love me, why was he so attentive to me? If he didn’t love me, why would he get jealous whenever he saw me interacting with other guys? I even went to his company. But day after day, year after year. This infatuation eventually became a joke. People no longer said, “This could be a good match.” Instead, they said, “That adopted daughter of the Fosters is really shameless, pestering Luke every day.” I waited and waited, but Luke never said he liked me. I only waited for dark nights with no one to keep me company. In the gift boxes, presents gradually gathered dust. The once earnest boy who told me stories had grown into a cold, emotionless man. I stubbornly refused to marry anyone else, gradually passing the suitable age for marriage. Grandma Foster finally revealed the truth, “Years ago, when he took his little sister out to play, she got lost, and he felt extremely guilty.” “Later, when he saved you, he treated you like his own sister.” “Luke only has sibling affection for you. You’re getting older now, you should wake up.” I finally realized the truth. It turned out that this doting love was just borrowed from someone else. That day, Luke went to visit the Sanders family. To discuss marriage, the target being Rachel Sanders, the girl whose flowers I had smashed. That day, I also agreed to Grandma Foster’s suggestion, “If someone is willing to marry me, I’ll do it.”

At dawn, I left the house with money. I had made an agreement with a friend. His mother needed treatment, and his brother needed to go to school. As long as he fake-married me, I would give him half of my money. I had once rashly thought about just leaving everything behind. But after calming down, I immediately rejected this idea. No matter what, the Foster family had raised me, and they hadn’t wronged me in any way. After confirming the details with my friend, I left the money and departed. When I returned to the Foster house, it was bustling with activity. It turned out Rachel Sanders had come to visit. At the dining table, she sat between Luke and Grandma Foster, chatting and laughing, creating a harmonious atmosphere. They looked so much like a family. I wanted to make an excuse that I had already eaten and leave. But Luke’s voice left no room for refusal, “Sit down and eat.” I had to sit down reluctantly, but I wisely chose to sit next to Grandma Foster, keeping the farthest distance from Luke. I remained silent, focusing on my food. Suddenly, an extra piece of food appeared in my bowl. This gesture startled me. Luke quickly withdrew his chopsticks, as if trying to hide something, and said in a serious tone, “You haven’t been to class for half a month.” I was surprised he had noticed, considering he had been avoiding me for months. I gave a light “Mm,” since I had decided to get married and leave, there was no need to go anymore. The young man raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone cold, “You should still go. Learning more will help you understand things better.” I was taken aback. In the past, he would always smile and pat my head, saying, “Chloe is the most sensible.” Rachel joked, “If she doesn’t like studying, don’t force her.” She tugged at Luke’s sleeve intimately, “It’s Valentine’s Day. Why don’t we take your sister out with us later?” Luke’s brows furrowed slightly. Rachel was magnanimous, “A girl her age would love such excitement.” She looked at me, “You’ll come, right, sister?”

This was a gesture of goodwill from my future sister-in-law, I couldn’t refuse. I nodded. Throughout the meal, I listened to Rachel talking about where they would go later, with Luke quietly agreeing. The atmosphere was harmonious. The food in my mouth tasted like sawdust, but I forced myself to swallow it, maintaining a calm appearance. On Valentine’s Day, the city was truly lively. Flower stalls were everywhere, and malls had various activities. Shouts, laughter, and conversations rose and fell all around. I followed behind the two of them. Watching Luke buy a necklace for her. Watching Luke participate in an activity, win a grand prize, and give it to Rachel, surrounded by envious voices. Rachel turned back and said considerately, “Why don’t we give this prize to your sister? I remember she likes this the most.” With one sentence, she brought back memories of when I childishly tore apart the bouquet years ago. Luke’s sharp eyes swept over me, his expression indifferent, “This is my gift to you.” Rachel glanced at me, her eyes curved in a smile, “Your sister isn’t an outsider. As her future sister-in-law, I should take care of her more.” She put the prize in my hands, her tone gentle, “Luke had a diamond necklace custom-made for me, unbreakable. This ordinary prize, let’s give it to you.” She touched the exquisite necklace on her neck and stepped back, linking her arm with Luke’s again. Behind them, I was swallowed by the passing crowd, stumbling. A motorcycle sped by, grazing me and knocking me down. A sharp pain shot through my leg. There was a commotion around me, but I keenly heard Rachel’s clear voice in the distance. “Didn’t you say you’d take me to a nice place to see the night view?” A group of people surrounded me, but through the gaps in the crowd, I met his starry eyes. He looked at me for a moment, then was pulled away by someone beside him, withdrawing his gaze. I was still in a daze. “Are you alright?” With the help of those around me, I stood up, limping. I thanked the kind lady, “It’s fine.” But my thoughts had already drifted far away. He had told Rachel about that place too? When I first discovered how beautiful the view was from the hilltop, I immediately dragged Luke there. “This is my secret spot, we can’t tell anyone else.” I put my finger to my lips, winking playfully at the young man. The corner of his mouth turned up imperceptibly, “Alright.” In the darkness, his gaze burned like flames, particularly warm. We admired the night view together, made wishes devoutly, and watched the stars twinkle. Every year, my wish was to be with Luke. It turns out, wishing upon stars doesn’t work after all.

I limped home with difficulty. Sophia tenderly applied medicine for me. The next day, Rachel heard I was injured and came to see me. Luke waited outside to avoid suspicion. I only saw half of his sharp profile, softened by the morning light. Rachel fussed over me and had someone bring some things. I let Sophia receive them, intending to make some excuses to send them off, but Rachel suddenly sat down and started talking about the beautiful night view from the hilltop last night. She spoke of Luke’s gentleness and the beauty of the night scenery. “Is that so?” “That’s nice.” “Sounds good.” As I listened, I maintained a calm expression, responding with these three phrases. It was as if all the past rumors didn’t exist. I was just a sister sincerely wishing her brother well. Finally, she stood up and looked around my room. Her gaze was deep, “This room is nice.” The room itself was spacious and had been decorated particularly cozily. With the small ornaments Luke had collected over the years, it looked quite stylish. I thought, soon I would be leaving, and these things should be returned. Sophia helped me up to see Rachel out. She stood beside Luke, looking particularly petite next to him. “Is your leg better?” he asked, his expression cool. I nodded, but noticed the watch he usually wore on his wrist was gone, replaced by a couple’s matching watch. Correspondingly, Rachel was wearing the other one. The original watch was a birthday gift I had given him. Thinking about it now, that watch was too ordinary and didn’t suit him. I no longer felt the anger of the past, but asked calmly. “Have you set a wedding date?” Luke was silent for a moment before speaking, “After I return in a month.” He had been assigned to a business trip by the company. “Congratulations.” A thousand words crossed my mind, but in the end, they all faded into silence. I opened my mouth to congratulate them. His gaze was like stars sinking into a cold night, looking at me deeply for a moment before nodding. Finally, I watched their silhouettes walking away side by side. And sincerely said, “They really are a good match.”

It was just letting go of a dream that didn’t belong to me. My friend came as promised. Grandma Foster was still hesitant about this poor office worker, but seeing that I didn’t object, she tacitly agreed. I had no other requests, except one: to get married before Luke returned. Grandma Foster understood and didn’t want to make a fuss, keeping everything simple. But three days before the set wedding date. Luke came back early. Grandma Foster was clearly a bit flustered. I hadn’t expected it either. When I returned, what greeted my eyes was a room in complete disarray. Messy clothes, fallen bookshelves, broken vases. My clothes were carelessly thrown on the floor, covered in dust. After such a disturbance, it looked nothing like the room of someone about to get married. Among them, several servants were bossing others around, “Search carefully, it could be anywhere.” Sophia was angry, “What are you doing!” The servant wasn’t afraid of Sophia at all, “Miss Sanders’ necklace is missing. We’re following Mr. Foster’s orders to search for it.” My expression darkened slightly, “I didn’t take any necklace.” The servant was about to say something disdainfully. Two figures stepped in from the courtyard gate. Rachel’s eyes were red, “Sister, if you like it, I can have another one made just like it. That one was Luke’s token of love for me, I can’t give it to you.” Luke was in a suit, his face slightly dark, “Chloe, hand it over.” “I thought you had grown up, but I didn’t expect you to still bully Rachel after I left.” I took a deep breath and looked at his distrustful eyes, “I never took any necklace.” “You said to let go, so I did.” “I haven’t interfered with your marriage either.” “Why won’t you let me have peace?” Suddenly, a servant laughed mockingly, “If you’ve really let go, why is there still a wedding dress in your room!” A white wedding dress was pulled out and thrown in front of everyone. Whispers immediately spread around, “How shameless, did she still want to replace the bride?” Luke’s expression was calm, but I was particularly familiar with the disappointment in his eyes. “Still so obsessed.” He turned his head, “I’ll have a new necklace made for you.” Rachel’s eyes gleamed with hidden joy as she nodded. A sense of weariness suddenly rose in my heart. He was experienced in business, smart and wise. How could he not see through this clumsy trick? He just didn’t want to believe me anymore. As they were leaving, Rachel whispered in my ear. “Years ago, you smashed my bouquet.” “Now, this is my payback to you.” The crowd left in a noisy mess. Leaving behind only chaos. Sophia, seeing familiar things scattered in pieces, began tidying up with teary eyes. I stepped over broken vase shards, over scattered books, picked up the wedding dress despised by everyone, and dusted it off. Sophia came over, “This is…” The room was in such a state, it would be hard to restore in a short time. I lowered my eyes, “Tell Grandma I’ll leave from a hotel for the wedding.” I took the dowry left by my parents and left this home of ten years. Wishes made in youth finally became empty words.

My wedding was a quiet affair. My friend, Peter Chen, was a college classmate who unfortunately couldn’t continue his studies due to poverty. In this small apartment, we lived in separate rooms, agreeing that I would leave after his mother recovered from her illness. By then, we would part ways, and no one would know my background. These days, the most sensational news in the city was about the wedding of Mr. Foster and Miss Sanders in a week. It was said that Mr. Foster had returned several days early for this. Walking on the street, I overheard gossip. “With such a big event, hasn’t that person caused any trouble?” “Who knows, maybe she’s accepted her fate.” “It’s a pity, Mr. Foster used to bring that person here to volunteer often. Who would have thought…” Hearing the sighs, I was about to hurry away when I accidentally bumped into a child. Before I could apologize, the child exclaimed happily, “Big sister!” This reaction made me instinctively cover my face. The child understood and tugged at my sleeve, “Come with me.” After winding through several small alleys, we arrived at a somewhat dilapidated orphanage. Several children were still living there. Seeing me arrive, they all came to greet me. “Big sister.” In my younger years, Luke and I had helped these orphaned children and promised to visit them from time to time. Seeing them so lively now, I felt some comfort. Walking into the courtyard, I saw the osmanthus tree in the center was blooming. I sighed, “I didn’t expect this tree to still be alive.” The promised meeting day had passed by two months. The children chattered around me. “Yes, you and big brother haven’t come for these past few months, but we’ve been taking good care of it…” Mentioning Luke, the boy’s voice suddenly lowered, glancing at me carefully. Clearly, he had also heard the news of Luke’s impending marriage. Seeing their awkward expressions, not knowing how to comfort them, I burst out laughing, “It’s okay, I’m married too.” “Luke is still good, but from now on, he’s just my brother.” As soon as I finished speaking. The wooden door creaked open. I turned my head. Luke stood there in casual clothes, looking like a jade tree in the wind, standing between light and shadow. While I was stunned, a child beside me exclaimed happily, “Big brother!” “Why are you here?” A child scratched his head shyly, “I brought big brother here. Didn’t he and big sister promise to visit us together? Today I saw only big sister alone, and I happened to meet big brother on the street, so…” A group of children gathered around him, unable to resist asking. “Big brother, are you really getting married?” “What about big sister?” I felt a bit uncomfortable and quickly interrupted, “We’re already married to different people, we have nothing to do with each other now.” Luke looked at me, his dark eyes seeming to want to say something. But he said nothing. We carried on as usual. Cleaned up the yard. Replenished what the children needed. When saying goodbye to the children, Luke and I walked out of the yard side by side. The sunlight fell on our shoulders, giving me a sense of déjà vu of returning to the past. Luke spoke softly, “You didn’t need to lie to them about being married.”

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