My adopted daughter, who I raised for eighteen years, found her biological parents. The very first day she moved into their mansion, she kicked me out. “You must have stolen me back then. You’re so cruel!” I tried to explain I’d found her abandoned in a dumpster, but she wouldn’t believe a word. Later, when I was dying of late-stage cancer, I called her, just wanting to see her one last time. But she sneered, “My parents are throwing me a birthday party. If you’re going to die, do it far away from me!” Then she hung up. The next second, a new post popped up on her SnapChat story. In the photo, she was beaming, arm wrapped around her biological mother. The caption read: “Thank you, Mom, for everything all these years. You gave me a second chance at life!” Just then, a man appeared before me. “Ms. Vance, the orphan you sponsored all those years ago is now worth thirty billion dollars.” “He says, it’s time to repay your kindness.” The man had barely finished speaking when my phone rang again. It was my adopted daughter, Cassie. Her impatient tone from earlier had vanished. “My mom wants to meet you and thank you for raising me all these years.” “Come to the birthday party tonight. I’ll text you the address.” “Make sure you dress respectably. Don’t embarrass me!” “Since you’re incurable anyway, just sell that old apartment of yours and use the money to buy my mom a pink diamond necklace as a welcome gift.” “Oh, and my mom has exquisite taste. The necklace needs to be at least ten thousand dollars. Don’t be so cheap, okay?” My throat tightened at her words. Between my retirement savings and supporting Cassie all these years, I’d barely been making ends meet. Now, all I had left was a few thousand dollars and a small apartment downtown. I’d planned to give up treatment and leave everything to her, but I never imagined she held me in such contempt. I sighed, not bothering to reply, and hung up the phone. Staring at the photo of young Cassie on my screen, I lost myself in thought. I’d never had children of my own. First, I adopted Cassie, who I found abandoned in a dumpster. Later, I sponsored an orphan named Adrian through college. I honestly thought I’d done enough good in my life and would enjoy my golden years. But to my dismay, Cassie had resented me ever since she turned ten. She was convinced her biological parents were wealthy and that I’d kidnapped her from them for my own old age. No matter what I said, she wouldn’t believe me. She even reported it to the police station. I spent half a year tirelessly compiling all the legal adoption documents and records of finding her, just to clear my name of child trafficking. Later, she started running newspaper ads to find her birth parents. Finally, on her eighteenth birthday, she found her biological mother, Victoria, a millionaire. She not only unhesitatingly sent me to a nursing home but also immediately changed her name from Cassie Vance to Cassie Hayes. My heart had shattered more than once, but watching her grow from a babbling toddler, I always loved her. But then I wondered, did she ever truly see me as her mother? Just a few days ago, my cancer had spread, and I developed a sudden fever, needing a family member’s signature for treatment. Over the phone, she snapped at the nurse, “She’s not my real mom. What does it have to do with me?” That’s when I finally understood. All those years, it had been a one-sided devotion. “Ms. Vance.” The man’s voice jolted me from my thoughts. “Mr. Thorne is coming to Sterling City tonight for business. The address is The Summit Grand Hotel.” “He asked me to pick you up first. He believes he can help with your treatment, if you’re open to it…” I gave a bitter smile. “Alright, I’ll go with you.” As I spoke, I replaced Cassie’s photo on my phone. Eighteen years of raising her. I was done. That evening, dragging my aching body, I followed Mr. Davies to The Summit Grand Hotel. After settling me in, Mr. Davies respectfully said, “Ms. Vance, I’ll go meet Mr. Thorne at the entrance. Please wait here.” No sooner had he left than Cassie’s voice, filled with utter disgust, reached my ears. “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

“Hmph, so you found out my real parents are rich, and now you’re sucking up, aren’t you? What a pathetic act!” Only then did I realize she was holding her birthday party here tonight. As she spoke, she yanked my bag roughly. “Where’s the necklace I told you to buy?” I snatched my bag back. “I didn’t buy one.” “And I’m not here for you. I’m waiting for—” “You didn’t buy one?!” She shrieked, cutting me off. “You just came empty-handed? Are you sick or something?!” “You’re not actually trying to ruin my birthday party, are you? Just because you’re alone with no children to care for you, you can’t stand to see anyone else happy, right?!” Just then, her biological mother, Victoria Sterling, sauntered over, a champagne flute in hand. “Cassie, is this your adoptive mother?” Cassie paused, then plastered on a fawning smile. “Yes, Mom. This is my adoptive mother.” She looked at me, enunciating “adoptive mother” with biting emphasis. Immediately, strange looks were cast my way. “So that’s her, the one who kidnapped Miss Hayes and made her suffer so much!” “She’s dressed so shabbily. She’s probably here to shake them down, isn’t she? These types always go for the jugular.” “Why would the Hayes family even invite her? I say just kick her out!” “Exactly. Does she know the Hayes family is meeting Mr. Thorne for a marriage alliance today and wants a piece of the pie?” “Hahaha, look at her, she came empty-handed. Anyone would think she’s here begging for food!” “If Mr. Thorne finds out Miss Hayes has such a classless adoptive mother, I wonder if he’ll still be interested!” Their whispers pierced my ears, but I pretended not to hear. But “Mr. Thorne”? Could it be Adrian, the orphan I sponsored? How could he be involved in a marriage alliance with Cassie? Cassie, hearing their words, panicked. She grabbed my arm. “My mom was kind enough to let you see how the other half lives, and you’re just ungrateful!” Then, her eyes fixed on my ear, she whispered, “Didn’t you say those earrings were a family heirloom from your mom?” “If they’re heirlooms, they should be mine now!” “Quickly, take them off right now, go clean them, and bring them back! Just say you forgot them earlier!” My mother’s only memento, and she wanted me to give it to her biological mother? I forced a bitter laugh. “Cassie, I told you, I’m not here because of you.” “I’m not even in my grave yet, and you’re already eyeing my possessions?” She froze, seemingly stunned that I, who had once doted on her so much, would speak like this. Suddenly, she lunged and yanked my earring. A searing, tearing pain shot through my earlobe, and I cried out. “What are you doing?!” Guests immediately crowded around. Seeing the attention, Cassie immediately adopted a tearful, aggrieved expression. “I transferred you three hundred thousand dollars to get my mom a welcome gift… but I didn’t expect you to blow it on yourself!” “How could you do that?!” “Now I just want you to give me back the earrings. After all, my mom’s money doesn’t just grow on trees!” What… Hearing her words, everyone’s gazes turned even more scornful. Victoria watched, not intervening, then suddenly let out a soft laugh. “Cassie, I didn’t believe you, but it seems you truly were raised by someone like this.” “You’ve suffered so much all these years.” With that, she looked at me with an arrogant smirk, whispering in my ear, “You don’t really think I invited you here to thank you, do you?” “I just wanted to see what kind of person Cassie had to endure all those years.” “Today, you’ll see what real power looks like!” She immediately changed her expression, throwing a wad of cash in my face. “The earrings are dirty, so I don’t want them.” “And this hundred thousand dollars, is that enough to sever ties between you and my daughter?” “I wouldn’t want Mr. Thorne to know that Cassie’s adoptive mother is some dirty, rural woman like you.” Meeting her sneering gaze, I finally realized she hadn’t genuinely invited me. It was merely to humiliate me. Cassie, hearing her mother, smugly linked arms with her. “Heard that? Take the money and get lost.” “Don’t pollute the air in here!” I looked at the cash on the floor, finding it utterly laughable. “Cassie, I used to give you five thousand dollars a month for pocket money. What’s a hundred thousand to that?” Her face instantly flushed crimson at my words. The next second, she suddenly knelt before me and began to sob loudly. “Mom! Are you saying it’s not enough?!” “Please, I’m begging you! Stop hounding me for money! My parents don’t owe you anything!”

The surrounding guests gasped in astonishment. I stood there, my head buzzing. “What do you think you’re doing?!” She wept even harder. “Mom, I’ve really had enough!” “I know you raised me, but all these years, you forced me to work multiple jobs a day to support you. I’ve repaid all my debts to you!” “But why are you still lying?! It was me who sent you five thousand dollars every month!” “You planned for me to return to the Hayes family, just to give all the money to you… but I… I can’t do it!” “Please, I’m begging you, just let me go!” With that, she pulled out her phone and showed a screenshot, clearly displaying images of me supposedly transferring money to her monthly. Except, my profile picture and hers had been swapped. More and more guests gathered, and hearing her words, they began to point and curse at me: “I think Miss Hayes is telling the truth. She knew the Hayes family was rich, kidnapped her intentionally, and is now extorting money from her once she’s grown!” “They say she has cancer. Looks like God finally opened his eyes and is giving her what she deserves!” “Poor Miss Hayes, a young lady who should have been living a life of luxury, abused and forced to earn money to support her!” “Disgusting. She made Miss Hayes suffer in the countryside for years, and now she’s still clinging on.” “The Hayes family is really unlucky, stuck with such a parasitic adoptive mother. Call the bodyguards and throw her out!” Cassie and Victoria stood with their arms crossed, watching me. “The Summit Grand Hotel isn’t a place just anyone can enter. You need to know your place from now on. Go where you belong!” I frowned, pulling out my own phone. “Cassie, are you sure you want to slander me like this?” She froze for a moment. “How am I slandering you?” Seeing me about to open my phone to show the transfer records, she shrieked, “Are you still not leaving?! Do you want me to call security?!” With that, she shoved me. I stumbled back a few steps, nearly falling. The pain from my late-stage cancer-ridden bones flared, and I felt dizzy. Just then, my phone vibrated with a message from Adrian: “Eleanor, I’m almost there. Wait for me. I’m taking you home tonight.” A wave of warmth washed over me. Home. I hadn’t heard that word in so long. Seeing me staring at my phone, she snatched it away. After reading the message, she scoffed. “So that’s why you asked me for so much money? To keep a younger man?” “No wonder you thought it wasn’t enough!” “I can’t believe you, at your age, are still messing around! No wonder you got cancer!” “You probably picked it up from your sordid lifestyle!” I couldn’t take it anymore. I raised my hand and slapped Cassie hard across the face. “Cassie! Raising you with my money, I might as well have fed a stray dog!” Cassie clutched her face, her eyes wide, unable to believe I’d struck her. “Y-you hit me?!” she shrieked. Victoria immediately rushed over. “You lunatic! How dare you hit my daughter!” Just then, Mr. Davies hurried back. “What are you doing!”

Mr. Davies panicked when he saw me. He immediately pointed at Cassie and the others. “What do you think you’re doing laying hands on her?! I’ll call the police!” Cassie looked at Mr. Davies, then pointed at him fiercely. “Eleanor, is this the kept man you’re supporting?” “You’re meeting here, at a hotel? A man and a woman, it’s not hard to guess what you’re up to!” Mr. Davies recognized Victoria and naturally deduced that Cassie was her regained daughter. His face instantly darkened. “So the Hayes family has no decency whatsoever!” Victoria’s face turned black. “This is outrageous! No one in Sterling City has ever dared to speak to me like that!” “You two just wait! When my husband and Mr. Thorne arrive, I’ll make you beg on your knees!” Hearing that, Cassie’s chin shot up, her confidence renewed. Mr. Davies was about to say something, but I spoke first. “Cassie, I should never have been soft-hearted enough to pick you up from that dumpster.” “I’m telling you, I will pursue legal action for your slanderous accusations against me!” Cassie burst into laughter. “Dumpster? Eleanor, aren’t you tired of telling that lie?!” “How come no one else found me, only you did?” “Don’t think I don’t know, your own mother died of cancer, and you knew you might inherit it, so you kidnapped me!” “You still expect me to repay you? Dream on!” My heart twisted painfully in my chest. It was true, I’d worried my mother’s cancer might be hereditary, which was why I’d never dated or married. When Cassie first learned of it, she had looked at me with sympathy and said, “Mom, don’t worry. Cassie will be your family from now on. I’ll always stay with you.” I thought she understood this was a deep pain in my heart. But now that she was grown, she was ripping open old wounds. Yes, the sweet, obedient Cassie was long gone. Just then, Adrian called me. He must have arrived. I answered the phone, glancing at Mr. Davies. “Okay, we’re coming out now.” Suddenly, Cassie snatched my phone again, catching me off guard. She shrieked into the phone, “Who are you, another one of Eleanor’s lackeys?! She’s not leaving unless I say so!” “Hmph, you offended the Hayes family. You’ll have to bow down and kowtow fifty times before you leave!” Adrian on the other end of the line paused, then said coldly, “The Hayes family?” Cassie scoffed. “That’s right!” “I’m warning you, if you dare to stand up for her, I’ll make sure you don’t leave Sterling City alive today!” With that, she slammed the phone down. My head was buzzing. Adrian Thorne was worth thirty billion dollars. How dare a mere ten-million-dollar family like the Hayeses speak to him like that? Then, Victoria said with disgust, “What are you still standing around for?” “Why aren’t you forcing this woman to kowtow on the ground?” “Once she’s done, throw her out.” “If Mr. Thorne sees her, it’ll ruin the Hayes family’s image. I’ll fire all of you!” Hearing this, several bodyguards quickly surrounded me. I was pushed, my body losing balance, and my knees hit the marble floor with a heavy thud. My bones, already fragile from late-stage cancer, sent a searing pain through me with the impact. The onlookers even clapped, cheering them on. “She deserves it for causing trouble at the Hayes family’s birthday party!” “If they don’t teach her a lesson, she’ll come back trying to extort money again!” “Just throw her out already, she’s such an eyesore.” Mr. Davies tried desperately to intervene, but one man was no match for a crowd, and he was quickly restrained. Cassie walked up to me. Before I could react, she slapped me hard across the face. “I almost forgot! This slap is for you!” “If you ever dare to show your face in front of me again, it won’t be just a slap!” Just then, Adrian’s furious voice boomed from the doorway. “Stop! I’d like to see who dares to touch her in my presence!” Behind him, the CEO of Hayes Group, Richard, looked utterly bewildered.

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That year, when I was five, my sister and I were kidnapped. After we were rescued, Mom slapped me across the face. “If you hadn’t thrown a fit about going outside, Holly wouldn’t have been hurt and ended up with her mind crippled!” From that day on, I became the family’s sinner. When Holly’s wheelchair needed to go up the steps, and my strength wasn’t enough, Mom would pinch my arm hard. When Holly’s candy fell into the drain, Mom forced me to dig it out with my bare hands. Dad tried to ease the tension between us, but Mom snapped at him, “She ruined Holly’s mind, she deserves to die!” It wasn’t until Holly was playing in the yard and the big brother next door took her to his basement. I cried as I pushed Holly out, but I was dragged in myself. When I came home covered in blood, Mom just pointed a furious finger at me and snarled: “Willow Song, who are you trying to scare looking like that?” “How could I have given birth to such a worthless child? I wish I’d never had a daughter like you!” I quietly pulled out a red cloth pouch from deep inside my closet. Inside was the golden pendant Mom used to give me, shaped like a heart, which she carved herself. I stared at it for a long time, then calmly swallowed it. Mom, I don’t want your love anymore. I just want you to be happy forever.

The pendant was a bit too big, and it got caught in my throat, making me so uncomfortable. I swallowed hard and drank many glasses of cold water. After a lot of effort, it finally *gurgled* down. My stomach felt heavy, a little cold, and it hurt a bit. Mom used to tell me stories about swallowing gold to commit suicide, afraid I’d eat random things. I was a little scared, but also a little relieved. If I died, would the pain go away? Would my heart stop hurting so much? When Mom pushed the door open, she didn’t notice the empty glass in my hand. “Willow, stop just staring into space all day. Go make Holly’s bed.” I followed her out, every step making my stomach ache. Holly’s bed was piled high with dolls. I reached out to tidy them, but my fingertips trembled uncontrollably. Mom pushed me away forcefully, “Clumsy! You can’t even do *this* right!” I bumped into the wardrobe, and a metallic taste welled up in my throat. Dad heard the commotion, sighed, and tried to reason, “Willow looks unwell. Let her rest for a bit.” Mom immediately glared at him, “She’s just faking it to get sympathy. Holly is the one who needs looking after.” I noticed Holly’s hairpin on the floor, the one Mom bought her just yesterday. I reached down to pick it up, but suddenly felt nauseous. Mom saw me vomit all over the floor and grabbed my hair. “Are you doing this on purpose? Trying to make a disgusting mess for us?” “You’re just jealous that I’m good to your sister, you demon.” I looked up, trying to force a smile, but as my lips curved up, tears streamed down instead. “Mom, my stomach hurts so much…” She let go, her eyes as cold as ice. “If you’re in pain, go back to your room. Don’t cause trouble here.” Dad opened his mouth, but ended up just holding Holly to lighten the mood. “Brenda, let’s take Holly for a walk.” Before leaving, Mom told Dad, “Have Mr. Miller next door keep an eye on Willow.” A warm feeling flowed through me. Maybe Mom still cared about me. But the next second, Mom looked at me impatiently, “Don’t let her cause any more trouble. Haven’t we suffered enough because of her?” She wasn’t worried about me getting hurt alone at home; she was afraid I’d cause trouble. But I didn’t like that man. He made me hurt so much. Dad exchanged a few words with Mr. Miller, and he walked over, smiling. “Willow, come over to my place and watch cartoons.” Mom said coldly from the side, “You be good and don’t cause us any trouble!” “Listen to Mr. Miller, and don’t be so gloomy all the time. It’s just bad vibes to be around you!” I didn’t dare resist anymore. Mom and Dad would get upset. Mr. Miller didn’t turn on the TV. Instead, he carried me to the basement. I smelled a nauseating, thick odor. There were no cartoons or candy, only an old mat and a whip. He put a hand on my hair. “I’ll teach you another game, okay?” “Your mom left you with me, so you have to listen to me.” I didn’t move. If I moved, Mom would get angry. If Mom got angry, she wouldn’t want me anymore. The gold pendant in my stomach suddenly felt so heavy, the pain made me flinch. He noticed I was trembling and spat, “You little bitch, you weren’t already *used up* this afternoon, were you?” My legs felt weak, and he half-supported, half-dragged me back home. Mr. Miller put me on my bed, roughly pulling the blanket over me, covering my head completely. His voice was particularly harsh, “When your parents come back, tell them you were just sleepy and fell asleep on your own, got it?” “Don’t you dare tell them what I did to you. Even if you did, no one would believe you!” Actually, he didn’t need to tell me. I wouldn’t tell Mom and Dad. Before, when the boy next door bullied me, Mom said I was being immature, and too young to be learning bad things. I bit my lip hard under the blanket, trying not to cry out loud. The blanket was thick, and I felt a bit breathless, but my body kept getting colder. I heard Mom and Dad bringing Holly back from outside. Holly was giggling, “Mom, I want a story!” Mom’s voice was so gentle, a tone I hadn’t heard in a long, long time. “Of course, Mom will tell a story to her little princess.” Their laughter sounded so beautiful, like Holly’s favorite musical box. But Mom never let me touch that musical box. I heard Mr. Miller in the living room, speaking in a hushed voice, “Willow was tired from playing. She looked so sleepy, so I sent her back to her room to sleep.” Mom seemed to say, “Good, she’s asleep. Saves me from getting annoyed looking at her.” Dad seemed to say something, and then Mom’s voice rose, “She’s just bad luck. If it had been her who died, our Holly wouldn’t be like this…” I couldn’t hear the rest. I was covered by the blanket, in pitch darkness. My stomach hurt so much, even more than when Mom hit me. There was also a metallic taste in my throat. Mom and Dad, I feel so unwell. Gold tastes terrible. If I fall asleep, will you come and look at me just once?

Daylight broke, and my stomach didn’t hurt anymore. The metallic taste in my throat was gone too. My body felt so light. I had turned into a mermaid bubble, just like in Mom’s fairy tales. I floated out from under the blanket. It was so fun, I could see my own little bed. The blanket was plump, and inside, a tiny me was still lying there. Mom pushed the door open, annoyed. “Willow, the sun’s already hitting your butt, get up! You need to go to kindergarten!” I waved at her from the ceiling. “Mom, I’m up! I’m right here!” But she didn’t seem to hear or see me. Mom’s face was filled with anger, glaring at the bulging blanket on the bed. Dad also came, standing at the door with a sigh. “Let her sleep a bit more. She didn’t look too well yesterday.” Mom immediately turned and yelled at Dad, “What do you mean ‘not well’? She’s just lazy, faking sick to skip school!” “Look how good Holly is, she already got dressed herself!” Holly skipped to the door and called out, “Willow, you lazybones!” I really wanted to tell Holly that I wasn’t lazy. I didn’t need to sleep anymore. But they couldn’t see me or hear me speak. Mom angrily walked to the bed. I quickly floated down, wanting to hold her hand. But my hand passed right through her arm. She didn’t pull back the blanket to look, still muttering accusations. “Sleeping like a pig, wrapped up so tight in your blanket.” Mom picked up the empty water glass from my bedside table, then scoffed, “The water’s all gone. Guess there’s nothing really wrong.” I floated through the wall to the living room and saw Dad opening the door. Mr. Miller poked his head in and asked, “Where’s Willow? Why haven’t I heard anything from her today?” Mom poked her head out from the kitchen. “She was tired from playing yesterday. Can’t even wake her up.” Mr. Miller seemed to sigh in relief and quickly left. He must have been afraid I’d tell Mom and Dad about how he hurt me. But, I won’t say anything now. The sun shone in, but I didn’t feel warm anymore; my body felt constantly cold. In the living room, Mom and Dad were watching cartoons with Holly. I leaned against the doorframe, watching them. Dad glanced at my room. “Willow hasn’t eaten all day. I’ll go wake her up.” Mom immediately cut him off. “She won’t die from skipping one meal. She’s just trying to manipulate you because she knows you’re soft-hearted.” “She’s so manipulative at such a young age. Just ignore her. Let’s see how long she can actually sleep for!” Holly mimicked Mom, waving her small hand: “Willow, naughty!” No one came to check on me. Mom, I’m not naughty. I really am awake. See, I’ve been floating here for so, so long. It’s just that me, the one lying in bed, she doesn’t seem to want to wake up anymore.

In the afternoon, Chloe, my friend from kindergarten, came looking for me. Chloe held up a doll and said shyly, “Aunt Brenda, is Willow home? This is a gift my mom and I bought for her!” Mom’s face instantly twisted, looking incredibly sour. She blocked the doorway, not letting them in, her tone stiff: “She’s fine, just throwing a tantrum because she doesn’t want to go to kindergarten. Faking sick, as usual!” Chloe’s mom, Sarah, looked a bit embarrassed and whispered, “I always thought Willow was such a good girl.” “My daughter was being bullied at kindergarten, and Willow even got hurt trying to protect her!” Mom reacted like she’d been stung, her voice rising to a frantic shriek, “What do *you* know? She wants to destroy this entire family!” “Willow is a demon! She hurt her sister!” “If she were even half as considerate as *your* daughter, do you think I’d be this exhausted?” Chloe was scared and started crying. Sarah, with a displeased look, picked her up and left. Mom closed the door, her chest still heaving, muttering continuously: “She’s not well-behaved at all! You’ve all been fooled by her!” I floated beside Mom, looking at her distorted face, feeling a little sad. Mom, I really wanted to be a good child, one you didn’t have to worry about. Dad came into the bedroom once. He stood by my bed for a long time. He sighed and whispered, “Willow, Dad knows you’ve been hurting.” “But your mom… with everything that happened to Holly, she’s on the verge of a breakdown. She’s hurting inside, too.” He tried to reach out and touch me, but his hand stopped in mid-air and then he pulled it back. Dad pulled up the corner of my blanket. “Sleeping will make the sadness go away. Tomorrow, I’ll make you your favorite fried eggs.” He turned and left, his back looked so bent, like he was carrying the world. Dad, I’m asleep now, and I’m not sad anymore. But tomorrow’s fried eggs, I don’t think I’ll be able to wait for them. Before going to bed, Mom came in and glanced at me, complaining: “I must owe you from another life; you were born to be my torment.” “All day long, all you do is sleep. Even a pet cat or dog would bring more joy.” She walked to the bed. How I wished she would frantically feel my forehead, like when Holly had a fever, and pick me up. But she just poked my shoulder hard through the blanket. “Willow, stop faking it, get up now!” I didn’t react at all. Mom’s eyebrows furrowed tightly, “So stubborn, huh? Fine, then. See if you can sleep forever.” Holly was startled by the sound of her forcefully closing the door and cried, saying she was scared. Mom carried Holly past my room, gently humming a song. “Moon so bright, winds so still, leaves dancing on the sill… close your eyes, my sweet, sweet child…” She used to hum that song to me too. Back when Holly wasn’t born yet. She would hold me and rock me, telling me I was her little treasure. But that was a long, long time ago, so long it felt like another lifetime. The next day at noon, I still hadn’t woken up. Mom started to get anxious. “This stubborn girl, she can’t really be sick, can she? She won’t wake up no matter what I do.” Dad was also a bit nervous. “I’ll go check on her.” But Mom changed her mind again and stopped him. “Check what? She’s faking it. If you go now, she’ll be thrilled!” They thought I was silently throwing a tantrum. But Mom and Dad, I wasn’t throwing a tantrum with you. I just couldn’t wake up anymore.

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At the wedding reception, my bride was suddenly dragged into a corner by her childhood friend. He ripped open her wedding dress. The guests gasped, a ripple of shocked whispers spreading through the room. My mother, furious, collapsed. I lunged, grabbing that jerk, Brandon, by the collar, ready to smash his face in. But my wife, Chloe, blocked me. “Liam, what the hell is wrong with you?! He’s just having an episode; I’m saving him!” “What kind of episode needs you to take off your clothes to ‘save’ him? Have you no shame?” Chloe shot back, her voice dripping with indignation: “You clueless bumpkin, you don’t even know what ‘skin hunger syndrome’ is, and you’re so petty. How could I have ever married a man like you?” I pulled off my wedding ring and flung it at her face. “Fine! Then don’t!” The wedding, thanks to that little incident, became an even livelier affair. “Hahaha, I’ve never seen anything so ridiculous in my life.” “Did you guys see it? I almost caught a glimpse of the bride’s… you know.” “If Liam had any guts, he would have slapped both of them right then and there.” The humiliating chatter in my ears grew louder, my anger soaring higher and higher. *Smack!* “How dare you be angry? If you hadn’t been so impulsive, everyone wouldn’t have found out about Brandon’s condition.” “You made him lose face!” Just as I was on the verge of exploding with rage, Chloe not only showed no remorse but raised her hand and slapped me. I touched the stinging red mark on my cheek, a bitter, desolate laugh escaping me. She could care about Brandon’s feelings, but never mine. What was I even doing with a woman like this? My dignity, my face, she had trampled it underfoot, grinding it into the dirt. From this moment on, everyone in the city would know that I, Liam, had been publicly betrayed by my own wife at my wedding. I tore off my groom’s suit and flung it onto Brandon, who had just managed to stand up. “Since you can’t ever forget him, fine. I sincerely wish you two an eternity together. I’m making way for you.” “What are you talking about?” Chloe clutched Brandon tightly, glaring at me with cold fury. If she understood why I was angry, she wouldn’t be holding Brandon so intimately right now. His hand was still wrapped tightly around her waist. And Chloe didn’t seem to find anything wrong with it, tacitly approving his shameless behavior. I realized then that this probably wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. I knew they’d grown up together, but this “friendship” had clearly crossed every line imaginable. I would never, ever accept a woman who used her body to “save” a man suffering from “skin hunger syndrome.” “Can’t you tell? I’m letting *you* have the wedding!” “Your love is just *so* touching. Even as adults with your own families, you’re still ridiculously devoted to your ‘friend.’ If I don’t back out, I’m a pathetic fool.” I glanced at Chloe’s darkening face. Her hands instinctively balled into fists. That was her signal of displeasure. Usually, when she made that gesture, I’d compromise. “So you’re trying to publicly humiliate me, huh?” Before I could react, she snatched a wine glass from the table and hurled it at my head. I couldn’t dodge in time. The glass smashed against me, leaving a throbbing welt. “You’re disgusting! Utterly heartless…” “You say I’m heartless? Fine. What would you do if I publicly embraced another woman?” “You can worry about Brandon, but what about me and my mother? She’s passed out because of you!” “And you’ve utterly shamed me!”

Brandon quickly jumped in to play peacemaker. “Liam, please don’t be like this. This is my fault; I apologize to you.” “I have skin hunger syndrome. If I don’t get relief in time, I’ll slowly die.” “So, are you going to tell me that whenever your ‘skin hunger syndrome’ flares up, you find *her* to ‘relieve’ it?” Facing my rage, Brandon quickly answered: “It wasn’t like this before; I had a girlfriend to help me. But after she went abroad, Chloe started helping me. That’s why whenever my craving hits, I just…” *Bang!* “You disgusting cheats!” I lost control because Chloe had agreed to such a shameful request. No wonder she was always disappearing—not around for dinner, not around for bed. Not even around for our child, leaving him alone at home with no one watching him. When I confronted her, she’d always say she was busy. Turns out, she was busy with Brandon. So busy she could ignore her own son. I also finally understood why our household expenses had been so high lately. She was spending a fortune on expensive skincare products to keep her skin smooth, not caring how much it drove up our living costs. As Brandon’s words hung in the air, everyone started pointing and whispering about us again. Brandon quickly pushed Chloe towards me. “Chloe, we’re in the wrong here. Apologize to him quickly! Otherwise, everyone will keep talking about us.” Chloe was always obedient to Brandon. As she prepared to give in to me, I noticed a fresh mark on her neck, like a bite mark. My heart felt like it had been struck by something again. If she knew her mistake and was truly willing to change, I thought our years together might still have a chance. But she had already been with Brandon. She was tainted. I looked at Chloe with the deepest disappointment. Just then, our nanny walked over, holding our three-month-old son. The baby was wailing, crying because he was hungry. But his mother didn’t care about his cries. She didn’t even think to reach out and hold him, to offer him some milk for comfort. I took the baby from the nanny and told her to quickly make some formula. But the nanny said she’d forgotten the formula. So I turned my hope to Chloe. If she would take our son and feed him, I’d forgive her. Instead, Brandon’s “skin hunger syndrome” flared up again. He claimed he hadn’t gotten enough “relief” earlier. Chloe immediately turned to me, flustered. “Liam, don’t make a scene now. Leo can wait a little longer for his formula, but Brandon can’t. He saved my life once; I can’t abandon him now.” “Liam, I hope you understand, okay?” With that, she abandoned our son and me, leading Brandon further into the room. As for what they were going to do, it was obvious: “relieve” Brandon. The wedding was completely over. There was no point in continuing. I had someone return all the wedding contributions to the guests, then I left with our son. After comforting Leo, the hospital called, asking me to come. My mother had woken up. I needed to rush to her. Opening the door, I saw my mother sobbing uncontrollably. When she saw me, she quickly wiped away her tears and smiled. “My son, you’re here.” She knew how wronged I must feel. So we didn’t speak, choosing quiet companionship instead. That night, back home, I scrolled through my Ins feed and saw Brandon had updated his profile: “They say being just friends, not a couple, is the longest-lasting form of love. I’ve verified it; it’s true. Thank you to my little princess for never abandoning me.” The photo showed Brandon with his arm wrapped around Chloe’s waist, both smiling at each other. Below it were replies from Chloe’s close friends.

Lana: “You lucky dog, Brandon! Chloe is incredibly devoted once she cares about someone.” Mia: “Pfft, ‘friendship,’ my foot! Before Liam even met her, Brandon used to crash at her place all the time, hahaha!” Brooke: “Oh yeah! I forgot about that until you mentioned it. I even supplied them with condoms once.” Chloe: “Stop spreading rumors, guys! That’s all in the past! If my husband sees this, I’ll kill you! Delete those comments!” Someone replied: “Who cares? He’s already hit the jackpot. You married down, darling.” “You’ve already had a kid with him. What’s wrong with helping Brandon with his skin hunger syndrome?” Chloe and I had been together for years, and her friends had never liked me. Whenever she wasn’t looking, they’d openly mock me, saying they only acknowledged me out of respect for Chloe. In their minds, only Brandon was good enough for her. For Chloe’s sake, I never argued with them. I wasn’t a dollar bill; I couldn’t make everyone like me. But what Chloe didn’t know was that I, sitting behind my screen, had seen all their comments. My fingertips slowly reddened, and my chest felt so heavy it was hard to breathe. Just as they were about to delete their comments, I quickly typed below: “Don’t delete them. Leave them up.” “As you wish, I’m divorcing Chloe.” After posting, I lit a bucket of fireworks, watching them bloom in the night sky. Then I took a photo of myself standing beneath them and posted it on social media. Caption: “We’re both free.” Not long after the message went out, Chloe’s phone calls started pouring in frantically. I watched the fireworks explode one after another in the night sky, smiling with a sense of relief I’d never felt before. I’d always wanted to watch fireworks with Chloe, but her heart was only ever with Brandon. I had let her go, but she couldn’t let me go. After the fireworks ended, she sent me a video call. This time, I answered. But seeing her in a sheer nightgown, sitting on another man’s bed, my heart still felt a pang. “Liam, are you out of your mind?! Why did you post that comment under Brandon’s Ins?! I was just helping him through an episode; do you have to be so petty?!” “And take it as far as divorce?!” “Yes, I do. When are you free to come back and sign the divorce papers…” “Chloe, my skin hunger syndrome is acting up again!” Chloe immediately grew anxious. She pulled Brandon onto the bed, then quickly untied her strap. *Ha.* No wonder she was dressed so scantily. It was all so Brandon could get his “comfort” immediately. I watched the deeply unsettling scene unfold, my heart strangely calm. The furious rage was gone. “Is that enough?” “Almost.” Brandon’s hand roamed restlessly over her body, and she seemed to have forgotten she was still on a video call with me. Whenever it concerned Brandon, I was always forgotten. They murmured to each other, then both tumbled into the big bed. Brandon’s burning gaze – any man could tell it was a signal of his arousal. I didn’t need to see what happened next. I recorded their intimate moment as part of the divorce evidence.

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I raised that snake for twelve years. Then I saw him with his hands around my sister’s waist, whispering sweet things meant for me. “Who would like a short, weak little freak like her?”He laughed, talking about me. In that moment, I finally understood. I hadn’t saved a partner. I’d raised a snake who would bite the hand that fed him. So I handed him the termination papers and walked away. Later, he went crazy looking for me. But by then, I was already in the arms of someone who actually knew how to hold me. Raven was a sickly little snake I’d adopted. It wasn’t uncommon for humans and shifters to pair and bond. My family had been bonded with snake shifters for generations. From a young age, each of us would either be gifted a snake beast-man by our parents or find one on our own. But I was out of favor, so I quietly went and found my own little snake. When I found Raven in a dilapidated sewer drain, he was tiny and frail. His body, having just shed its skin, was incredibly weak, and he was barely clinging to life. I saved him, and I raised him for twelve years. Raising a snake took immense energy, resources, and money. Raising a sick snake was adding insult to injury. And being an unfavored, penniless person? That was like adding insult to injury and then some. Thankfully, Raven grew up healthy. His bronzed, muscular lines curved smoothly down, outlining his taut waist, yet his snake form kept him from looking bulky, instead giving him a certain delicate grace. Many in my family said I’d struck gold, finding such a handsome snake-shifter. I’d just smile, never saying a word. Only I truly understood the bitter reality of our bond. Raven rarely initiated physical contact with me. Even when I had to train for my snake-bonding rituals, he rarely cooperated. He’d always be cold-faced, impatiently wrapping himself around my arm, his scales grating painfully against my skin. I constantly reassured myself that snakes were cold-blooded, and that was why he didn’t want to be affectionate with me. Until that day I saw him, his face flushed, carefully wrapping himself around my sister Lana’s calf, softly asking her, “Does it hurt?” Lana looked helpless, gently pushing his head away. “Raven, I know you like me, but you’re my sister’s companion. This isn’t right for us.” His face instantly hardened, and he scoffed. “I don’t care. I only like you. Who would ever like that short little freak?” Lana tried to protest further, but Raven moved closer, wrapping around her waist, his scales smoothed against her, playfully tickling her. Raven was *flirting*. Scene after scene from the past twelve years flashed through my mind. Raven rarely smiled, but during family dinners, sitting across from me, his face always held a faint smile. Looking back now, he was never looking at me. He was looking at my sister, Lana, beside me. The signs had been there all along, but I had just been too blind to see them. I had thought that my adopting this sickly little snake was a mutual rescue, a fate that brought us together. But I never imagined it was precisely because I was a freak that he disliked me. It felt like my heart was being squeezed. That tiny flicker of hope I’d harbored for years, which used to tickle my heart, suddenly sharpened into a blade, piercing right through me.

On my way home, I passed a clothing store and couldn’t help but stop. Lana had one of the dresses displayed in the window. The sales assistant looked hesitant but, seeing my persistence, handed me a set of clothes. The girl in the changing room was small, barely reaching half the height of the full-length mirror. My chest was flat, my limbs slender and weak – the body of someone too frail to properly bond with a snake-shifter. That outfit, which looked absolutely stunning on Lana, made me look like a precocious little girl secretly wearing her mother’s high heels. Images of Lana with her shifter automatically flashed through my mind. Tall, with long limbs, Lana looked incredibly beautiful when she bonded with a snake-shifter. Raven wrapped around her, they looked perfectly matched. No wonder Raven didn’t like me. From the day I was born, even my own parents didn’t want me. I hadn’t developed properly in the womb, born with a frail constitution. I grew slower and stayed shorter than everyone else. Even as an adult, I still looked like an eleven or twelve-year-old child. Others would mock me: “A freak of nature in a family of revered snake-tamers! She’ll probably snap her arm just trying to handle one.” Those cruel words pricked at my heart like thorns that couldn’t be removed, and they brought shame to my parents’ faces too. They learned their lesson and were extra attentive when Lana was conceived. And that extra care gave them every snake-shifter’s dream match – she grew fast and tall. With Lana, they cared for me even less. It was as if they were a complete family of three, and I was just a poorly-nurtured burden. I stared at my small hands, angrily digging my nails into my palm, then curled my fingers into fists, silently sobbing.

I arrived home, my eyes swollen raw, like bruised fruit. Raven was sitting on the sofa, his expression impatient and chillingly cold. “What took you so long? Do you know I’m starving?” I sniffled, my emotions, just barely controlled, surged up again. “I’ll order you some takeout later, I’m a little tired.” He scoffed, “Ha, you want me to eat takeout?” Not wanting to argue, I sighed. My foot, already stepping towards the bathroom, changed direction, heading to the kitchen instead. I usually cooked for Raven. He never lifted a finger in the kitchen. Even with a fridge full of ingredients, he was too pampered to dirty his precious hands. Once before, I’d come home late, and Raven had thrown a terrible fit because he was hungry. I thought he was specially waiting for me to eat, and, filled with guilt and a tiny bit of joy, I cooked him a huge meal. But as I pulled out a chair, about to sit down, he threw cold water on my hopes. “You reek of cooking oil. Go take a shower.” Snapping back to reality, I placed the prepared meal in front of him, but Raven didn’t touch it. “Why do you smell like another shifter?” I raised my arm and sniffed. It was probably from the clothing store earlier. I suddenly remembered when I was little and had no money, I had to hike up the mountain to hunt wild rabbits and pheasants to feed him. He’d grumble, chewing on the tough, stringy meat. He’d complain about the mud on my face and the scent of other shifters on me, always keeping his distance. “I’ll go shower now.” I set the cutlery on the table and walked towards the bathroom, but Raven swept the cooked meal onto the floor with a single arm. “Nova Miller, aren’t you going to explain yourself?” A shard of ceramic from the shattered bowl cut my calf, and the pain instantly sharpened my mind. Some people are just so strange. They don’t love you, but they still want to possess you. They give you the illusion of being cherished, of being cared for, when all they truly want is to extract more love from *you*. Raven was exactly like that. For the first time, I looked at him with a cold face. “Explain what? “It’s fine for you to smell like other people, but I can’t?” A flicker of surprise crossed his face. But it was quickly replaced by anger. “You’re doubting me? “Don’t forget who presumptuously saved you?” I didn’t answer, stepping past him to get the first-aid kit. I brushed past his arm, and he immediately flinched back, the sharp edges of his scales scraping me. His voice was colder than his expression. “Don’t touch me.” Right. He barely let me touch him even during bonding training. Outside of training? That was a pipe dream. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. I used to think he was just a cold-blooded creature, too hard to warm, too wild to tame. Turns out, he just didn’t like *me*. Twelve years of sincere companionship from a freak meant nothing compared to his instant infatuation with a ‘normal’ person.

I took a dissolution of adoption agreement from my bag. “I’m sorry. Sorry for presumptuously saving you, for intruding into over ten years of your life without permission, and for making you unhappy. “So, let’s part ways amicably. “May you finally achieve everything you wish for, and live a life filled with joy and ease.” Raven ground his molars together, a sound of pure rage, his face dark as he asked, “What do you mean?” I said calmly, “It means we’re breaking up.” I then pulled out a property transfer deed and a bank card for him. “I sold the house. We’ll split the money evenly, and with this bank card, you’ll have enough to buy a small studio apartment for yourself.” His face grew even darker. “You’re abandoning me? “Didn’t you say you loved me?” Did I love Raven? I had wondered about that myself. I had never truly received love, so I wasn’t entirely sure what love felt like. I just thought that love meant being good to someone. I looked up at the small house filled with our memories. I had moved out with Raven after I came of age. At first, he was reluctant. Back then, I had to both study and work to support him, so I was always out early and back late, with little time to spend with him. He’d be all alone in that cramped rental apartment, his snake tail sticking out from the folding bed with nowhere to go. I thought that was why he was reluctant. So I worked seven or eight jobs, saving up to buy a house for him. Even then, he still didn’t want to touch me, locking his bedroom door even though we each had our own room. But I still wanted to melt his icy demeanor. He was my responsibility, the one I had saved and raised. I couldn’t just abandon him. Yet, I had seen how others in my family interacted with their shifters. My childhood friend, Hailey, had a snow leopard beast-man. That snow leopard had been very arrogant when first adopted, but Hailey’s gentle persistence eventually melted his icy heart. He’d affectionately rub against Hailey’s neck, and gently lick the back of her hand. Like a mouse in the gutter, I watched, craving a beauty that wasn’t mine. I searched for shifter vlogs online, learning their preferred ways of care. I spoiled him rotten, never letting him do any chores, giving him whatever he wanted. I never thought that what was my sweet gesture was his bitter poison. I also thought that one day I could truly enter Raven’s heart, but his heart had long been occupied by someone else. Perhaps I had loved Raven once, but those feelings had slowly eroded over the years. Until I saw him wrapped around Lana – that was when the melting snow mountain of my hope finally crumbled into dust. “I don’t love you anymore.”

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My brother’s secret girlfriend locked me in a storage room, accused me of seducing him, and ordered her guards to beat me. Lucas didn’t answer my calls. But he did throw a party— telling everyone he’d make me kneel and apologize. He forgot one thing: I built everything he owns. And I’m done protecting him. I was about to leave the upscale restaurant Lucas owned when the manager stopped me. “Excuse me, ma’am, you haven’t paid your bill.” I looked at the unfamiliar face, figuring she was new and didn’t recognize me. So, I politely explained, “Just put it on Lucas’s tab. He knows.” The female manager swept a disdainful glance over me. “Ma’am, our restaurant is a Michelin three-star. We’ve never had a policy of charging to an account.” She finished speaking, then handed me a printed bill. I glanced down, and my eyes widened. A single meal for half a million dollars. Cutlery Gleam Maintenance Fee: Thirty thousand. Exclusive Air Purification Fee: Fifty thousand. VIP Serenity Service Fee: One hundred thousand. And a bunch of other ridiculous charges. I had no idea my brother was running such a rip-off joint. I was so furious, I actually laughed. “I’m Sloan Cross, Mr. Cross’s sister. Tell him to come home and talk to me if there’s a problem.” But she wouldn’t back down. “Can’t afford it, huh? Don’t pretend you’re someone important, trying to mooch off Mr. Cross.” I immediately texted my assistant: *Tell Lucas. Either fire this woman, or I’m pulling all my investments. “Ma’am, don’t waste everyone’s time. Just pay the bill.” Her tone was utterly certain, cutting, as if she’d already branded me as a vain gold-digger trying to skip out on the bill. Several curious glances from other patrons were already turning our way. I frowned, not wanting to waste time on such a ridiculous matter. I pulled out my phone and dialed my brother’s number directly. However, only a cold busy signal answered, and repeated attempts yielded the same result. What the hell is that kid up to on a weekday? I put down my phone and faced the aggressive woman, enunciating each word carefully. “I’ll say it again. My name is Sloan Cross. I am your boss, Lucas Cross’s, older sister.” “His phone is unreachable right now, but you can check his company account. My picture and information are linked to it.” I thought this was the most direct and effective way to solve the problem. But when the female manager heard my name, instead of verifying anything, she burst into a sharp, grating laugh. She cackled, shaking with malicious glee, drawing even more attention. Then, she abruptly leaned in close to me, lowering her voice to a volume only we two could hear. “Still pretending? I’ve seen that face of yours in my husband Lucas’s Ins feed countless times!” “You shameless hussy, secretly seducing my man!” “Now you have the audacity to waltz into his restaurant and try to charge everything to his account? Do you have no shame at all?” I froze for a second, then glanced at her name tag—Madison Reed. An overwhelming sense of exasperation washed over me. Lucas’s girlfriend, the one he’d been keeping under wraps, not even a single picture he’d bothered to show me. It turned out to be this foolish, venomous woman in front of me. How could his taste be this bad? Suddenly, I understood. This half-million-dollar “exorbitant bill” today wasn’t a misunderstanding at all. It was a premeditated humiliation. Before I could even open my mouth, she’d completely lost her patience. “Since this woman wants to dine and dash, we’ll have to restrain her until the police arrive!” She waved her hand backward, and two burly security guards, who had been standing nearby, immediately stepped forward. One clamped his hand over my mouth, while the other wrenched my arms painfully behind my back, twisting them like rope. I struggled violently, but the sheer difference in strength between us made all my resistance futile. They ignored my furious glares and the horrified stares of the other patrons, roughly dragging me toward the back of the kitchen. Then I was thrown heavily into a storage room reeking of disinfectant mixed with stale food. The door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sound from the outside.

In the darkness, the female manager said nothing, but raised her high-heeled foot and brutally kicked me in the stomach. The excruciating pain instantly made me curl into a ball, my stomach churning violently. “That’s for spending my man’s money!” “That’s for trying to seduce him!” She shrieked, her voice distorted by jealousy and rage. She looked down at me, towering over me, and ordered the two brawny men: “Beat her! Beat her senseless!” The two security guards, clearly her loyal cronies, didn’t hesitate for a second. A barrage of punches and kicks rained down on me. I bit down hard, swallowing every cry of pain and groan. My bones felt like they were being shattered, my internal organs dislocated. Her shrieks continued. “What do you think you are? Nothing but a pathetic hanger-on!” “I told you I’m his sister! If you don’t believe me, ask Lucas! Call him right now, I’ll tell him myself!” I struggled to explain, but the woman in front of me was deaf to my words. Only when my head was swimming and my vision blurring did she raise her hand and call a stop. Her high-heeled foot pressed onto my shoulder as she smiled, looking down at me. “You’d better pay that bill today, and then fork over another five hundred thousand.” “That’s your punishment for seducing my man and spending his money.” “I’m not afraid of things getting messy. Lucas will have it all smoothed over for me.” I lay curled up in pain, weakly protesting, “That’s my own money. I told you, if you don’t believe me, ask him.” Her face twisted in anger, and she kicked me again. The two security guards immediately understood, and their fists and feet came down on me once more. I knew she wouldn’t listen to anything I said. If this continued, I might actually die here. After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used the last of my strength to fumble for my phone on the cold floor. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.” She seemed pleased with my submission, motioning for the two security guards to stop. She knelt down and patted my swollen cheek. “See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do it the easy way? You had to learn the hard way, didn’t you?” “One million, not a penny less.” I lay on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning. I ignored her and dialed my best friend Maya’s number. The call connected quickly. “Maya, bring two million to Lucas’s restaurant.” “I need it now.” Maya on the other end paused, then a note of alarm crept into her voice. “Sloan? What’s wrong? Your voice sounds…” “Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut her off and hung up. When Madison heard “two million,” her eyes instantly lit up, a flicker of avarice in her eyes. She probably thought I’d been beaten into submission and was voluntarily increasing the payment to beg for mercy. The smug triumph on her face was now impossible to hide. “Smart move.”

Maya’s speed was astonishing. Soon, the storage room door was violently pushed open from the outside. Maya stormed in, flanked by two bodyguards. When she saw the blood at the corner of my mouth, my disheveled clothes, and my pathetic form curled on the floor, she gasped in shock. She rushed forward and helped me up. I shook my head, signaling her not to speak, then took the bank card with the sticky-note password from her hand and tossed it to Madison. Madison took the card and didn’t bother me further, waving her hand dismissively. “If that’s a fake card, I have plenty of ways to find you. Now get out.” I endured the excruciating pain that pierced my bones, and with Maya’s help, I limped out of that disgusting place. Once at the entrance, I thanked Maya. “Thanks, Maya. I’ll pay you back as soon as I sort this out.” She looked at me worriedly. “Don’t worry about the money. But what happened to you?” I let out a bitter laugh. “My brother’s found himself quite the girlfriend. I’ve got a score to settle with him.” I pulled out my phone and found the number for the restaurant’s Vice President. This VP was the actual manager of the restaurant, someone I had personally headhunted, and he was fiercely loyal to me. The call connected. I didn’t waste a single word, my voice devoid of emotion. “You have ten minutes. Fire a manager named Madison Reed.” “Otherwise, the Cross family will withdraw all investments from the restaurant, every last penny.” The VP on the other end was scared him witless the moment he heard my voice. He must have heard the weakness and the unsettling tone in my voice, as he frantically agreed, not daring to ask a single question why. I hung up, not pausing for a second, and hailed a cab directly to the police station. Using the clearest, most logical reasoning, I explained everything that had just happened to the officer who received me. After giving a detailed statement at the police station, I went to the hospital for a medical examination. Holding that thin report, the fury of betrayal in my heart felt like it had been doused with hot oil, burning even more fiercely. I needed an explanation. I needed Lucas Cross to give me an explanation himself. My assistant located Lucas at his own house. My driver and bodyguards were already en route to Lucas’s villa. That villa, too, was a gift from me. However, when I arrived, I was greeted by deafening heavy metal music. And the boisterous sounds of men and women emanating from the doors and windows. He was throwing a party. No wonder he hadn’t answered my calls. The villa’s front door was ajar. On a whim, I didn’t push it open immediately. Soon, I heard a familiar female voice, choked with tears. It was Madison. She was crying to everyone in the house, painting herself as a poor victim bullied by an arrogant mistress, who was then falsely accused. “…I just asked her to pay her bill, and she threw a million dollars in my face, and then had me fired…” “Lucas, she’s too much. She has absolutely no respect for you!” “She just wants to humiliate me, she just wants to break us up!” Inside, Lucas’s group of fair-weather friends all indignantly echoed her sentiments. Lucas, meanwhile, was loudly comforting Madison in his arms, his voice full of tenderness and indulgence. “Madison, don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer this kind of injustice!” Then, as if to prove his resolve, he confidently promised everyone: “When I catch that woman, I’ll make her kneel and apologize to you!” Inside, the group of spoiled brats continued to champion Madison, shouting about how they would make me pay. “Lucas, just say the word, and we’ll drag her out right now!” “Yeah! Let her know who really runs things here!” I couldn’t listen anymore. I raised my hand, and a bodyguard kicked open the villa door. The party music screeched to a halt, and the boisterous laughter instantly vanished. Dozens of stunned eyes collectively turned toward the doorway. “No need to drag me out. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?”

The air seemed to solidify, leaving only the sharp click-clack of my heels on the floor. Step by step, I walked toward the embracing couple in the center of the living room. Lucas Cross’s expression was nothing short of spectacular. First, shock, then an uncontrollable terror, his face instantly paling. He instinctively let go of Madison Reed, as if to stand up. But his gaze caught Madison’s tear-streaked face, and he hesitated, a struggle in his eyes. Finally, that fear was replaced by a ridiculous, blustering defiance. He remained seated, just staring fixedly at me, as if that could mask his inner panic. As for Madison, the moment she recognized me, her pupils constricted violently. But she quickly regained her composure. This was Lucas’s territory, surrounded by all his friends. Instead, she burrowed deeper into Lucas’s arms, crying even louder. “Lucas, it’s her… she’s the one who bullied me…” She cried, casting me a malevolent, triumphant look, as if to say, See? He still protects me. I ignored her, my gaze fixed solely on my dear brother. “Lucas Cross, I’m talking to you.” “Weren’t you just saying you’d make me kneel and apologize to your girlfriend?” Lucas’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his lips trembling, but not a single word escaped him. He was afraid of me. He had always been afraid of me, ever since we were kids. He knew who truly called the shots in this family. His friends exchanged confused glances, clearly not understanding the situation. A rich kid with bleached hair, probably wanting to impress Madison, stepped forward. “Who are you? How dare you talk to Lucas like that?” “If you know what’s good for you, apologize to Madison right now, or else…” He didn’t finish his sentence. Because the bodyguard behind me had already stepped forward, standing impassively in front of me. That invisible pressure instantly silenced the blonde kid. I walked past the bodyguard, stood before Lucas, and looked down at him. “It seems you’re not going to give me an explanation.” Lucas finally mustered his courage, stiffened his neck, and stood up. He pulled me aside, lowering his voice, his tone a mix of pleading and a hint of impatience. “Sloan, what exactly do you want?” “Do you really have to humiliate me in front of my friends?” “Madison didn’t mean it, she just has a short temper. Can’t you just let it go?” I looked at him and suddenly found it incredibly laughable. Let it go? After she had her goons beat me half to death, after she extorted a million dollars from me, he wanted me to *let it go*? “Lucas Cross.” I called him by his full name. “Are you kidding me?” “I…” He was speechless for a moment, his eyes darting away. Just then, from outside the villa, the sound of police sirens grew louder and clearer. The sharp, piercing wail cut through the party’s false festive atmosphere. Everyone froze. Soon, several uniformed police officers, their expressions serious, walked in. The lead officer scanned the room, then his gaze settled on me. “Excuse me, are you Ms. Sloan Cross?” I nodded. “Yes, I am.” The officer pulled out an arrest warrant and turned toward Madison Reed. “Madison Reed, you are suspected of assault and extortion. You are now under arrest. Please cooperate with us and return to the station for questioning.”

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For three years, everyone thought I was obsessed with Jace. They didn’t know I was paid fifty million dollars to turn him from a failure into a genius. Right after he got into an elite university, he dumped me for another girl— and I finally completed my mission. Now I’m back as the Chief Designer of a top French luxury brand, and he’s still telling people I’ll come crawling back. Tonight, at the class reunion, he’ll learn the truth. I took on Jace, the notorious playboy everyone thought I was obsessed with. He’d get into fights, skip class, and I’d be there, copying his notes. For three years, I was his ultimate simp, pouring my heart and soul into helping him get into an elite university. But right before orientation week, he dumped me. He looked down at me, arrogant as ever. “I know you’ve liked me for ages, but your head’s always buried in books. Compared to Brielle, you’re just too stiff. Let’s break up. I’m going to be with Brielle.” Everyone was waiting for me to shatter. I glanced at my bank account, seeing the extra fifty million dollars that had just landed. With genuine sincerity, I said, “Okay. Congratulations.” “She got dumped by the school heartthrob and only said congratulations?!” “Didn’t even last a minute before she hung up. So decisive. She must be absolutely losing her mind with grief, right?” “Doesn’t look like it. Too calm. More like she was looking forward to getting dumped.” As the words hung in the air, someone cautiously eyed Jace. He had his arm around his new girlfriend, but his handsome face was dark, clearly annoyed. They quickly changed tactics. “Everyone knows how long Ava has been crushing on Jace. There’s no way she’s genuinely indifferent. She’s probably just bottling it up inside!” “I bet you anything, she’ll be back begging Jace not to abandon her within three days!” Jace’s scowl eased slightly. “If she comes back begging, I might consider forgiving her. Let’s see what she does.” I was blissfully unaware of their chatter, dragging my suitcase towards the train station. Even if I had heard their mockery, I would have just offered a cold, faint smile. If it weren’t for my parents’ unwavering belief that a daughter was useless for studying and should be married off for money while she was young. If it weren’t for my acceptance letter being shredded into worthless scraps, and my alcoholic father beating me until I was battered and barely conscious – that’s when Mrs. Sterling, Jace’s mother, found me. And she offered a deal: If I could help Jace get into an elite university, she would not only cover my high school tuition but also give me fifty million dollars. Otherwise, I would never have chased after Jace, the school’s resident bad boy, always at his beck and call, his devoted follower, enduring everything without complaint. Three whole years. I used every trick in the book, turning him, a rebellious slacker, into a top student, successfully getting him into an elite university. Now, my mission was complete. I finally had the money and could leave. I was too happy to even think about it. Why would I be sad because he got a new girlfriend? From the very beginning, all I wanted was to break free from hell, and carve out a world of my own. Love? That was never on my radar. After orientation week, I didn’t enroll in the university I was accepted to. My parents wouldn’t let me go, not when a prestigious university student could command a decent amount of money. If I was going to leave, I had to leave completely. Over the three-month summer, I took my IELTS and reached B2 level in French. I successfully processed my study abroad application. As I boarded my flight to Paris, Jace’s texts started coming in. “Why did you block all my contacts?” “Ava, haven’t you thrown enough tantrums this whole summer? Even if Brielle and I are together, we’re still friends. Stop acting out, unblock me.” His words still dripped with that usual arrogant tone. As if he was certain I’d be just like the past three years: no matter how childish he was, or how much he trampled on my feelings, I would eventually come crawling back to him. I simply took out my phone card, snapped it in half, and tossed it into the airport trash can. Along with that card, I discarded all the humiliation, the calculations, and the unbearable memories of the past. The plane sliced through the sky, erasing all my prior existence. Later, my best friend told me Jace had been leaving comments under my old social media posts. The messages were always something like, “Are you done acting up yet?” “It’s just a relationship, why are you so mad?” “Add me back already!” She said, “At first, Jace was convinced you’d come back to him, but when you didn’t, he started getting really aggressive. Sometimes just hearing your name would make his face darken.” It felt like I was listening to someone else’s story. It didn’t stir a single ripple in me. I used the fifty million dollars from Mrs. Sterling to start fresh in Paris. I chose a top design academy. The language, the culture, the heavy workload – Everything was a new challenge. But there was no Jace to appease, no suffocating family. Just my sketchpad, designs, and boundless possibilities for the future. Years vanished in a blink. Nurtured by hard work and talent, my jewelry designs began making waves at major fashion weeks, winning several prestigious international awards. As Lumina Company’s newly appointed Chief Designer, I was dispatched back to my home country to spearhead the expansion into the Asia-Pacific market. My first day back. While grabbing lunch at the restaurant beneath the branch office, a hesitant voice spoke behind me: “Ava? Is that really you?” I turned, seeing a somewhat familiar face. It was Ashley, I think, a girl who used to sit in front of me in high school. Her eyes widened, openly scrutinizing me from head to toe, filled with astonishment and disbelief. “Oh my god! It really is you! You’ve changed so much!” Gone was the timidity and the desperate need to please from high school. Time and experience had granted me a calm, composed demeanor. “Long time no see.” “It really is you! What a coincidence!” Ashley seemed thrilled. “There’s a class reunion tonight, right upstairs at The Summit Restaurant. Loads of people are coming, and Jace will be there too! You absolutely have to come! Everyone will be shocked when they see you!” Jace? That name was like a distant symbol, one that hadn’t crossed my mind in ages. I was about to decline, but then I reconsidered. Some things didn’t need to be avoided. “Okay.” The entire day was spent dealing with new company handover tasks, keeping me swamped with work. By the time I remembered the reunion, it was already late. Too lazy to go back to the hotel to change, I just wore my casual clothes and headed up to the private room at The Summit. Pushing open the heavy door, a wave of noisy chatter washed over me. The private room was huge, with a giant round table packed with people. My gaze instinctively swept the room, and almost instantly, it landed on the man at the head of the table, clearly the center of attention. Jace. He was more mature than in high school, his handsome face more defined. Dressed in an expensive casual suit, he exuded a relaxed, nonchalant aura, always the focal point of any crowd. Right beside him sat a young, pretty girl, her makeup flawless, her clothes flashy. But it wasn’t Brielle. Looks like his string of bad-girl girlfriends had seen another update. After a brief silence, a guy who’d clearly had too much to drink was the first to recognize me. “Holy crap! Look! Jace! Your simp, Ava, is here!” That shout instantly detonated the entire room. Everyone’s eyes, filled with surprise and schadenfreude, swung to focus on me. Jace’s head snapped up. When he saw me standing at the door, his pupils contracted sharply. That easygoing, nonchalant expression instantly froze, replaced by shock and a complex emotion I couldn’t quite decipher. The girl beside him immediately sensed his discomfort, tightening her grip on his arm and looking at me with scrutiny and hostility. “Ava?” I ignored the whispers and stares. Walking straight to the empty seat beside Ashley, I calmly poured myself a glass of water. “Ava, long time no see!” Brittany, a girl dressed to the nines as usual, was the first to speak. “Heard you didn’t go to college back then? Well, yeah, how could your family afford college tuition?” “So, where did you end up working these past few years? Please don’t tell me it’s like what everyone said, that you married some old guy? Your outfit today is pretty casual, though.” She deliberately emphasized “married some old guy,” making a few girls around her giggle behind their hands. “I’ve been living abroad for a few years, just got back.” I replied faintly, not wanting to elaborate. “Oh, abroad, huh!” Kyle, another guy, chimed in, his tone dripping with exaggerated sympathy. “Returning from overseas isn’t as easy as it sounds these days, is it? You can do some shady jobs abroad, but those are illegal here. We’re old classmates, so have you found a job yet? Want us guys to help you out?” “My uncle’s company needs an admin assistant; the requirements aren’t high, just need to know how to use a computer! The pay isn’t great, but it’s a legitimate job, right? Better than what you used to—” He intentionally dragged out his words, implying something. “Exactly, exactly,” Brittany immediately agreed, feigning sincerity. “Even though foreign men like Asian women, they usually just play around.” “Ava, we’re old classmates, so speak up if you’re in trouble.” “With your background… oh, I mean, you didn’t go to college, and you don’t have many nice clothes, so interviews might be tough. Maybe I can take you shopping for some decent outfits sometime? If you’re short on cash, I can lend you some first? After all, you used to be such a genius, it’s a shame to see you like this.” Jace remained silent. Only the fingers gripping his wine glass tightened slightly, his eyes fixed on me with a heavy gaze. His new girlfriend, Camille, finally couldn’t hold back. She sneered, leaning slightly forward, a look of condescending pity and undisguised contempt on her face. “Ava, right? I’ve heard about you.” “I heard you used to be like a simp, desperately chasing my Jace?” “Helping him with homework, copying notes, even dealing with his teachers?” “You really worked hard, huh.” She paused intentionally, savoring the classmates’ expressions as they waited for the drama. “But you had some self-awareness, at least, knowing that you and Jace were worlds apart and had no future. So you just ran off. Though, it seems you haven’t done so well for yourself?” “Now, Jace is the heir to Sterling Industries, and me? I just took over my family’s fashion brand and I’m busy negotiating collaborations with top international design companies. If you’re in a tough spot, we can help you out.” I calmly drank my water. “No need, thank you.” Camille scoffed, glancing at me dismissively, her tone now laced with triumph. “You probably don’t know how much influence I have, do you? You know Lumina? The rising French luxury jewelry brand!” “Their Chief Designer is a genius who won international awards in Paris! They’re incredibly talented and very mysterious. I pulled a lot of strings to finally get in touch. If she could design a collaborative collection for my brand, it would definitely shake up the entire fashion world!” “With a snap of my fingers, I could probably even find you a job.” Everyone immediately gasped and flattered her: “Lumina? I know them! Their designs are so tasteful!” “I heard that designer is incredibly good, with impeccable taste. Most people can’t even catch their eye!” “Ms. Camille’s network is amazing! To be able to invite such a high-caliber designer, that’s truly impressive. Only someone like her deserves to stand beside Jace!” Camille proudly lifted her chin, basking in the compliments. This was exactly the effect she wanted to achieve. “What’s the designer’s name? So powerful?” Someone asked curiously. “Her English name is Ava Su, but she’s from here.” Camille tried to continue boasting about the designer she mentioned. “I heard she’s very young but incredibly talented, with a high standing in the French design world.” “It’s certainly not easy for a small brand like ours to get her on board, but I’m confident!” She said, then leaned intimately towards Jace. “Jace, don’t you think so?” Jace gave a distracted “Hmm.” His gaze was still fixed on my face, his eyes seemingly filled with a silent resentment, refusing to say another word. Everyone continued to ruthlessly put me down, using it to elevate Camille. I simply picked up my water glass, took a small sip, my expression utterly calm. Just then, a gentle knock sounded on the private room door. A young woman in a business suit, clutching a thick stack of documents, peeked in, her face anxious and deferential. “Ms. Camille, I apologize for the interruption.” “I brought the urgent Lumina project documents you requested, and regarding the designer…” Camille immediately pressed, “What about them? Did the designer reply? Have they agreed to meet with us to discuss?” Her voice was full of anticipation. The assistant, Sarah, clutching the documents, nodded. “I met the designer today, but she has an appointment tonight, so she scheduled a meeting for tomorrow.” Hearing the assistant confirm that she had personally met the mysterious designer and arranged a meeting for tomorrow. Camille’s face instantly bloomed into a radiant, determined smile. “That’s wonderful!” She turned to Jace, her eyes sparkling with triumph. “Jace, see? I told you I could do it, didn’t I? I’m definitely going to close the deal with her tomorrow!” The surrounding classmates immediately erupted in enthusiastic compliments: “Ms. Camille’s touch is truly extraordinary!” “Amazing, amazing! We’ll all be relying on you for opportunities, Ms. Camille!” “Jace, you’re so lucky to have such a capable partner as Ms. Camille!” Amidst the chorus of fawning compliments, Camille’s vanity was fully satisfied. Her gaze lightly swept over me, sitting quietly in the corner. “Oh, by the way, Sarah, are there any basic open positions at the company recently? Like a cleaner, maybe?” She paused, her eyes pointedly flicking towards me. “That Ava, she used to help my boyfriend so much.” “I heard she doesn’t have a legitimate job right now. As classmates, I’d like to find her some stable work, just to help her out.” The private room fell silent for a moment, then erupted into louder laughter and agreement. “Oh, Ms. Camille, please don’t! Being kind is great, but some people, and their families, are just trouble you can’t touch!” “Exactly, exactly! You wouldn’t believe it, when she just ran off without a word back then, her parents came to the school and made such a scene! Throwing a fit, wailing and carrying on outside the principal’s office, insisting the school had kidnapped their daughter! It even caught the attention of local news reporters! The spectacle… tsk, just awful! So embarrassing!” “Right, right! Her whole family is like that, utterly unreasonable! Ms. Camille, your design company is just starting, it’s a critical period. What if her parents come to your company and cause trouble? What would you do?” Camille, hearing this, faked a look of profound relief. “Is that so? Well, I’m really sorry, Ava. See, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but my design company is just starting, its foundations aren’t solid, and it truly can’t handle trouble like that. I can’t afford to attract any negativity.” She finished, then deliberately leaned closer to Jace, as if being near me would taint her with bad luck. Jace only looked at me, his lips twitching as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he just scowled and held back. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on me, watching with a superior, disdainful, and expectant gaze. I didn’t understand why she was so keen on giving me a job. But I remained calm, repeating the words I’d just said. “No trouble, I have a job, thank you.” Camille sighed. “That job of yours, if it’s not working out, maybe quit. Being young and pretty has some advantages, but… that kind of work can really wear you down, physically and mentally.” A wave of sneering laughter rippled through the group. Sarah, the assistant, chuckled too, but when she looked at me, her professional expression suddenly froze. The thick stack of urgent Lumina project documents she was holding, *whoosh*, slipped from her grasp and crashed to the floor, white papers scattering everywhere. The private room fell silent. Camille’s face was full of displeasure. “What are you doing? Can’t even hold a few files?” But Sarah completely disregarded her boss’s scolding, pointing at me, a look of pure terror on her face. “Ms. Su?! You… what are you doing here?!”

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I planned to take my girlfriend to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. Instead, I found naked photos of her with her “sick” best friend—and a lab report proving she was testing his fertility on the day of my cancer surgery. She slapped me. He beat me. Both called me jealous and dirty-minded. So I packed my bags, called my parents, and said the words that would end everything: “Mom, Dad… I’m coming home. And I’ll take back the family business.” I was preparing to take my girlfriend to Alaska to see the Northern Lights when I found photos of her lying naked with her male best friend in my drawer. Along with the photos were a bunch of lab reports checking male fertility. The date on the reports was the same day I had my stomach cancer surgery. So when she said she was busy, she was actually busy testing her male best friend’s fertility. When I confronted her about it, she lashed out at me impatiently. “We were just lying together, nothing happened.” “This was purely medical treatment. Can’t you stop being so dirty-minded?” Looking at the explicit video that came through on my phone, my heart sank into dead silence. After a long pause, I called my parents. “Mom, Dad, I agree to come back and inherit the family business.” After I hung up the phone, there was a violent knocking at the door. The door shook with the urgent, grating knocks. Whoever was outside was clearly furious. “Evan, open the door!” It was my girlfriend Lena’s voice. In the past, I would have rushed to open the door for her, helped her change into slippers, and welcomed her home. I always felt bad about how hard she worked managing the company and wanted to do whatever I could to take care of her and ease her worries. But today, I just sat there, my expression blank. Seeing no one was opening the door, Lena had someone break it down. The first thing she did when she came in was rush to my side and slap me hard across the face. “Why did you attack Dylan?” “You know his health is poor. Why would you hurt him?” Looking at Lena’s near-crazed expression, my heart clenched painfully. Today I had bought plane tickets, planning to come home and pack our bags to take her to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. I wanted to surprise her. Instead, I found those “treatment” photos of her and Dylan in the drawer. When I went to confront Dylan, I was beaten up by him and his friends. Now somehow I was the one who had attacked him. “Say something. Cat got your tongue?” Lena’s pupils were bloodshot, her eyes looking like they wanted to kill me. “You dare to do it but not admit it? Some man you are.” I lowered my head with a self-mocking smile, no longer having the energy to argue with her. I just tossed the photos at her feet. “What is this?” When she saw the photos, a flash of guilt crossed Lena’s eyes. Her hands involuntarily clenched, and she spoke with less confidence. “It’s not what you think.” “Dylan was diagnosed with fertility issues and might not be able to have children. I was just helping the doctor treat him.” What kind of medical treatment requires lying naked in bed with a woman? Such a ridiculous excuse, yet she believed it. I just found it laughable. But Lena kept talking, becoming more convinced she was right. “That’s right, this was purely medical treatment. Dylan and I are completely innocent, heaven knows.” “How can your mind be so dirty? You really disgust me.” I looked at her, shocked and grieved. What was I still hoping for? I should have understood long ago, when she kept abandoning me for Dylan time after time, shouldn’t I?

Lena and I were college classmates. We went from campus sweethearts to where we are now, the model couple in everyone’s eyes. For her sake, I fought with my parents and stayed in this city. When she wanted to start a company, I emptied my pockets and worked hard with her to build the business from scratch. When she saw me vomiting uncontrollably after drinking too much at business dinners, she would hold me preciously, tears welling up in her eyes out of distress. “Evan, you’ve worked so hard. When we make it big, I’ll never let you push yourself like this again,” she would gently comfort me, wiping the sweat from my brow. “Then we’ll get married, have the wedding at the best hotel, the most luxurious ceremony.” “I’ll make everyone envy you.” Those words still rang in my ears, but the person before me was no longer the same. When she looked at me now, there was only disgust in her eyes. “I’ve already explained everything clearly. Stop being difficult,” Lena said impatiently, reaching out to pull me. “No matter what, you were wrong to hit someone. Come with me now to apologize to Dylan.” Before I could break free, her phone rang. After answering, her expression instantly changed. She shot me a vicious glare. “Dylan is still coughing up blood from your beating. You’d better pray he’s okay, or I won’t let you off easy!” After Lena left, I stared at the door that could no longer be closed and thought for an entire night. As dawn approached, I finally went inside to pack my bags. Something already broken can never be restored to its original state, no matter how much you try to fix it. I had always thought about what I could do to keep her, but I forgot that someone who doesn’t love you won’t stay no matter what. Taking one last look at the room I had lived in for years, no matter how reluctant and nostalgic I felt, I had to let go. It no longer belonged to me. Voices of laughter came from outside. When I opened the bedroom door, I was stunned by the scene before me. Lena was helping Dylan sit down, her face full of concern and distress. But the moment she looked up and saw me, her expression instantly turned cold. “You slept well, didn’t you?” “Dylan couldn’t sleep all night because of you. I was so worried I didn’t sleep either. How dare you sleep?” Dylan patted her back soothingly. The atmosphere between them was so intimate, it seemed no third person could intrude. It made me, the real boyfriend, feel like the shameful mistress. My heart trembled with pain, and even my newly operated stomach began to ache faintly. Dylan took Lena’s hand, smiling magnanimously. “Lena, don’t blame Evan. He only hit me because he loves you too much.” Before I could say anything, Lena couldn’t sit still. “You don’t need to speak up for him. I know him too well. He’s just a born bad seed, jealous and selfish, who can’t stand seeing me be good to anyone else.” Lena completely ignored the pain in my eyes and continued righteously: “Dylan is in this state because of you. I brought him home to help you atone for your sins.” Saying this, her expression turned haughty, speaking as if granting me a favor. “These next few days, you’ll personally take care of Dylan. Once he recovers, I might forgive you.” “If you don’t agree, hmph, we’ll break up.” Her arrogant demeanor suggested she was certain I would give in. In the past, I would have already lowered myself to appease her. Because I loved her and couldn’t bear to see her suffer even a little bit of grievance. But all of my compromises and concessions had become leverage for her to manipulate me in her eyes. “Fine, then let’s break up.” Time seemed to freeze. Lena’s smug expression instantly cracked, her whole being filled with disbelief. It took her a long time to react, pointing at me with trembling fingers. “What did you say?” Over the years, we had our quarrels and conflicts, but as long as she mentioned breaking up, no matter how angry I was, I would immediately calm down and beg her not to leave me. But today, this usually foolproof tactic wasn’t working. Lena felt like she was losing control of something. Her eyes trembled fiercely. No longer wanting to argue with her, I picked up my suitcase and strode out. In the room, Lena stood frozen. When she came to her senses and wanted to chase after me, Dylan stopped her. “You don’t need to go after him. He’ll naturally come back in a few days.” “He’s just doing this on purpose to get your attention. I’m a man too, I understand.” Seeing her still wavering, Dylan immediately put on a pitiful expression. “I’m still feeling unwell. Can you stay and keep me company?” With those words, he successfully kept Lena from leaving.

I went to the company dormitory, planning to go home after resigning. The company I’m currently working at is Lena’s. All these years, I’ve worked myself to the bone to bring in business and secure investments for the company, striving tirelessly to realize her dreams. I thought that once her career was more established, we could go home together. Then my parents wouldn’t object to us being together anymore. Now it seems there’s no need for that anymore. I called my mother. Before I could speak, tears welled up in my eyes. Mom didn’t ask anything, just sighed. “My dear boy, you’ve suffered out there.” Like a child who had endured too much hardship finally returning to his mother’s embrace, I broke down sobbing. After I calmed down, I said softly, “Mom, I broke up.” She seemed to have guessed it already, her tone very calm. “If you’re tired, just come home. We’ll always be waiting for you.” Dad jumped up angrily when he heard the news, but was calmed down by Mom. “You calm down. I won’t let anyone who dares bully my son off easy.” My mind felt emptied. I hung up the phone, exhausted. After a few days, I went to the company and submitted my resignation. As soon as I submitted the resignation letter, my phone rang. When I answered, Lena’s agitated voice came through. “Evan, what are you up to now?” “This project is very important for the company. You need to know your limits. Get back here and entertain the clients right away.” I cut off her words. “I’ve resigned. Find someone else to take over these things.” The other end of the line went quiet for a moment before erupting with even more intense emotions. “You really want to do this, huh?” “Fine, there are plenty of people who can do your job. Don’t think you can threaten me like this.” As if to punish me, Lena immediately approved my resignation application. She thought I wouldn’t last half a day before begging her to take me back. But a whole morning passed, and I showed no signs of giving in. She started to get a bit antsy. She called my coworkers several times to pressure me. I ignored it all and continued doing my own work. It turns out when you stop caring about someone, nothing they do has any effect on you anymore. After lunch, I returned to my desk to find Dylan sitting in my chair, strutting around like he owned the place. My things had been thrown all over the floor. When he saw me, he slowly stood up. “Evan, this was all Lena’s idea. She said to have me take over your position.” Then he walked over to me and lowered his voice next to my ear: “Who told you to be so stupid and resign? From now on, I’ll be the one enjoying the good life here.” Seeing his smug expression, I suddenly found it quite amusing. I don’t know where he got the confidence to say he could replace me. All these years, I’ve poured my heart and soul into maintaining this troubled company. Yet he thinks my position here was about enjoying the good life. Well then, I wish him success. Seeing his face fall, I forced a detached smile, took the box of belongings an employee had helped gather, thanked them, and strode out. I spent a few days saying goodbye to friends before bending down to pack my bags. From now on, I would be leaving this city for good. This place held my youth from recent years, as well as my first love that ended without closure. Bitterness welled up in my heart. I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to think about it anymore. My phone rang abruptly, Lena’s furious voice coming through. “Evan, you’ve gone too far. You deliberately sabotaged things with the business partners, causing Dylan to be ostracized.” Before I could explain, she imperiously ordered me, “Get your ass back here right now. This big deal is crucial for the company’s performance in the second half of the year. If we lose it because of you, we’re finished.” Her absurd yet confident words made me feel truly ridiculous. What gave her the right to think I would still care? “Didn’t you say you’d be fine without me? Then go find someone else,” I said. Ignoring her angry tone, I hung up and blocked her number.

Once everything was packed up, I opened the door and set off for the airport, about to say a final goodbye to the city I had lived in for so many years. I had barely left when a silver BMW cut me off. The door opened and Lena rushed over, violently throwing her bag at me. It hit me right where I had just had surgery. My face instantly went pale as I gasped in pain. “Are you done throwing your tantrum?” she yelled furiously, kicking my luggage aside and grabbing my collar to slap me hard across the face. “Is your heart really that small? Just because the project wasn’t given to you, you had to sabotage it?” I was in so much pain I was sweating, but I gritted my teeth and bore it. “The deal falling through was because of Dylan’s own incompetence. It had nothing to do with me.” Lena scoffed coldly, her eyes full of contempt. “You think I’d believe that?” “You could close the deal, how could Dylan possibly fail?” “I can see you’re just jealous of his abilities.” I laughed bitterly, my eyes bloodshot. “If he’s so capable, why don’t you just go to him? Why come find me?” On one hand she looked down on my abilities, on the other she wanted me to come back and work for her. Was I really that cheap in her eyes? The partnership she thought was so simple was actually the result of me pouring my heart and soul into it, disregarding my health to fight for it desperately. With one casual sentence, she negated all my years of effort, making all my hard work seem worthless. Lena’s face cycled through shades of red and purple, looking extremely ugly. Seeing I was about to leave, she forcibly dragged me into the car. “No matter what you say today, you have to come with me.” I was already in so much pain I could barely move. I weakly begged her, “My stomach hurts. Can you take me to a pharmacy first?” She laughed mockingly. “Are you addicted to acting now?” “Even if you’re in pain to death today, you still have to go close this deal for me first.” My fingers had gone completely cold. I clutched my stomach with difficulty, looking at her in disbelief. The woman I had loved for so many years could actually say such things. She could actually watch me suffer to death without batting an eye. Fine. How lovely. Hatred surged in my heart. My eyes turned bloodshot as I stared at her fixedly. Lena ignored my reaction and forcibly dragged me into the meeting room. As soon as we entered, she started exchanging pleasantries with the business partners. “I’m so sorry everyone. My employee was foolish and inconsiderate, wasting everyone’s time.” She kept smiling as she introduced Dylan to the partners, constantly praising him and putting me down, completely oblivious to the partners’ strange looks. Dylan couldn’t hide the smugness in his eyes. “See? The one who isn’t loved will always be the loser,” he said with the air of a victor, eyebrows raised. “You loved her for so many years, cherished and protected her. But what use was it? All I had to do was crook my little finger and she came running back to me.” His smug demeanor made it seem like Lena wasn’t the love of his life, just a tool for him to show off. I felt nauseous. The two of them were truly a perfect match – equally dismissive of others’ love and efforts. Lena walked over to us, her smile stiff as she addressed me. “Hurry up and tell everyone that Dylan was behind all the previous projects. You were just following orders.” “As long as you do this, I can forgive you.” She was still so high and mighty, but I no longer wanted to put her on a pedestal. I moved away from them and walked to the center of the room. “I’m sorry for taking up a bit of your time,” I said, bowing deeply. “I have now resigned from Lena’s company. I won’t be participating in any future collaborations with them. Thank you all for your support over the years.” With those words, the room exploded into chaos. Lena’s face instantly darkened, but before she could react, the lead partner immediately made his stance clear. “Evan, if you’re not involved in the partnership, then our collaboration with Lena’s company ends here.” The others chimed in as well. “That’s right. All these years, if it wasn’t for your abilities, we wouldn’t have invested money in Lena’s company at all. If you’re leaving, there’s no way we can continue working with them.” I thanked them graciously, no longer caring about Lena and Dylan’s ugly expressions as I strode out. My vision was going dark. I had barely made it to the door when the pain made me lose all strength.

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Nine months pregnant with twins, I begged my husband to take me to the hospital. Instead, Cole locked me in the abandoned attic—because his first love, Ivy, claimed my belly “hurt her feelings.” I screamed through hours of contractions. No food. No water. No help. Downstairs, he held Ivy and kissed her like I no longer existed. Three days later, I died with my unborn children in my arms. Now I stand beside them as a ghost. Three days later, Cole, sipping a bowl of rice porridge that didn’t suit his taste, said: “Tell Mia to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then apologize to Ivy. If her attitude is sincere, send her to the hospital to give birth.” “Why isn’t that jealous woman Mia wailing anymore?” “Sir… could something have happened to Mrs. Frost? Last night, her screams were heart-wrenching, she sounded like she was in terrible pain…” Cole took a sip of porridge, snorting dismissively. “No one knows Mia better than I do. She’s just putting on an act! This time I must teach her a lesson so she won’t dare to provoke Ivy again!” The butler glanced towards the attic, hesitating before speaking: “But Mrs. Frost is carrying twins, and the doctor said she needed to be admitted to the hospital early…” Cole paused mid-sip, his expression softening slightly. “Is that so?” He stirred his porridge for a while, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: “Fine, tell Mia to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then get over here and apologize to Ivy! Today is her due date, if her apology is sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital.” Cole heated up a cup of milk and walked into the guest room. On the bed, Ivy’s breathing was steady, the blanket had slipped down to her shoulders, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her chest. Cole’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared at her for a long moment before reluctantly tearing his gaze away. He bent down and placed a kiss on her lips. Ivy slowly opened her eyes, stretching languidly, and pouted coyly: “Brother Alex~ You’re bullying me again~” Cole parted his legs to let Ivy sit in his lap, his fingers idly massaging her waist. “Who could resist when you sleep like that?” Ivy buried her head in Cole’s chest, letting out a few contented murmurs. “But, sister Mia is working hard carrying your child. We’re both women, I can’t let you betray her when she’s at her most vulnerable!” Suddenly, as if remembering something, she looked up anxiously: “Last night, sister Mia was screaming so loudly, is she going into labor? Sigh… Even though it hurts to hear sister Mia in such pain, I’m envious! Being able to carry Brother Alex’s baby, even if childbirth is painful, it would be sweet happiness for me.” Sweet happiness? By now, I had already become a ghost floating beside them. On the attic floor, red blood had spread across the entire room. On the walls were deep scratches I had made in my intense pain, with bits of fingernails and flesh still clinging to them.

Not to mention how I had torn myself apart down there trying to give birth to the children. When I pulled out the first child, it was already not breathing. Blood gushed from the gaping wound between my legs, and the second child became stuck in the torn, bloody hole. With blood matting my hair, I held the blood-covered fetus, my eyes wide open as I stopped breathing. I wonder how Cole will react when he sees this scene? But for now, he was only focused on holding Ivy close. His voice was full of guilt and self-reproach: “It’s my fault! I shouldn’t have let the pregnant Mia appear in front of you and make you sad! I swear, this is the last time that woman will carry a child for me! You won’t see any more pregnant women in this house in the future.” “You don’t know, Mia even lied to me to try to soften my heart, saying she was afraid the babies were too big and might cause a difficult delivery, and that the doctor recommended immediate hospitalization.” “She can survive in the wilderness for three days and nights without food, yet she tells me she’s afraid of giving birth!” My heart ached, almost unable to breathe. A pregnant woman’s constitution is far different from a normal person’s, let alone the fact that from the day I became pregnant with twins, the discomforts of pregnancy had nearly exhausted me. Several times, due to my poor pregnancy constitution, I had even been hospitalized to prevent miscarriage. When I was first locked in the attic, I begged and pleaded with him to let me out. Because if I was really locked up for three days, it would surely result in three deaths! But Cole, right in front of me, loudly instructed the butler: “Go! Throw the key into a stinking river, and don’t let anyone secretly open the door for Mia! After three days, I want her to kneel and apologize to Ivy!” To survive, I tore down the wall paintings, piercing my hands with blood, and to pry open the attic window, my nails were forcibly broken off. Enduring the excruciating pain, I mustered my strength to climb out of the window onto the rain gutter outside, gripping the tiles tightly with my hands, inching along bit by bit, trying to jump to another room to escape. But then. In the garden below, Cole was forcefully holding Ivy in a deep embrace, kissing her passionately. The two were kissing so recklessly, it looked like things were about to get out of hand. Ivy suddenly pushed Cole away, looked up towards the attic, and let out a piercing scream. Cole raised his head, saw me desperately trying to escape, and flew into a rage. He was convinced that I had deliberately appeared in front of Ivy again. He ordered someone to bring a crane, and personally operated it, using the shovel to press against my belly, forcibly ramming me back into the attic. Intense pain shot through my abdomen, and blood seemed to flow endlessly from between my legs. In the end, my eyes were wide open, holding the blood-covered children in my arms. And that’s how I stopped breathing. Cole brought the cup of warm milk to Ivy’s lips. “I’ve already sent someone to bring Mia over to apologize to you. If she’s sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital. If not, she can give birth in the attic!” Ivy sipped the milk in small mouthfuls, but still choked a little, coughing with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful and delicate. “Brother Alex, you can’t treat sister Mia like this. Childbirth is very dangerous for women!” Cole sighed, looking at the girl in his arms with doting eyes: “You’re just too kind-hearted, that’s why you get bullied by women like Mia! Mia is a survival expert, she can survive for three days without food or water in the wild! You, on the other hand, little one, are so delicate you choke on a sip of milk.” He gently tapped her nose: “And you talk about childbirth being dangerous as if you’ve given birth before!” Ivy’s eyes flashed with panic for a moment, but she quickly lowered her head, her voice tinged with grievance: “Only Brother Alex… can see through the fragile heart beneath Ivy’s strong exterior…” She looked up again, her eyes misty, her lips bitten to a glossy sheen. She hooked her arms around Cole’s neck, deliberately pressing her chest against his heart.

Cole could no longer resist, kissing her with heavy breaths as Ivy softly murmured. Their lips entwined fiercely, and they began to hungrily demand more from each other’s bodies. But at the last moment, Ivy suddenly pushed away the heavily panting man: “We can’t, you’re a married man now, and sister Mia is carrying your child. Ivy doesn’t want to be a homewrecker!” Cole’s eyes were burning with desire, his voice hoarse: “Alright, I, Cole, will never betray Ivy’s true heart! Wait for me a little longer! Only when I’m clean and free will I be worthy of touching someone as pure as you!” With that, he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, as if cherishing a priceless treasure. A flash of triumph gleamed in Ivy’s eyes. Cole couldn’t see it, but I could. Not wanting to be a homewrecker? I found it ridiculous, laughable! Then what about the many times she came to me, brazenly saying that even though I was pregnant, I was just paving the way for her, and that even the children I gave birth to would call her “mom” in the future? What does that count as? Using the poor excuse of being sick with no one to take care of her to move into my home. Openly flirting with Cole at the dinner table, to the point where even the house cook couldn’t stand it and made a few sarcastic remarks about her. She immediately tattled to Cole, saying the cook didn’t wash the ingredients properly, causing her to get gastroenteritis, and demanded the cook be fired. At that time, I had no appetite due to my pregnancy, and only the food made by this cook suited my taste. Out of hospitality, I approached her and offered to hire another chef to cook for her, but she slapped me across the face. “It doesn’t matter if the food tastes good or not, what matters is knowing who the real mistress of the house is! Mia, I just want to tell you, there’s only one Mrs. Frost, and that’s me, Ivy!” To prove that she would be Mrs. Frost, she curled up in Cole’s arms like a kitten, whimpering and sobbing. Crying that she was unfortunate, that she couldn’t bear children for him in this lifetime. And seeing me with my pregnant belly every day inevitably made her feel lost and heartbroken. “I’ve already tried my best to avoid sister Mia, but I still can’t help running into her every day! I should move out! Ivy can’t live in such pain every day, it’s making me so unhappy!” Cole lost control of his emotions in an instant, his face turning cold as he rushed over and slapped me to the ground. “You know very well that Ivy gets upset just by seeing pregnant women, yet you still parade around with your big belly in front of her every day! What are you trying to do!” “Such a vicious woman! You don’t deserve to be a mother! Today I’m going to lock you in the attic! Let you have a taste of suffering!” Several bodyguards grabbed my limbs and threw me into the dust-covered attic. “The doctor told me to go to the hospital today for delivery! If I go to the hospital, she won’t see me either!” I desperately clung to the doorframe, pleading tearfully. Cole sneered: “If you’re going to lie, at least get your facts straight. Your due date isn’t for another three days!” He no longer listened to any of my protests and slammed the door shut. My fingers were caught in the door, the sudden, piercing pain making me curl up and retract my fingers, unable to say anything more. Cole looked on with satisfaction and locked the attic door. And now, as the two of them were still passionately entangled, the butler came running, out of breath and panicked: “Madam… Madam is gone!” “Gone?!” Cole suddenly raised his head, looking annoyed at having his mood disturbed. The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying fearfully: “The attic is full of blood… Madam… she…” He dared not continue. Cole straightened his rumpled shirt. “What blood? Oh, she’s probably just spotting, is she going into labor? Send her to the hospital.”

The butler swallowed hard and forced himself to continue: “Madam… she’s not breathing…” There was a hint of panic in Cole’s voice, but just as I tried to listen more closely, his tone became harsh again. “Acting! She’s still acting! I want to see how long she can keep this up!” “She’s survived in much harsher conditions in the wilderness, she can hold her breath underwater for over ten minutes! She’s just trying to fool you all because you don’t have any medical knowledge! She’s holding her breath to scare you! Call my private doctor, I want to expose her tricks in person!” The butler’s eyes widened, “Mr. Frost, Madam’s children are…” “Who do you listen to?!” Cole impatiently interrupted him. “Am I the one paying your salary or is that woman?” “Yes… I’ll go call the doctor right away…” The butler sighed helplessly before leaving. Ivy softly pressed herself against Cole. “Brother Alex, don’t be angry. Anger is bad for your health.” “That woman Mia is just good at winning people over! It’s only been a few years, and she’s already acting like she runs this house!” Cole’s words were like a slap, waking me from my delusions. In just three short years, he had already forgotten his promises from the past. On our wedding day, Cole had looked at me with eyes full of love and said, “This is your home now, and from now on, you’ll be the only mistress of this house.” Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Just moments ago, I had foolishly imagined that if Cole knew I had died from complications during childbirth, He might feel a bit of regret and guilt… How ridiculous I am now, and how stupid I was then. I actually believed Cole when he said he would love me forever. Back then, Cole and Ivy were childhood sweethearts in an arranged marriage between prominent families. But Ivy unexpectedly discovered that due to health reasons, she couldn’t conceive naturally. So she left for a foreign country without looking back, cutting off all contact with Cole. She kept saying that as the sole heir to the Frost family, she couldn’t bear to marry Cole and end his bloodline. To forget the pain of their breakup, Cole joined a wilderness exploration team. And I happened to be the team leader. Later, when he proposed to me, he said I was brave and strong, the embodiment of all that was good in the world. I was his guiding light in his darkest times, the one he knew instantly was his soulmate. After we got married, he felt that wilderness exploration was too dangerous. So he asked me to quit my job and stay at home to prepare for pregnancy, to give the Frost family an heir. But during those days when Cole had broken up with Ivy, he had been drinking heavily and staying up late, which had severely weakened his body. Under the pressure from the Frost elders to produce an heir, I worked on improving his health while actively trying to get pregnant. Finally, in the third year of our marriage, I successfully became pregnant with twins. The Frost elders were so delighted that they immediately held a press conference, declaring that the children I would give birth to would be the sole heirs to the Frost Group. It was at this time that Ivy returned to the country. And she brought back a statement: “I have no interest in inheriting the company. As long as I can be with Alex, Ivy will be satisfied for this lifetime.” Cole began staying out all night, his white shirts stained with indelible red lipstick marks. I decisively brought up divorce, but Cole said the children in my womb were the heirs to the Frost Group, and he wouldn’t let me go. He also said Ivy was sick and needed someone to take care of her, so he brought her to live in our home. And because Ivy couldn’t have children and couldn’t bear to see pregnant women with big bellies, he locked me, who was about to reach my due date, in the abandoned attic. Cole truly deserves to rot in hell! The doctor arrived quickly. As Cole’s personal friend, Dr. James had always been in charge of Cole’s health management. Cole followed behind Dr. James with his arms crossed, fuming, “Mia, let’s see how much longer you can keep up this act!”

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My parents adored me, raising me like their precious princess. They bought me countless beautiful dresses and hair clips. Every holiday, they’d take me on trips and adventures. I always thought I was the happiest child in the world. Until my dad passed away, and his friend’s daughter came to stay with us. I picked up her discarded, half-eaten popsicle and put it to my lips. That’s when she burst into an earth-shattering wail. Without a single question, Mom roughly shoved me to the ground. “You’ve had everything your whole life! Why do you *have* to snatch the popsicle right out of Bella’s hand?” “A child like you, always picking on someone weaker, needs to be taught a serious lesson!” And just like that, Mom *threw* me into the freezer. “So you love popsicles, huh?! Well, then you can eat your fill in there before you come out!” With that, Mom took Bella out to buy an apology gift. No one noticed Bella secretly plug the freezer back in, then casually flip the child lock. “Chloe, *I’m* the little princess of this house now.” An icy cold instantly enveloped my entire body, feeling like all my blood had frozen solid. I hugged my small body, trying desperately not to make a sound. Just a little longer. Maybe Mom wouldn’t be angry anymore.

I tumbled headfirst into the freezer. The chill rushed up from my lower body, making me shiver uncontrollably. My clothes instantly soaked in frigid water, clinging to my skin, an agonizing, bone-deep cold seeping into me. I tried to push open the freezer door and climb out, but my feet kept slipping. After falling several times, I started to panic. “Mom, I’m so cold!” “Please, let me out! I know I was wrong!” I desperately pounded on the freezer walls, trying to get someone’s attention. “Mom! Chloe’s legs are freezing!” “Help me! I’m sorry, Mom, Chloe really knows she was wrong!” My limbs were already numb, gradually losing all sensation. I watched, horrified, as my body slowly turned to ice, starting from the outside, creeping inward. It reminded me of a time Mom and I were out playing. Suddenly, it started raining, drenching us both. The rain felt cold against my skin, but as soon as we got home, Mom drew me a warm bath. Even though she was still soaking wet herself, she bustled around, putting me in warm, dry clothes and even making me ginger tea. Mom loved me so fiercely; there’s no way she’d actually let me freeze, right? I just had to hold on a little longer, and Mom would surely come to take me out! I tried to cheer myself up, hoping Mom would forgive me soon. The air in the freezer was getting thin. Each desperate breath felt like tearing open my lungs. Frost coated my lips, my eyelashes brittle with ice. My limbs were stiff, completely unable to move. I could distinctly feel my body temperature plummeting, even my breathing slowing down. I wanted to call for Mom to save me, but when I opened my mouth, I couldn’t make a sound. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw them. Mom and Dad, holding me tight in their arms. “My sweet girl, you’re our family’s little princess!” “Mom and Dad will love you forever and ever!” When I next became aware, I was lying on the living room floor. Had I escaped the freezer? I wanted to go to the kitchen to see how I’d opened the door. But my hand went right through the kitchen door before I could even touch it. I stood before the freezer; its door was tightly shut. I tried to open it, but my hand passed straight through the metal. It turns out I couldn’t touch anything solid anymore. Had I become a ghost? Just as I felt a wave of sadness, I heard someone unlocking the front door. I rushed to the entrance, waiting. It was my Grandma Eleanor, coming to visit me! “Chloe! Grandma’s here!” “Come out and see what yummy treats Grandma brought you!” Grandma muttered as she changed her shoes. “Chloe is really quiet today. Usually, she’d be rushing to hug me!” “I’m right here! Grandma!” “Chloe’s right here at the door, waiting for you!” I shouted for Grandma, but she couldn’t hear me at all. She walked straight through my transparent body. Grandma called my name as she walked through the living room and bedrooms. Not finding me, she finally stood at the kitchen doorway. Her hand rested on the kitchen doorknob. Just then, the front door opened again. Mom, Dad, and Bella walked in, carrying several large bags filled with toys. Grandma looked past them, not seeing me. “Where were you all? And where’s Chloe?”

Mom tossed the toys onto the couch, clearly still fuming. “That Chloe, she actually snatched a popsicle from Bella today.” “I told her before Bella even arrived that she had to be accommodating to her little cousin.” Dad, hands on his hips, looked just as furious. “Yeah, Mom, I never thought Chloe could be so manipulative, so malicious.” “They always say kids raised with love are supposed to be kind and understanding, right?” “We’ve been so good to her, but she still turned out so twisted.” “I saw Bella downstairs earlier and just found out Chloe bullied her. It’s despicable!” “Chloe, you come out here right now! I’m going to teach you a lesson today!” Dad yelled into my bedroom. I shook my head, frantically trying to explain to Dad. “It’s not like that, Dad! I didn’t snatch her popsicle at all!” “She said she didn’t want it, and it was the last one of my favorite flavor, so I just picked it up to eat!” But Mom, Dad, and Grandma couldn’t hear me speak. When no sound came from the bedroom, Mom immediately frowned. “Chloe, so now you’ve learned to play mute, have you?!” She moved to go into the bedroom to find me, but Grandma stopped her. “I looked everywhere, inside and out. Chloe isn’t home!” Mom took a deep breath, stunned. “Then where did that child go?” Bella immediately piped up. “Aunt Sarah, this morning I heard Chloe say she was going downstairs to play with her friend Ashley. She’s probably at Ashley’s house!” Ashley was my best friend from school, and also my neighbor, so I often went to her house to play. Dad scoffed. “She’s just a little kid, and she’s already pulling stunts like running away in a huff!” “Hmph, let her stay at Ashley’s house! We’re not going to pick her up.” Grandma sighed. “She’s still just a child, after all. Maybe go get her back soon.” “I’ll make dinner. Those chicken wings I bought for Chloe are still in the freezer, right?” “I’ll make her favorite Coke chicken wings!” My heart instantly leaped into my throat. Grandma was going to open the freezer. Would she see my body? Grandma was old and had high blood pressure. My frozen body must look horrifying. Please, don’t let her see it; don’t let it scare her! I tried to block Grandma with my body, but it was no use. Grandma passed right through me and walked toward the kitchen again. I watched Grandma enter the kitchen. “Mom, don’t cook tonight! Bella’s still here. Let’s just order pizza!” Dad opened his delivery app, stopping Grandma just as she was about to open the freezer door. Grandma nodded but still worried about me. “Call Chloe back for dinner. It’s not good for her to always eat at other people’s houses.” Mom waved her hand dismissively. “Mom, don’t even worry about her! I just sent her a SnapChat.” “I told her I was ordering her favorite cheesy shrimp pizza. That greedy kid will be back in less than ten minutes!” Mom’s reminder made me instinctively look at my wrist. My wrist was empty. Oh no! My smartwatch was frozen in the freezer too! That was my birthday gift last year, from Mom and Dad. Now I’d ruined it. Mom would definitely be even angrier with me! I really was a bad kid, always making Mom angry. Mom throwing me in the freezer was justified. I huddled in the corner of the couch, crying heartbrokenly. Half an hour later, the takeout arrived. Seeing I still wasn’t back, Mom gritted her teeth in anger. “That Chloe! I just said a few words to her, and she’s still pouting and refusing to come home!” Dad just opened the takeout bags. “We’re eating! We’re not waiting for her. She won’t starve at Ashley’s house!” Grandma tried to speak up for me, but Dad cut her off directly. “Mom, please don’t interfere when we’re disciplining Chloe!” “If she defies us today, who knows what serious trouble she’ll get into tomorrow!” “We’re going to eat! No one pays her any attention!” Bella took out the largest slice of pizza from the takeout bag. “Mark, Sarah, Chloe loves this one. Should we save it for her?” Mom and Dad’s eyes filled with satisfaction. They stroked Bella’s hair, praising her. “You’re so thoughtful.” “It’s okay, we’ll eat. Don’t mind her!” I watched Bella sit in my special chair. Mom, Dad, and Grandma gathered around her, happily eating my favorite pizza. It was as if they were a family all along, and I was the outsider. My heart ached with a sharp, wrenching pain, and the tears just wouldn’t stop falling. Why was I still hurting and crying as a ghost? Was this God’s punishment for a bad kid like me? I hid in the corner of the living room, trembling with sobs. Until Dad was about to put the leftover pizza in the freezer. I instantly held my breath.

“Mark! Don’t you dare save any for Chloe!” Mom snatched the pizza from Dad’s hand and threw it straight into the trash can. It was dark outside now, and Grandma had to go home. She put on her coat, trying to persuade Mom and Dad. “The child is still young. Go pick her up from the neighbor’s house soon; don’t keep bothering them.” “When Chloe comes back, don’t scold her anymore. I believe she didn’t do it on purpose.” Hearing Grandma’s words, my tears of grievance welled up again. Grandma believed me! I really wasn’t a bad kid who bullied others. But now Mom and Dad both thought I was, and they didn’t love me anymore. Thinking that, my heart started aching again. Mom sent a few more SnapChat messages to my smartwatch. After waiting a few minutes and getting no reply, she angrily kicked over the trash can. “That stubborn brat! Not a single reply!” “She’s seriously trying to cut us off, isn’t she?!” I quickly floated to Mom. “I’m sorry, Mom, I didn’t mean not to reply to you.” “My smartwatch and I are both frozen stiff in the freezer! I can’t reply to you!” “I’m sorry, Mom, please forgive me, okay?” But no matter how much I apologized, Mom couldn’t hear me. Dad was busy helping Bella with a craft project. “If she doesn’t want to come home, let her stay at Ashley’s house!” “I want to see how long she can be stubborn!” Dad was always busy with work. My school craft projects were always finished by myself. I had always wanted Dad to do a craft with me just once, a dream I couldn’t fulfill even in death, yet it was coming true for Bella right now. Dad gently reminded her to be careful with the scissors, patiently helping her arrange the tools. Little me sat next to Dad, pretending Dad was teaching me how to do crafts too. But Dad’s gaze passed right through me, looking only at Bella. He didn’t spare me a single glance. Bella suddenly grabbed Dad’s hand. Her eyes red-rimmed, she cautiously asked: “Uncle Mark, can I call you Dad?” Seeing Dad hesitate, Bella pitifully added. “Ever since my dad passed away, I miss him so much. I can’t sleep at night thinking about him.” “My dad used to be your best friend. Could you just… could you just say ‘Dad’ for him, just once?” “Dad!” This time, my dad didn’t hesitate. He pulled Bella into a hug. “Oh, honey! Dad’s right here, my sweet girl!” The scene pierced me deeply. “I’m right here, Dad! I’m your daughter, Dad!” “Dad, you don’t want me anymore either?” I frantically tried to separate them. But it was no use. Dad comforted her for a long time, and then told Bella. “From now on, you’re my second daughter. Come home whenever you want.” My heart ached again, making it hard to breathe. “Dad, didn’t you always say I was your *only* treasure?” I felt like nothing more than a stray kitten or puppy, thrown out on the street. That night, Mom saw I still hadn’t replied to her messages, so she locked the door. “I’ve really spoiled that stubborn brat rotten!” “She can come back or not for all I care!” Bella brought a basin of warm water and placed it at Mom’s feet. “Sarah, don’t be angry. Bella will wash your feet.” Mom was touched by Bella’s gesture. She took Bella’s hand. “You’re so thoughtful, Bella!” “If only Bella were my daughter! Let that awful child drop dead for all I care! And don’t you dare ever come back!” Mom, your wish came true. I really did die, just inside the house. Bella put on my pajamas and lay in my little bed, falling into a deep sleep in Mom’s arms. When Mom thought she was asleep and went back to her own bedroom, Bella jumped up, put on slippers, and walked straight to the kitchen. Bella stood in front of the freezer. “Chloe, are you dead yet?”

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When my husband learned his first love had passed away, he took his own life right there on our honeymoon. Reborn back to our teenage years, he decisively pulled his hand from mine and walked straight towards his first love. I watched them disappear into the distance, then turned and walked away. From that moment on, our lives became two parallel lines that would never intersect. Ten years later, we met again at a high-profile charity gala in New York. He had become a rising star in the city’s elite circles, confidently appearing with Chloe Miller, her arm intimately linked with his. When he saw me enter the gala, seemingly searching for someone, he couldn’t help but advise me. “Why are you still so fixated on me? Even if you’d waited ten years, I still wouldn’t have fallen for you.” I ignored him, pulling my son, who was sneaking bites of cake, out from a corner. His eyes suddenly flashed with a raw, desperate red, and he gripped my hand like a lifeline. “Are you deliberately trying to provoke me? Didn’t you say you’d only love me in this lifetime?”

I never imagined that I would ever cross paths with Liam Hayes again in this lifetime. At a high-profile charity gala in New York, he stood in the crowd with Chloe on his arm, his smile elegant and composed, bearing no resemblance to the boy he once was. The people around them beamed, their voices dripping with flattery. “Mr. Hayes, you’re truly impressive, achieving so much at such a young age. Securing that statewide project means your future is limitless!” “And this must be your lovely fiancée, right? A perfect match, you both look incredible together!” Chloe gazed at Liam with deep affection, her voice soft. “We’re planning to get married at the end of the year. If you’re free, please do come to the wedding.” Another round of congratulations followed, and someone asked. “I heard you two have been together for ten years. Why are you only getting married now?” That question piqued my curiosity too. In the last life, Liam loved Chloe so much he was willing to die for her. After being reborn, he immediately broke up with me. I thought they would get married right after graduation, but it seems they still haven’t made it official. Hearing the question, a flicker of stiffness crossed Liam’s face, almost imperceptible, before he quickly covered it with a smile. “Business first, then marriage, right? I wanted to give Chloe the best life possible.” He looked at Chloe, his eyes practically overflowing with tender affection. In my previous life, when we were together, I brought up marriage many times. It wasn’t until his family pressured him that Liam reluctantly agreed to marry me. It turns out, the difference between love and indifference can be painfully obvious. I was about to turn and leave when my eyes caught a fleeting glimpse of a small figure. My body instinctively followed. Splat! Champagne splattered across the floor. The waiter, holding a tray, glared at me with an annoyed expression. “Where did you come from? Can’t you watch where you’re going?” His voice wasn’t quiet, drawing everyone’s attention. Liam’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw my face. “Stella, what are you doing here?” I lowered my head, apologizing to the waiter and explaining. “I’m here looking for someone.” Someone curious asked Liam. “Mr. Hayes, do you know her?” Liam’s hand, holding the wine glass, tightened. His gaze darkened. “Yeah, an ex-girlfriend.” Someone nearby, too quick with their tongue, blurted out, “You two were together for ten years, I thought you were each other’s first loves!” The smile on Chloe’s face faded slightly. She took Liam’s hand, saying dismissively. “We were young back then, had a small fight and separated for a bit. Who hasn’t made a few mistakes when they were young?” Liam didn’t say anything, his gaze sweeping past me and settling on the waiter. “Put the damages on my tab. Let her go.” He stood there, his expression calm. Aside from that initial surprise, he wasn’t interested in giving me a single extra glance. It seemed he wanted to clearly draw a line between me – that “mistake” he made – and himself, especially in front of Chloe. The waiter immediately started pushing me out. “Mr. Hayes is being generous, helping you clean up your mess. But there won’t be a next time!” He eyed my wrinkled pajamas, scoffing. “This isn’t the kind of place you belong. Get out of here!” I pulled free from his grip, trying to explain patiently. “I’m looking for someone. Once I find them, I’ll leave on my own.” The waiter sneered, rolling his eyes. “I’ve seen plenty of people like you trying to latch onto the rich and powerful. Do you even have the right to be at a gala like this? If you don’t leave now, I’m calling security!” “Wait.” Liam’s voice came from behind the waiter. Chloe, pulling at the hem of her dress, looked at me with a sigh, sounding exasperated. “He’s here looking for me. Let me talk to him.” Chloe stood beside him, possessively intertwining her arm with his. “Stella, Liam and I are getting married soon. I think anyone with a shred of decency wouldn’t come looking for an ex at a time like this.” Liam’s face tightened a bit, and he couldn’t help but try to reason with me. “Why are you still so fixated on me? Even if you’d waited ten years, I still wouldn’t have fallen for you.” “Being with you was a mistake. Now that I finally have a chance to correct it, I hope you can move on from the past.” Chloe eyed me from head to toe, a sneer in her eyes. “I can understand why you’d still come looking for Liam. After all, things aren’t what they used to be. He’s a renowned entrepreneur now, surrounded by people trying to butter him up.” Perhaps my wrinkled pajamas gave her confidence, as Chloe said with her nose in the air. “You graduated from a good university, didn’t you? How did you end up like this? If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to leave the house!” Liam frowned, pulling out his phone, a hint of impatience in his voice. “If you feel like I wronged you when we broke up, I can give you a severance payment now.” “Fifty thousand? Is that enough?” His fingers moved across the screen for a couple of seconds, then froze. “Did you delete me from your contacts?”

I was a little puzzled, not understanding why his reaction was so strong. Deleting an ex after a breakup is pretty normal, isn’t it? Besides, I had someone at home who was incredibly jealous. If he found out I still had an ex-boyfriend’s contact information, he’d probably make a huge fuss. “Didn’t you say you hoped I wouldn’t come looking for you after we broke up?” Liam’s face went cold, looking like he wanted to say something but held back. I added in a flat tone. “And there’s no need for a severance payment. I don’t need it.” One setback after another, Liam’s face looked even worse. He said coldly. “Why are you still putting on an act in front of me? If it weren’t for how pathetic you look now, I wouldn’t even bother speaking to you.” Chloe gently comforted him. “Liam, you’re just too kind. Honestly, why bother with women like her? Look at her, she’s a complete mess, a lost cause!” His tone was dismissive, as if he’d forgotten that ten years ago, he was in a far worse state than I was. In the previous life, Liam’s family disapproved of him being with Chloe because she was a delinquent who skipped school and engaged in illegal activities. The first time I saw Liam in college, he had just bailed Chloe out of the police station and was being forced by his family to break up with her. During that period when Liam was at his lowest, I stayed by his side, helping him through it. He loved photography, so I used the money I had saved for my own startup to buy him tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Who would have thought that Liam was the one who confessed to me first? I knew about his past with Chloe and had seen him occasionally lost in thought, staring at their old photos. So, when Liam confessed, I asked him very seriously. “Have you truly moved on from Chloe?” At the time, he held me tight, his voice firm. “That’s all in the past. I’ve long since realized who truly cares about me. Stella, I love you, let’s be together.” We dated for seven years, even his best friend was surprised. “He was so crazy about Chloe, I never thought you two would last.” But no one knew that Liam had rejected my proposals countless times in private. “Stella, I’m not the marrying type. Isn’t it good enough for us to just be together like this forever?” It wasn’t until Liam’s parents pressured him intensely that he finally agreed to marry me. During our honeymoon, news of Chloe’s accidental car crash arrived. He jumped off the cruise ship, leaving behind only a suicide note. The entire letter was filled with his love for Chloe, without a single word for me. At the very end, he wrote in his own blood. “Chloe, I only ever wanted to be your groom. Now, I’m coming to find you.” My love for him turned to ashes in that moment. So, when Liam wanted to break up with me after we were reborn, I didn’t stop him. Because I knew I couldn’t. Watching them get back together, I deleted all of Liam’s contact information, thinking I’d never see him again in this lifetime. But I never expected to run into him here. I wanted to leave, but Chloe was relentless, determined to humiliate me in front of everyone. “You really went to great lengths to get close to Liam. Judging by what you’re wearing, you probably don’t even have a decent job.” “Tell you what, I can get you a job as a waiter here. If you learn how to serve people, you could earn five figures a month.” Someone nearby, eager to please, chimed in with a chuckle. “This is a hotel in a prime location in New York City! Getting to work here would be an incredible opportunity for you. Hurry up and thank Ms. Miller!” I was surrounded and couldn’t leave easily, so I said helplessly. “Thank you, but I already have a job.” “It’s photography.” As soon as I said “photography,” Liam immediately looked at me. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes, and his lips moved a few times. He turned his head away, not looking at me, his voice cold. “How much money can you make from photography? A hobby won’t pay the bills. Out of courtesy, since we’re acquaintances, I can arrange a job for you.” I paused, immediately realizing he had misunderstood.

My love for photography isn’t some lingering attachment to Liam. In fact, the moment I read that suicide note in my past life, I was utterly heartbroken and gave up completely. It’s just that when I was reborn, I found that all my money had already been spent on camera equipment. I couldn’t sell it on eBay, so I just picked it up and started using it myself. And surprisingly, I actually fell in love with photography. In this life, I’m not trying to please anyone else; I’m doing it solely for myself. I politely declined Liam again, my tone distant and formal. “My hobby generates enough income for my living expenses, thank you for your concern.” Seeing my perceived lack of gratitude, a flicker of anger crossed Liam’s face. “You’re turning down this opportunity. Don’t come crying to me later!” I didn’t say anything, nor did I tell him. Currently, my photography work is commissioned by several national publications and top international journals. All the copyright fees combined are certainly not lower than Liam’s income. But if I said it out loud, he’d probably think I was bragging. After all, my wrinkled pajamas certainly made me look quite humble. It’s my son’s fault, really. He insisted on me playing with him in the sandbox. The moment I turned my back, he darted off downstairs. I hadn’t even had a chance to change clothes when I chased after him. I was just looking for an excuse to leave when the waiter seemed to notice something. He pointed at my clothes and said. “Balenciaga? Where did you pick up that outfit? You’re not one of the cleaning staff, stealing from a guest’s room, are you?” I couldn’t help but frown. “Can’t these clothes be my own?” Chloe scoffed, a mocking laugh escaping her. “Your own? Can you even afford it? What wealthy person runs around dressed so casually?” She dramatically pinched her nose. “It’s so dirty, you probably haven’t even washed it and just secretly put it on.” Liam looked at me, his brows almost knit together tightly enough to catch a fly. “Stella Maxwell, you’re in this state, are you still going to be stubborn?” I didn’t want to deal with them, so I turned directly to the waiter. “If you truly think I stole something, you’re welcome to call the police right now.” I knew he was just trying to curry favor with Chloe, seeing her displeasure with me, and wanted to kick me while I was down. Sure enough, his bravado immediately deflated, and he muttered quietly. “If it weren’t for an important person staying at the hotel today, and us not wanting you people to disturb them, I would have called the police already.” Chloe’s eyes lit up, and she quickly interjected. “Is it Arthur Kingston? I heard he and his family are in New York and staying at this hotel.” Liam nodded, a look of anticipation in his eyes. “If we could get the Kingston family’s support for the project our company is working on, that would be amazing.” The name “Arthur Kingston” dropped like a bomb, instantly igniting a feverish buzz of discussion. “Isn’t the whole point of coming to this gala today to meet Arthur Kingston? This entire building belongs to his family.” “I heard he got married and had a kid in his early twenties. I wonder which heiress he married.” As everyone was discussing, the lobby manager burst in, his face slick with sweat, followed by a whole team. “Everyone, has anyone seen a seven-year-old boy around here, about this tall?” The manager wiped his forehead, his eyes frantically scanning the hall. Someone quick-witted, seeing the commotion, immediately guessed something. “Is it the Kingston family’s young master? I heard he’s exactly seven this year.” The gala attendees became enthusiastic, quickly searching everywhere. After all, finding the boy could be a chance to connect with the Kingston family. Liam and Chloe also joined the search, no longer paying attention to me. I looked at the chaotic hall and walked straight to the dessert area. Sure enough, I found my son under the table, his face covered in cream. I frowned, extending my hand. “Come here.” My son jumped, hugging the table leg and refusing to let go. “No.” I was about to pull him over when Chloe suddenly appeared, blocking me, her voice righteous. “Stella Maxwell, what do you think you’re doing!” “Even if you want to connect with the Kingston family, there’s no need to lay hands on a child, is there?” Liam rushed over, his eyes filled with disappointment as he looked at me. “Stella Maxwell, I can’t believe you’d do something like this for fame and fortune.” The waiter grabbed the manager and complained. “It’s this woman! She suddenly crashed the gala and even stole clothes from another guest!” The manager’s face immediately turned cold, and he called security. “Grab this thief and take her straight to the police station! If she scares the young master, you’re all fired!” A triumphant smile flickered in Chloe’s eyes. She bent down, putting on a kind face for the Kingston family’s young master. “Come here, sweetie, Auntie will protect you.” My son ignored her completely. To everyone’s astonishment, he carefully reached out for my hand. “Mommy, I’m sorry.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “310684”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn