The day of my heart transplant, my mother locked me in the dark basement. It was all because Chloe, the girl she treated as her own daughter, also needed a heart transplant. To ensure Chloe got the heart that was a perfect match for me, my mother covered my chest with electrode pads to suppress my heartbeat. I knelt on the ground, begging her, pleading with her to let me go. But my mother was unmoved. She pressed hundreds of electrode pads deep into my skin, making the angina I already suffered from even more unbearable. The last electrode pad was placed directly over my heart by my mother herself. She looked at me, trembling all over, and said coldly, “Chloe has been frail since childhood. She just wants a healthy heart. Do you have to fight her for even this?” “Ever since you came back, you’ve always targeted Chloe. Let’s see how you like this piercing pain!” “The specialists said the electrode pads, combined with a dark environment, could strengthen your heart. You can have your surgery later, once they find a second donor heart.” I lay on the ground, close to fainting, waiting for my mother to come and get me out. But my mother was overjoyed when Chloe’s surgery was a success, taking her on a trip to Europe. It wasn’t until two months later, when my mother returned home and saw my empty room, that she remembered me. She then ordered someone to rush me to the hospital. Housekeeper Mrs. Davies hesitated, her words caught in her throat. “Lily… she’s already dead in the basement.”

The electric currents coursing through my body, combined with the excruciating pain of my angina, made me question if I was still alive. Only my mother’s cold eyes in front of me forced me to cling to a sliver of consciousness. Before the basement door was shut, I desperately clung to my mother’s pants leg. “Mom! I really can’t hold on. My heart hurts so much. If this goes on, I’ll die…” “Please, can you send me to the hospital? I promise I won’t fight Chloe for the heart. I’ll just take my medication…” I cried and begged my mother, but she was indifferent. She turned to patiently comfort Chloe, who stood by, watching the show. “Be a good girl, Chloe. Don’t be nervous during the surgery. I will be with you the whole time.” “After you recover, I will take you to travel the world and give you everything I own, okay?” Chloe shot me a defiant glance, then asked my mother, “If all your assets go to me, what about Lily?” “Lily? Ha.” My mother scoffed. “She’s lived a life of poverty for so many years. She’s used to not having money. My love will be enough for her.” As she turned to take Chloe to the operating room, she suddenly received a call from Martha, my grandmother. “Ellie, Lily should be having her surgery soon, right? Please make sure you take good care of her these past few days. Lily has suffered so much. We can’t afford any more mistakes this time.” My mother mumbled a quick dismissal and hung up the phone. I closed my eyes, using the last bit of my strength to speak. “Mom… I really wasn’t lying. I’m in too much pain…” “If Martha finds out, she’ll definitely blame you…” After the Vance family found me again, my mother had always been cold towards me, all to manage Chloe’s emotions. At my mother’s instruction, everyone in the Vance household kept their distance from me. Only Martha was happy about my return. Even this donor heart was found with Martha’s help, but she had no idea that my mother had already forced me to give it to Chloe. After hanging up the phone, my mother glanced at me again. At this point, I was in so much pain I’d almost lost all feeling. My face was a mess of blood and tears. My mother looked at me, momentarily stunned, even wondering if the specialists’ words were credible. Chloe suddenly squatted down. Out of my mother’s sight, a faint smirk played on her lips. Then, she brutally pressed both hands onto my chest. The electrode pads on my chest dug in even deeper. The tearing sensation in my chest made me scream in agony. But Chloe suddenly fell backward, landing hard on her backside. Immediately, she burst into tearful sobs. “Lily, I just wanted to comfort you. You know my heart isn’t strong, yet you pushed me. Do you really need me to die for you to be happy?” My mother’s eyes instantly filled with pity. She pulled Chloe into her embrace, comforting her softly. Chloe cried, shaking her head. “I know my sister doesn’t like me. She blames me for taking her place for so many years, but I really have been kind to her.” “Maybe you should just send me away, Mom. That way, I won’t be in my sister’s way anymore.” My mother snorted. “If anyone’s leaving, it’ll be her.” After soothing Chloe, my mother turned and yelled at me. “How can you be so malicious?!” “You always pick on Chloe. She only wanted to show you some care, but you deliberately pushed her over.” “If anything happens to Chloe, I will never forgive you.”

If my current appearance hadn’t been so horrifying, my mother probably would have made me kneel in the yard for three days and three nights, just like before. My mother knew I had been kidnapped and suffered in that remote area for ten years. I had always been cautious and never blamed her for not taking care of me back then. But now she called me malicious? Finally, my mother left with Chloe, not even sparing a glance for me, lying on the ground, dying. The angina and the pain of the electrode pads digging into my chest felt like less than a thousandth of the pain in my heart. I was my mother’s biological daughter. Before I was taken, I was once her cherished little princess. But when I returned ten years after being kidnapped, I found a strange girl in our house. She also called my mother “Mom.” The gentle mother I remembered seemed to have changed overnight. She was still as meticulous in her care, as if she’d pluck the moon from the sky for her daughter, but the daughter in her heart wasn’t me, it was Chloe. Blood already blurred my vision. Suddenly, a wave of angina brought me back to full consciousness. I hadn’t even received my heart transplant yet. How could I just die like this? In the basement, I woke up only to faint again, over and over, no longer able to distinguish day from night. After regaining some strength, I forced myself to crawl to the iron door and repeatedly pounded on it. “Help me… Is anyone there?” “It hurts so much… Please let me out…” The rough iron door scraped my hands, but I couldn’t feel the pain anymore. It wasn’t until I had no strength left to lift my hands that I finally heard footsteps outside the door. I clutched at a straw of hope, calling out for help again. “Help me…” But upon hearing my plea, Mrs. Davies outside the door snorted disdainfully. “Stop shouting! If you disturb Mrs. Vance and Miss Chloe, you’ll be in for it!” “A country bumpkin from nowhere, daring to fight Miss Chloe for a heart? So what if you’re the true heir? In Mrs. Vance’s heart, Miss Chloe is the only heir of the Vance family. You’ll never take her place.” Because of my mother’s differential treatment, even the nanny in the house could insult me freely. I swallowed the humiliation, bit by bit, and spoke through gritted teeth. “My heart hurts terribly. I’m starting to suffocate. If this continues, I’ll die.” “Let me out quickly… If anything happens to me, Martha won’t let you get away with it!” Mrs. Davies, though opportunistic, understood that I still held some sway with Martha. If I died in the basement, Martha would surely seek justice for me. After much deliberation, Mrs. Davies decided to call my mother. “Mrs. Vance, Lily says her heart is giving out. She’s in excruciating pain. Should we let her out?” My mother sounded a bit confused. “She was fine when we left. How could she be dying now?” After a moment, my mother hesitated. “Why don’t you open the door first and check on her…” I thought I heard hope, but Chloe interrupted my mother, her voice filled with certainty. “The method of using electrode pads to strengthen the heart was something I specifically consulted a foreign specialist about. There’s no way it could go wrong. Mom, if you don’t trust me, don’t you trust a specialist?” Hearing Chloe’s voice, laced with a hint of petulance, my mother panicked a little and quickly reassured her that she believed her. The call continued. When speaking to me, my mother’s voice reverted to its usual coldness. “Lily Vance, you’d better behave yourself!” “She’s just trying to trick you into letting her out so she can go to the hospital and fight Chloe for the donor heart. I’ve already told her I’ll find her another heart. Can’t she even wait that long?” “Besides, I’ve already strengthened her heart according to what the specialist said. What else isn’t she satisfied with? None of you need to pay attention to her. If she wants to fuss, let her fuss.”

With that, my mother hung up on me without a second thought. Mrs. Davies also left, spitting contemptuously before she went. My world became quiet again. I could only hear my own erratic heartbeat. Everything was pitch black. My consciousness felt increasingly blurry. Was I really going to die like this? I didn’t dare to close my eyes, afraid that if I did, I would never open them again. But I didn’t want to die. Clinging to the last shred of my will, I actually managed to hold on until I heard sounds from the basement door again. “Is anyone there… Is someone outside?” “Help me… Please, please help me…” The person outside seemed to hear my plea. They ripped off the rickety padlock on the basement door. By the faint light, I recognized him. It was Mr. Clark, a manager from the Vance family company. Mr. Clark was startled by the metallic scent of blood in the basement and stumbled back a few steps. “Mr. Clark… it’s me…” I struggled to get up, but just as I reached the door, I collapsed heavily again. Mr. Clark quickly helped me up, asking what had happened. I had no strength left to speak, only endless tears streaming down my face. Mr. Clark quickly pulled out his phone and called my mother. “Mrs. Vance, Miss Lily seems to be injured. Please come back and check on her!” My mother’s voice on the other end instantly sounded flustered. “What? Chloe just said she wanted cake and asked me to buy her some. How could something happen to her right after I left? Where is she now?” Hearing my mother’s anxious voice, Mr. Clark continued to explain. “I’m not talking about Miss Chloe. I’m talking about your biological daughter, Miss Lily, who you recently found.” My mother on the other end paused. After confirming that Mr. Clark was only there to deliver some documents to the house and happened to hear my cries for help, she let out a scornful cold laugh. “That brat is getting bolder and bolder, just making up lies on the spot.” “Mr. Clark, leave the documents and go. Lily Vance is perfectly safe in the basement. You don’t need to worry about her.” Although my mother’s indifferent tone left Mr. Clark a bit bewildered, he still called 911 for me before leaving. I was in so much pain I nearly passed out. In a blur, I thought I saw someone lift me into an ambulance. But when I woke up again, I didn’t get the rescue I’d imagined. Instead, the pain in my chest intensified. “Ah…” I couldn’t help but cry out in pain, only then noticing a nurse nearby. “Please, save me… I’m in so much pain…” “If this goes on, I’ll really die…” The nurse looked anxious but hesitated, her words caught in her throat. “I’m so sorry, miss. All our cardiologists are currently assigned to a heart transplant surgery and can’t be spared. Can you please wait a bit longer?” My heart sank. I was in too much pain to speak, so I just gripped the nurse’s hand tightly, tears streaming down my face as I begged her for help. The nurse seemed a little sympathetic. After a moment of hesitation, she comforted me. “Alright, how about this: I’ll go ask the patient’s family next to the operating room if they’d be willing to have a doctor attend to you, okay?” I nodded frantically, hoping God would grant me a single mercy. The patient’s family the nurse mentioned seemed to be right next door. I could clearly hear their conversation. “Mrs. Vance, we have another heart patient who just arrived at the hospital. She seems very ill. Would you mind if we assigned a doctor to treat her?” “Another heart patient? This can’t be delayed. Send two doctors over.”

The nurse thanked her for me, and the person even asked a few questions about my condition. This Mrs. Vance was truly kind-hearted. She was willing to help a stranger. But how could such a kind-hearted woman bear to let her own biological daughter suffer?! I recognized Mrs. Vance’s voice; it was my mother. And the person who made her mobilize all the doctors in the hospital to save them must have been Chloe. My tears fell silently. I shouldn’t have wished for this kind of maternal love. However, with my mother’s instruction, I was quickly wheeled into the private room next to Chloe’s. I heard the doctor making the final pre-surgery confirmation with my mother. “Mrs. Vance, this donor heart was originally Miss Lily Vance’s. Are you sure you want to give it to Miss Chloe Vance?” “Confirmed.” My mother replied, her voice firm and resolute. I should have expected this outcome long ago. Because there was no donor heart for me, the doctor could only give me anesthesia to temporarily stabilize my condition, but this would only cause my heart to rapidly deteriorate. I endured the pain, reaching out to grab the doctor’s sleeve. “My body can’t take any more anesthesia… Please, save me. I can’t hold on…” Facing my plea, the doctor only said helplessly, “Miss, these are all Mrs. Vance’s arrangements.” “Right now, all heart medications must first be given to Mrs. Vance’s daughter. You’ll just have to wait a little longer. Otherwise, if you offend Mrs. Vance, you might not even get the anesthesia.” Despite my sorrow, I knew the most important thing now was to stay alive. I bit down hard on my tongue, the sharp pain instantly clearing my head. “Mom!” “Save me!” Hearing my gut-wrenching screams, the doctor merely sighed softly. “No one can help you now, miss. You just don’t have a mother like Mrs. Vance.” “You really came to the hospital at the wrong time. It just so happens that Mrs. Vance’s daughter is having surgery today, and Mrs. Vance arranged for all the doctors and medications to be moved to avoid any complications.” “But don’t worry. Once Mrs. Vance’s daughter’s surgery is over, you can have your medication.” … I didn’t hear the rest of what the doctor said. I only knew he was recounting my mother’s magnificent maternal love. The ironic thing was, I, her biological daughter, didn’t receive any of that love. Meanwhile, in the other part of the room, Chloe’s surgery had already begun. My mother was afraid Chloe would be scared, so she kept encouraging her. When rejection complications occurred during the surgery, my mother was so anxious she almost cried. “Don’t be scared, Chloe. I am right outside with you.” “Once your surgery is done, I will take you to travel the world and transfer all the company’s assets into your name.” And just one wall away, on the other side, I lay on a cold hospital bed as the anesthesia took effect. I couldn’t speak, only shed helpless tears, feeling my life slowly ebb away. “Heart transplant complete! The surgery was a great success!” The moment the doctor announced Chloe’s successful surgery, my life came to an end. I felt my body lighten, and I floated into Chloe’s operating room. I saw my mother crying with joy, carefully embracing Chloe. “My dear daughter, the surgery was a success. I am so happy.” Everyone around them marveled at my mother and Chloe’s deep mother-daughter bond, yet no one knew. In the dark corner, my mother’s biological daughter had just taken her last breath. After that, I saw my mother take Chloe on a trip to Europe. They ate together, took photos, celebrating Chloe’s new life. And I could only whisper to myself, [Mom, we’ll never see each other again…] It wasn’t until two months later, when my mother returned home and saw my empty room, that she remembered me. She then ordered someone to rush me to the hospital. Mrs. Davies hesitated, her words caught in her throat. “Lily… she’s already dead in the basement.”

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My boyfriend, Ethan Thorne, had a severe hearing impairment. To afford a cochlear implant for him, I worked multiple jobs, sometimes seven a day. But I didn’t mind. All that mattered was for him to be happy, to experience the beauty of the world. Ethan’s first reaction after getting the cochlear implant was to pull me into a passionate embrace, kissing me like there was no tomorrow. He swore he’d be with me for life. Then, two years later, one night after we’d been intimate, I vaguely noticed a black artificial cochlear implant on the bedside table. Ethan, tall and handsome, leaned by the window, a cigarette between his fingers, talking on FaceTime. His friend’s excited, sharp voice came from the other end: “No way, are you really going to marry that cheap commodity? What about Scarlett? She’s coming back in three days…” Ethan’s voice was hoarse from earlier, and he chuckled. “Don’t say that. Ava is mine for now; I haven’t gotten tired of her yet! Once Scarlett is back, I’ll naturally marry her.” I closed my eyes, tears streaming into the pillow, my hands clenched tight. So, the hearing impairment was fake. His love for me was fake. Even wanting to marry me was fake! From the very beginning, I was just a passing amusement for him.

Two minutes later, Ethan stubbed out his cigarette and walked straight towards me, his fingers gently touching the corner of my eye. His voice was deep and husky: “Bad dream?” It was a perfectly normal question, a sign of concern, but it sent shivers down my spine. With a surge of disgust, I slapped his hand away. I abruptly opened my eyes and met his gaze: “You lied to me. You don’t have a hearing impairment at all. Why would you do this?!” Unlike my breakdown, Ethan seemed to have been mentally prepared, as if he’d anticipated this day. “What, you’re not happy that I’m a normal person instead?” Ethan glanced at the artificial cochlear implant on the table, scoffing lightly, as if it were just an irrelevant ornament. “You were the one who got ahead of yourself. You were the one who wanted to make money to buy me a cochlear implant. You never asked for my opinion, not once.” “I’ve played along with you for two years. I’ve done more than enough. Now that we’re dating properly, why dwell on these minor details?” Minor details? I found myself unable to understand the man in front of me, baffled by how he could lie to me and still be so utterly at peace with himself. Back then, I felt so much pity for Ethan’s hearing impairment. He rarely spoke much to others, and to help him regain his confidence, I worked myself to the bone. During those most extreme months, I sometimes worked seven jobs a day, so busy I barely had time to drink water. My best friend, Chloe Green, laughed at me, calling me a hopeless romantic, throwing my health away for a man. I pouted, my eyes filled with concern, and shot back: “You don’t understand how difficult life can be for someone with a disability. I don’t want to see Ethan excluded anymore. I want him to see and hear the beauty of this world!” Later, I successfully bought him the latest cochlear implant. Ethan just smiled at it, then pulled me into his arms, kissing me passionately: “Ava, you’re so good to me. I’ll never betray you in my life!” Recalling the sweet two years we’d spent together, I felt as if hundreds of ants were crawling over me, a chilling sensation washing through my body. Yet the culprit acted as if nothing was wrong, carelessly trampling on my genuine feelings. “It’s my fault for not explaining this misunderstanding sooner. You wouldn’t break up with me over such a small thing, would you?” I opened my mouth in a daze, unable to utter a single word. Ethan was truly skilled at manipulating people. He knew the depth of my love, that I simply couldn’t bear to break up. Seeing my head bowed, my shoulders trembling slightly, a strange flicker of guilt passed through Ethan’s eyes. “Alright, it’s all my fault. I won’t lie to you again, okay?” I was about to press him further about Scarlett from his call, but a frantic phone ring interrupted me. Ethan’s usually composed eyes instantly showed a hint of urgency, an excitement I had never seen before. “Ethan…” I called out his name, but Ethan quickly pulled on his clothes and rushed out the door, tossing over his shoulder: “Work emergency. I won’t be back for dinner!” But I instantly saw through it, recognizing it as a clumsy excuse. His beloved, far away overseas, must have returned. I scoffed at myself, my heart aching with a dull pain.

Getting up, I tossed the artificial cochlear implant from the table into the trash. I looked up at the not-so-large apartment. After Ethan and I officially started dating after graduation, he moved me into this place. It was close to the subway station, convenient for commuting. Whenever I asked about the apartment’s origins, Ethan would always vaguely explain: “It was left by an elderly relative in my family.” But what elderly relative buys a newly renovated, European-style apartment in the city center? It clearly looked like it had been specifically designed by someone. But at the time, my heart was completely consumed by Ethan, and I never noticed these oddities in our relationship. No wonder Ethan, supposedly disabled, could effortlessly intern at a public company right after graduation, even without an interview. No wonder Ethan rarely wore the artificial cochlear implant voluntarily. It wasn’t that he didn’t care for it; it was that he didn’t need it at all. It turned out his entire persona was fake. The hearing impairment was fake, the poor boy identity was fake, and even his love for me and his desire to marry me were fake! I closed my eyes, trying to process the overwhelming grief, remembering his words during the call: “Ava is mine for now; I haven’t gotten tired of her yet!” “Once Scarlett is back, I’ll naturally marry her!” Ethan Thorne, you certainly hid your true colors well! At seven that evening, I packed all my belongings. Since I was determined to leave, I would do so cleanly. My gaze lingered on every corner of the apartment: the couple’s mugs we bought together, the matching slippers, the potted plant we spent two hours choosing… Memories were like a cruel hand, squeezing my throat, making it hard to breathe. Just then, the front door burst open, and Scarlett Davis’s beautiful, striking face appeared before me: “Who are you, and why are you in *our* home?” *Our home*. Those two words hit me hard, and it took me a few seconds to process them. Scarlett quickly let out a cold laugh, her perfectly manicured nail pointing directly at my cheek. “Oh, I remember now. You’re the little side chick Ethan told me he’d marry just to spite me?” “Looks like his taste is pretty mediocre!” I ignored Scarlett’s mockery, grabbed her provocatively pointing finger, and flung it away: “I’m not his side chick. I’m the girlfriend he publicly acknowledged. You, on the other hand, are the one intruding here, aren’t you?” Hearing this, Scarlett immediately frowned, a hint of malice in her eyes. She gave a small laugh, then deliberately twisted her ankle, crashing against the shoe cabinet with a pained yelp. Ethan, carrying bags, walked in to this scene. Scarlett leaned on the floor, holding her waist, her face contorted in pain, tears welling up in her eyes. I instinctively tried to explain, but Ethan’s hand flew out, slapping me across the face. My lip stung terribly, feeling as if it might split open. “Scarlett just got back from overseas, do you really have to be so cruel to her?!” “Don’t you know Scarlett injured her spine while dancing? She can’t take any bumps. Are you trying to make her permanently disabled?!” Ethan’s words were incredibly harsh, making me sound like some heinous villain. But he knew I would never intentionally harm anyone, yet he believed Scarlett’s one-sided story. “I didn’t! I didn’t even touch her!” Scarlett immediately spoke up, cutting off my explanation, her voice innocent and pitiful: “Perhaps your girlfriend doesn’t welcome me here. I should just go stay somewhere else. I won’t bother you two anymore…” “And you don’t need to worry about my work back home. I overstepped my bounds!” Hearing this, Ethan’s heart instantly tightened. He immediately pulled Scarlett into an embrace, comforting her, his eyes overflowing with tenderness: “Scarlett, this apartment was ours together. It’s your home too. How could you leave me, leave this place…” Then, Ethan coldly looked at me, issuing a direct eviction notice: “Ava Miller, you don’t need to stay here anymore. Move to a hotel. I’ll cover the expenses!” I forced a smile. So, one word from Scarlett, and I no longer even had the right to live here. Coincidentally, I had no intention of staying either! I wiped the tears from my eyes, dragging my two suitcases towards the door. As I passed, Ethan frowned and looked at me, seeming to want to say something. But Scarlett’s cry of pain interrupted him.

The city night was truly cold. Dragging my two large suitcases, I shivered, sneezing several times in a row. Ethan used to be so afraid of me getting cold. Whenever the weather changed, he wouldn’t let me go out in the wind. Now, Ethan hadn’t even called once. After checking into a hotel with my ID, I started looking for a new place to rent. Just then, I received an anonymous video. In the video, Scarlett was tugging on Ethan’s tie, their lips intertwined, her face flushed. She suddenly picked up the black artificial cochlear implant from the trash can, as if she’d found something amusing, and laughed: “Ethan Thorne, you’re playing quite the game behind my back, pretending to be deaf?” Ethan disdainfully glanced at the dirty cochlear implant, took it from her hand, and tossed it away, continuing to kiss her. He responded softly to Scarlett’s words: “Just messing with her. Who told her to take it seriously… I find that thing disgusting!” My breathing hitched instantly. I could only hear the frantic pounding of my heart. So, the thousand-dollar cochlear implant I worked so hard to buy for him was, in his eyes, just a disgusting piece of trash! I clutched my chest, trying to alleviate the discomfort, my breathing becoming labored. Just then, my grandmother Rose called me, asking with a smile: “My dear Ava, when are you and Ethan coming back? I have prepared some wine for you both!” Since my parents died in a car accident, my grandmother Rose had become my only pillar of emotional support. I visited her several times a year. It used to be just me; then, Ethan started coming with me. I didn’t know how to face Rose, so I remained silent for a moment. Rose was still grinning from ear to ear, chattering away: “Ethan said he’s going to marry you this year! I’ll make sure to take my medicine and stay healthy so I can take the bus to your wedding… Oh, my, it’s not easy for an old country woman like me to come to the city!” With every word Rose said, I felt more ashamed. I quickly hung up the phone, unable to face her anymore. I blocked the anonymous account that sent the video and warned Scarlett: **\[Ethan and I are over. You don’t need to provoke me.\]** That day, I remembered leaving something behind at Ethan’s apartment and took a ride there to retrieve it. I bumped right into Ethan as he was leaving. Looking up, I saw several hickeys on his neck, clearly left by Scarlett. Ethan frowned and grabbed my wrist, demanding to know why I hadn’t replied to his messages these past few days. I ignored him. “My mom said we’re having dinner at home this week to discuss wedding plans.” I laughed, looking at him, perplexed: “Aren’t you going to marry Scarlett Davis? Why are you telling me this? Do you need me to participate in your wedding too?” Ethan looked down at me, annoyance flashing across his brow: “My mom doesn’t like Scarlett. I won’t have a public wedding with her. Our engagement still stands; I won’t go back on my word to you.” *Slap!* I slapped him. His brazen words made me want to laugh in fury. “Ethan Thorne, the moment you lied to me, we were over!” “I’m not a tool for you and Scarlett to flirt with, nor am I a shield for your affair!” “The engagement is off. I won’t marry you. Let’s go our separate ways from now on!” Ethan gave me a strange look, then chuckled twice: “Ava Miller, don’t be so jealous. I’m not kidding. Besides my heart, I can give you everything else — the title, the status!” “Don’t make a fuss. My mom has already had someone calculate the wedding date. It’s next month!” “You wouldn’t want your only living relative to be disappointed, would you?” It was another naked threat and manipulation. Ethan had calculated that I couldn’t leave him and wouldn’t bear to disappoint Rose. I was practically boiling with rage, feeling utterly desperate.

Ethan used Rose’s health as leverage, forcing me to continue playing the role of his loving fiancée to reassure his mother. “Ava, my dear, among all the girls Ethan knows, you’re the one I trust the most. You two must get married smoothly and stay together for life!” Mrs. Thorne’s words exhausted me, but I felt powerless. For the next month, Ethan treated me with the same meticulous care and tenderness as before, accompanying me to try on wedding dresses and engagement rings. Looking at the sparkling diamond ring on my finger, I couldn’t help but sneer: “Ethan Thorne, your sincerity isn’t worth a thing. Aren’t you afraid Scarlett will go crazy if she finds out about all this?” A flicker of something crossed Ethan’s eyes when he heard Scarlett’s name. He brushed a strand of hair from my face and said indifferently: “I’ll calm Scarlett down. She won’t get jealous like you. You just need to play the part of a happy bride!” Sometimes, I truly hated Ethan’s cruelty, yet occasionally, I would find myself uncontrollably drawn into this vortex of tenderness. I couldn’t tell if Ethan had ever felt a shred of genuine affection for me. As the wedding day approached, Rose became noticeably more excited. She couldn’t sleep at night, whispering to me on the phone: “I’m old now. My only wish is to see you get married and have children. I’m so happy you found someone you love…” “I’ve never seen you look so happy and content. Only Ethan, that boy, makes me feel truly at ease!” Listening to Rose’s rambling, I suddenly couldn’t bear to tell her the truth. It was just a wedding, I thought, a way to fulfill her last wish. I thought naively, never expecting Scarlett Davis’s breakdown and jealousy to be so fierce. That day, as I left work, someone forcibly dragged me into the underground parking garage. Scarlett slapped me twice across the face, raging uncontrollably: “Ava Miller, you’re truly shameless. Ethan doesn’t love you at all, yet you still cling to him!” “Do you think by stealing my place, you can become Mrs. Thorne?!” “I’m telling you, I will never allow anyone to threaten my position. Just you wait, I absolutely won’t let you off easy!” Scarlett’s words made my heart clench, and I couldn’t help but retort mockingly: “The one insisting on marrying me is Ethan. If you’re so capable, why don’t you make his whole family change their minds?” “Oh, right. Mrs. Thorne doesn’t think much of your fickle and untrustworthy nature!” Scarlett’s face turned red with fury, her eyes practically spitting fire. She clenched her fists and said viciously: “Then just you wait and see!” The day before the wedding, Scarlett sent me a strange set of numbers. They looked vaguely familiar. By the time I tried to ask her about them, she had already blocked me. On the wedding day, I felt something was off, a persistent unease in my heart. Ethan was still playing the part of the perfect lover, just as before, putting the ring on my finger and kissing my lips in front of everyone. For a moment, I actually thought we had returned to the past, back to when he still loved me. Suddenly, my phone vibrated a few times. It was an unknown number, and on the other end, I heard Rose’s voice. Scarlett must have said something to Rose, because I heard Rose’s hurried breathing, followed by sounds of them pushing and arguing. I frowned and said “Hello,” but no one replied. I just dismissed it as a minor interruption. Suddenly, a panic erupted outside the wedding venue. Someone shouted: “Someone fell from a height!” My heart pounded erratically. I felt a dizzy spell and ran desperately to check. Ethan also rushed over. However, the person lying on the ground, in excruciating pain, was Scarlett Davis. What was going on?! Ethan, looking distraught, rushed downstairs from the second floor, embracing Scarlett, his eyes bloodshot. Scarlett cried out: “Ethan, save me! Ava and her grandma conspired to kill me!” Hearing Rose’s voice, I frantically ran over. I saw her lying at the corner of the staircase, gasping for air, her face pale, with several scratches on her body. “Ava…” I strained to hear, but Rose’s breathing was faint, almost in shock. Crying, I shouted for help, calling out to Ethan: “Ethan Thorne, quickly, call for a car! My grandmother is in critical condition!” “Ethan Thorne, I beg you, please come and save my grandmother! I promise I’ll be obedient forever!” The only response was Ethan’s voice, filled with utter disgust: “Ava Miller, you and your grandma used schemes to make Scarlett fall and break her leg. I will make you pay for this!” Ethan carried Scarlett and rushed to the hospital, ordering everyone present not to call an ambulance for me. Holding my grandmother’s gradually cooling body, I suddenly seemed to realize something. A heartbreaking cry escaped me: “Rose!” Ethan’s footsteps paused slightly ahead, then he scoffed. “Ava Miller, your acting is too clumsy. I won’t fall for it again!”

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My husband, Liam, had barely been involved in our family life for the nine years we’d been married. He never celebrated our anniversary, never celebrated our daughter Lily’s birthday. Every time I confronted him, he’d self-righteously claim he was busy working for our family, even accusing me of being unreasonable. It wasn’t until my mom’s funeral that he was absent again. But this time, I didn’t cry or make a scene. I even explained for him, “He’s busy making money for Lily and me.” Everyone said we were a loving couple, little did they know my husband didn’t love me at all. When he claimed to be busy, he was actually with his best friend’s fiancée. On my daughter’s birthday, he was traveling with her. On our anniversary, he lit fireworks for her birthday. At my mom’s funeral, he was with her, trying on wedding dresses. In my previous life, after I discovered the truth, I hysterically confronted them, crushing that woman’s ego underfoot. What I got in return was my mom’s grave being desecrated, my dad falsely accused of sexual assault, and my daughter labeled an illegitimate child. Later, my husband even meticulously engineered a car crash, ensuring we’d never rest in peace. So this time around, I don’t want that scumbag. I just want him to pay for what he did.

“Liam, if Scarlett finds out you’re here trying on wedding dresses with me, won’t she be upset? I heard it’s Scarlett’s mom’s funeral today…” Chloe’s voice in the video carried a hint of guilt. Liam quickly comforted her. “It’s fine. Ethan is gone, and I’ll make up for what he owed you. After all, I was Ethan’s best friend! And don’t worry, Scarlett understands everything. Besides, it’s her mom who died; my presence there doesn’t matter.” “Oh, thank you, Liam.” Chloe hugged Liam tightly. The video ended abruptly there. I knew Chloe had sent this video. Just like in my previous life, she knew exactly how to provoke me. But I wouldn’t be like my old self anymore. I simply replied, [“Don’t worry. I know you’re grieving Ethan’s death. I told Liam to go be with you. I won’t be angry.”] Then I sent a screenshot of the message to Liam, [“Liam, please take good care of Chloe. Tell her not to worry.”] After that, I didn’t look at my phone again. After finishing my mom’s funeral arrangements, my dad looked at me with red-rimmed eyes. I forced a faint smile. “Dad, you should resign.” My dad paused, then, as if something clicked, nodded quickly. “Okay, I’ll take care of it as soon as possible and then leave. You two should hurry too.” “Mm.” We tacitly avoided mentioning the reincarnation. After parting ways, I took Lily home. I hadn’t expected Liam to be home. He looked flustered when he saw me. “Scarlett, don’t misunderstand, I just feared Chloe would be sad, so I…” “I get it. It’s hard enough for you to earn money and support Lily and me. Ethan was your best friend, and he died because of you, so it’s only right for you to take care of his fiancée.” “Scarlett, you…” Liam stared at me in disbelief. Yes, his suspicion was right. After all, in my previous life, I absolutely loathed Chloe. Even when Ethan was alive, I never liked Chloe. I always felt there was something Chloe was after by being with Ethan, but Liam would say I was just jealous. “Just because Chloe is prettier than you, you claim she’s manipulative? Scarlett, you really disappoint me.” That was our first argument over Chloe. “Scarlett, you’re really not angry?” Liam pressed again. I nodded. “Nope.” Seeing that I didn’t seem to be faking it, Liam breathed a sigh of relief. I took the opportunity to slip the divorce papers in with some insurance documents and had him sign them. Perhaps out of guilt, Liam signed without even looking. And as I watched him sign the divorce papers, my eyes were filled with hatred. Liam, since you didn’t hesitate to kill our entire family for that woman in your previous life, this time, I’ll make sure you get what you deserve. I want to see what he’ll choose: money or that woman. After that, Liam behaved remarkably well, even volunteering to take Lily to school. But I didn’t expect Chloe to lose her patience.

That evening, after Liam picked up Lily, he didn’t return for a long time. No matter how many times I called, he didn’t answer. Scared, I rushed out to look for them. But as I opened the door, I saw Liam. His face was dark. Not seeing Lily, I was about to ask when Liam’s hand struck my face. “Scarlett, I actually thought you were truly understanding. I can’t believe you lied to me! Inciting our daughter to target Chloe, do you think that’s clever?” I didn’t know what had happened, but it wasn’t hard to guess it was all Chloe’s doing. “I didn’t.” But Liam didn’t believe a word I said. When I asked him where Lily was, he just snorted. “If she messes up, she has to face the consequences.” My heart clenched. Liam shot me a scathing look. To pacify him, I said no more, just apologized. Liam’s attitude softened, and he told me to apologize to Chloe. So I went. She pretended to be terrified, hiding behind Liam. In the end, I had to kneel in the pouring rain all night before Liam’s anger finally subsided. After taking Lily home, I finally understood what had happened. I couldn’t believe Chloe would scheme against such a small child. Lily said that when Liam picked her up, Chloe was already in the car. Then, before Lily knew it, Chloe started complaining that she felt unwell and something about allergies. Liam immediately concluded that Lily had deliberately caused Chloe’s allergic reaction. Seeing my daughter’s swollen, tear-filled eyes, my heart ached. At that moment, my desire to kill them both reached its peak. Afterward, Liam didn’t come home, staying with Chloe to comfort her. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the peace. But I didn’t expect him to return with Chloe in tow. “Chloe was living in the apartment she used to rent with Ethan. Now she keeps seeing reminders of him there. You see, our house is so big; one more person won’t make a difference.” Liam wasn’t asking for my opinion; he was informing me. I didn’t speak, just looked at Chloe. By now, all the neighbors knew that Liam had brought his best friend’s fiancée home to take care of her. They showered him with praise. “Exactly, Ethan was so lucky to have a brother like Mr. Sterling!” Even Chloe nodded along. “Yes, I’m so grateful to Mr. Sterling these past few days. If it weren’t for him, I don’t know if I’d still be alive.” When Chloe cried, Liam tenderly pulled her into a hug. But he seemed to forget this was our home, and he was my husband. The onlookers were stunned too. As soon as Liam realized his mistake, he quickly released Chloe. “Scarlett, you take care of Chloe for a moment. I’m going to visit Ethan’s grave.” The next moment, Liam kissed my forehead. “Thank you, Scarlett.” Now, no one around said another word. I was almost sickened by him but managed to maintain my gentle, understanding demeanor. Liam gave Chloe a reluctant look before turning and leaving. After Liam left, Lily looked at me, confused. “Mom, does she really have to stay here? I don’t like her.” I didn’t know how to explain about rebirth to Lily. When I first came back, Lily had cried in my arms for a long time. She said, “Mom, I had a nightmare. Daddy was with Aunt Chloe, and because of Aunt Chloe, Daddy killed us. I was so scared…” It took a lot of coaxing, but I finally calmed Lily down. But from that moment on, she stopped being close to Liam. Before, if he missed her birthday, I wouldn’t even need to get angry; Lily would ignore him for days. Before Chloe showed up, our entire family was the most important thing to Liam. Liam would fight thugs for me, and even when a thug asked him, “Only one of you can live, who do you choose?” He chose me without hesitation, saying, “It doesn’t matter if I live or not, but my wife must live.” When I had a difficult labor giving birth to Lily, he said, “Scarlett, no more children.” That day, Liam became the talk of the hospital. The entire hospital was buzzing, “There’s a husband in the obstetrics department who cried until he passed out because he saw his wife in labor pain.”

See, men, when they truly love you, they really do. But when they stop loving you, they really stop. Liam once said, “Scarlett, my parents left me early, so your parents are my parents.” But later, because of that woman Chloe, he personally killed our entire family. So now, Liam deserves to die even more than Chloe. “Lily, do you remember what Mom told you?” My daughter nodded innocently. I smiled. “Then listen to Mom. Don’t show that you dislike Aunt Chloe. Soon, Mom and Grandpa will take you away, okay?” “Okay.” Lily was very well-behaved and didn’t say another word. Meanwhile, my dad sent me a message. He had already resigned and would be ready to leave in two weeks. With the divorce papers and evidence of Liam’s infidelity, my lawyer said we could get divorced in less than half a month. The agreement stipulated that Liam would leave with nothing. I knew that killing Liam to avenge us from the previous life would be too easy a punishment for him. I had to make Liam know what true misery felt like. No sooner had he left than Chloe dropped her act. The sweet innocent facade in front of Liam, but in front of me, she was a snarling vixen. “Scarlett Sterling, I really underestimated you. Liam is being so obvious, and you still won’t divorce him?” Meeting Chloe’s eyes, which looked like she wanted to devour me alive, I couldn’t help but smile. So desperate to take my place, huh? Fine, I’ll help you get there. Just before Liam and Chloe walked in, I had already secured the most crucial evidence. These two were truly vicious. Liam was right about one thing: Ethan had indeed saved his life. But Liam had personally killed Ethan. “Scarlett, if I were you, I’d have already killed myself.” “Really? The woman who hooked up with her fiancé’s best friend hasn’t killed herself, so why should I?” I didn’t hold back with Chloe. Since Liam wasn’t here, there was no need for me to pretend anymore. We stood there, staring at each other with daggers drawn, for a long time, until the housekeeper had packed all of Chloe’s things. Watching her belongings being moved into the master bedroom, I didn’t say a word. Anyway, I was leaving soon. If she wanted to be with that scumbag, she could. I certainly wouldn’t let that dog near me. That evening, Lily and I were having dinner when Chloe suddenly screamed upstairs. At the same moment, the front door opened, and Liam walked in. But he didn’t even glance at us, going straight upstairs. A moment later, Liam stormed down to me. Seeing his agitated state, I quickly shielded Lily behind me. The next moment, Liam’s hands clamped around my neck. “Scarlett, I can’t believe you’d play such games with me!” Meeting Liam’s eyes, which looked like they wanted to devour me, I felt myself struggling to breathe. I desperately slapped at Liam’s arms, but he didn’t budge. It wasn’t until Lily started crying at my side that he finally threw me to the floor. “Mommy…” Lily cried, hugging me tightly. I hadn’t felt too bad initially, but seeing Lily like this, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. “Scarlett, you’re the one who let Chloe stay in the master bedroom. Why did you deliberately put a knife on the bed? Are you trying to kill her?” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Me? Put a knife?” “Isn’t that right?” “Then let’s check the surveillance footage.” No sooner had I spoken than Chloe, who was crying by the staircase, instantly changed color. “You—you installed surveillance in the master bedroom?” “It’s my house. Can’t I install cameras wherever I want?” My counter-question instantly shut Chloe up. “Fine, I want to see how malicious you are.” Liam said, heading towards the monitoring room, but Chloe stopped him. “Liam, I’m fine, don’t argue with Scarlett because of me.” Chloe said a lot, and Liam listened tenderly, not forgetting to add, “Scarlett, you should really learn a thing or two from Chloe.” I watched the two of them, expressionless, and almost gagged. But I held it in. Nothing else happened that night, except Liam stayed in Chloe’s room.

After that, I ignored Liam and Chloe’s open displays of affection. Outwardly, I was subservient to Liam, and even spoke highly of Chloe. Sometimes, I would even act quite pathetic. Liam saw it all. His guilt towards me grew daily, and now his gaze towards me had softened. Sometimes, because of me, he would even disregard some of Chloe’s demands. Chloe gradually realized I was doing this on purpose, so she started to act even more. Of course, what Chloe did most was falsely accuse me. However, having been reborn, I was already well-versed in her tricks. She tried to frame me for pushing her, so I made sure to injure myself. She’d be on the floor, and I’d be lying in a pool of my own blood. What could Liam say when he saw me covered in blood? He would rush me to the hospital, and each time, Chloe would stomp her foot in frustration. And while alone with Liam in the hospital, I would play him recordings of Chloe’s provocative words. Then I’d gently take his hand and say, “Liam, I know Chloe is like this because Ethan died. I don’t blame her, and please don’t bother her, okay? She’s really had it rough.” “Lily and I are fine. We’ll help her get through this.” My appearance, swallowing my grievances with red-rimmed eyes, completely drew Liam’s heart back to my side. As soon as I was discharged from the hospital, he pulled me in, clearly wanting to be intimate. It scared me, and I quickly made some noise. Sure enough, within three seconds, Chloe burst in. “Liam, I feel unwell. Can you take me to the hospital?” “Call a driver.” Liam was annoyed at being interrupted when things were heating up, and his expression towards Chloe was already sour. Chloe instantly looked heartbroken. As his wife, I expressed understanding. “It’s okay, you go with Chloe to the hospital. If Ethan saw us neglecting her from up above, he’d be upset.” When I mentioned Ethan, Liam, though still annoyed, got out of bed. A minute later, the car drove out of the villa. I watched them leave from the balcony before going to Lily’s room. Lily was already ready. She looked at me with a smile. “Mommy, can we go now?” I nodded. I’d endured for half a month; it was time to leave. For the past two weeks, I’d had to tolerate Chloe’s provocations and the strange looks from everyone around us. No one knew what I’d gone through. But I knew the time for blood for blood had come. When Lily and I arrived at the airport, my dad was already there. Before boarding, Liam sent me a message: [“Chloe’s situation is a bit complicated, you go to sleep first, don’t wait for me.”] Seeing the message, I couldn’t help but smile. Such a good actor. He probably still had no idea how smoothly Chloe and I had been communicating behind his back. Just moments ago, Chloe had also sent me a message: [“Liam is mine tonight.”] It was accompanied by a video of the two of them together in bed. I didn’t reply to their messages, but I did something else. After finishing my operation, I turned off my phone. At that moment, I felt completely liberated. The next moment, Liam, who was currently occupied, received a call from his assistant. “You better have a good reason.” “Mr. Sterling, you need to check the company’s official website right away.” After the assistant spoke, Liam impatiently opened the website. With just one glance, his face turned ashen. “No, this is impossible.”

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I married Ethan Blackwood, the playboy heir to a billionaire fortune. Every time he cheated, I divorced him. Three times in total. And I fell for his apologies all three times. Until he personally destroyed my mother’s tombstone for his old flame, Serena Hayes, forcing me to apologize to her in public. Ethan even abandoned me while I was pregnant with his child to save Serena, causing me to hemorrhage and miscarry. After he crushed all my pride and love, he still had the audacity to say. “It’s not normal for a man not to cheat. Is this your first day knowing me?” My heart turned to ice, and I left. Three years later, I married Ryder Collins, who genuinely cared for me, at the foot of a snowy mountain. Yet, Ethan knelt in public, begging me to come back. I simply said, coldly. “I stopped loving you a long time ago. Your belated affection is just too fake.” Anya POV I was a spoiled, headstrong heiress who married Ethan Blackwood, the city’s infamous billionaire’s son and a notorious playboy. The first year of our marriage, I caught Ethan deeply kissing a young model at a club. It caused a massive uproar, and we divorced. Three months later, due to the need to push forward a joint project between our two families, we were forced to remarry. The second year of our remarriage, I publicly slapped Ethan three times on the street for having an affair with an aspiring actress. It went viral on Ins, and we divorced again. However, this time, less than three days after the divorce, our families pressured us into reconciling. By then, our two companies were deeply intertwined and couldn’t function without each other. After getting our marriage certificate for the third time, the playboy Ethan finally relented. He held a cigarette between his fingers, his expression veiled and indifferent. “Can we just live a good life together? You cool your bad temper, and I won’t see other women outside.” I smirked, sitting in the driver’s seat and rolling up the window. “Fine, but don’t let me catch you cheating again.” “Fine, but don’t let me catch you cheating again. If you cheat one more time, I will never marry you again. Over my dead body!” What I hated most in life was a cheating scumbag! My father’s infidelity caused my mother’s mental breakdown and eventual suicide. From that moment on, I hated this world. That’s why I’d stop at nothing to hurt the cheating Ethan. I’d rather hurt myself if it meant hurting him worse. The second year after this third remarriage, I went to a snowy mountain to find inspiration for my painting. I was caught in an avalanche and nearly died there. When Ethan heard, he defied the mountain closure and danger warnings, entering the mountain alone with rescue equipment to save me. Using our tracking watches, Ethan found me, barely clinging to life. The snow that day was heavy. Ethan must have searched for me for ages; his face was red from the cold, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. “Anya, let’s go home.” I stared at him blankly, a strange surge of emotion stirring in my chest. To meet the person who would risk everything to save you, right before death’s door. Perhaps, I had truly found the right person. After the mountain rescue, our marriage entered a honeymoon phase. Ethan reined in his wild ways. For an entire year, he had no rumors with any women; he kept himself clean. He stopped going to all the entertainment venues. When his friends tried to tease him into trouble at dinners, he would just smile and say he listened to his wife, coming home for dinner before ten o’clock. We were getting better and better, and Ethan poured all his efforts into loving me. He proposed on a yacht at sunset bay in Miami. He played the piano for me beneath the Swiss Alps, holding white moon flowers. He swore eternal love under a hot air balloon in Turkey. We passionately loved each other all over the world. Until a phone call shattered the silence of the night. Ethan’s face changed after he took the call. He quickly booked a flight back home. “Something urgent came up at work. I have to leave. Anya, you can take your time enjoying yourself here.” He left a deep kiss and turned to leave. I touched my reddened lips, watching his retreating figure. A creeping sense of dread spread through my chest. “Ethan, you’d better not be lying to me.” I calmly checked out of the hotel and bought a flight ticket. Following him all the way. His methods weren’t subtle. But Ethan, too flustered and anxious, didn’t notice my tail. The next afternoon, Ethan drove to a simple apartment complex. Soon, a scarred little girl ran out and threw herself into his arms. Behind her, a stooped, tired, and aged woman followed. Ethan’s usual good temper vanished. He gripped a baseball bat and stormed inside. I got out of my car. I could only stare as Ethan, like a madman, fiercely and wildly beat an old man with the bat, blow after blow. “You married Serena and treated her so badly, and you dared to abuse Lily? I’ll kill you right now!”

Anya POV My body trembled. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Ethan had never been so out of control. For an older woman and a girl? What was their relationship? Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me, and I clutched my mouth, dry-heaving for what felt like an eternity. It was then that I realized. During our honeymoon, I’d forgotten to use protection. Could I be pregnant? A surge of joy rose in my heart. I looked up, just about to tell Ethan the good news. My eyes snapped open in shock as I saw the scene before me! It felt like a sour, bitter wad of cotton was stuck in my throat, choking off any words. The woman stood on tiptoe and kissed Ethan’s lips. “Thank you, Ethan.” Ethan turned his head, letting her kiss his cheek. “Serena, I’ll always have your back.” I looked at Ethan, deeply embracing the woman, and a chill ran through me. It was a mix of absurdity and a sickening feeling that I should have known. “Ethan, you’ve cheated again.” I should have known. I couldn’t keep a playboy. He was too affectionate. He loved too many people. I forced myself to ignore my physical discomfort, about to turn and leave for the hospital for a check-up, when a warm gush suddenly flowed between my legs. Looking down, fresh blood stained the snow through my dress. A violent cramp instantly swept through my entire body. My vision went black, and I collapsed helplessly into the roadside grass. When I woke up again, I was in a cold hospital bed. The doctor regretfully told me that I had lost the baby due to a natural miscarriage, attributing it to cold exposure and emotional distress. I stayed in the hospital for three days. During those three days, Ethan didn’t call once. After losing the baby, my heart turned to ashes. I found a lawyer, drafted the divorce papers, and brought them home. The house was eerily silent. Suddenly, the door opened. A drunk Ethan was helped inside by Serena Hayes, who was dressed in a professional women’s suit. She saw me, her gaze slightly startled. “Are you Ethan’s wife? He’s had too much to drink; I just brought him home.” I looked at her coldly. Just as I had looked at countless other mistresses who had challenged me. “Who are you? When did you get involved with him?” Serena gently set Ethan down and told me a poignant story. In college, Ethan had fallen in love with his lecturer, Serena. But due to practical reasons, they broke up not long after they started dating. Later, they both married and went their separate ways. Recently, Serena had been abused by her husband, who even nearly beat their eight-year-old child to death. Serena was forced to call Ethan for help. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Ethan.” “He saw I had no job and a child to raise, so he made me his administrative assistant.” She knelt, her face full of shame. Her obvious gray hairs made her look different from all the young, beautiful models and actresses Ethan had cheated with in the past. Serena appeared simple and pitiful. I watched her coldly, feeling the hollow ache in my abdomen where my child used to be, my heart clenching into a tight knot. Ethan opened his eyes and saw the scene. He immediately stood up and rushed over. “Enough!” He tenderly picked up Serena, looking at me with cold eyes. “What are you trying to do? I haven’t cheated with Serena, and you’re not allowed to slander her!” A furious blaze ignited within me. Slap! I slapped Ethan hard. I was about to hit him again when Serena, rushing over, stopped me. She pushed me fiercely. “I won’t let you hurt Ethan!” She was like a protective lioness, shielding him firmly. Ethan’s gaze softened, becoming complex, as he looked at her. “Serena, why are you still protecting me like you used to?” Caught off guard by her push, I stumbled and fell to the floor, my back hitting a sharp corner of the table with a piercing pain. Clutching my aching back, I struggled to stand. I maintained my composure and threw the divorce papers at him. “Ethan, we’re getting a divorce!” Ethan picked up the agreement, signed it without even looking, and tossed it back. “So, has your family, the Reeds, thought about how they’re going to get me to remarry you again?” He simply didn’t believe I could truly divorce him. The previous two reconciliations had proven one thing: The Blackwood and Reed families were inseparable.

Anya POV I picked up the divorce papers, my gaze fixed on their intertwined hands. After a long moment, I took a deep breath. “This time, I won’t remarry you. Never.” I turned and went upstairs, grabbed my passport, and left. Ethan, drinking the black coffee Serena poured for him, watched my retreating figure with an indifferent expression. “The divorce will be finalized in a month. You won’t back out, will you?” “I’ll be there.” “Has the Reed family thought about how they’ll apologize to me? This time, the divorce isn’t my fault.” His attitude remained arrogant. My face was pale, and I clutched my stomach, leaving without a word. Indeed, a leopard never changes its spots. If it happens once, it will happen countless times. Tears streamed down my face as I walked. I cried for my own momentary weakness. And I cried for the child who never got to see this world. A month after submitting the divorce application. I completed the asset division and made a call. That afternoon, I was working at the office when Ethan suddenly burst in and grabbed my wrist. “What did you do to Lily? She came home crying and wanted to drop out of school, saying you spread rumors at school that her mother broke up a family!” Ethan’s eyes were fierce as he stared at me, enunciating every word. “She’s only an eight-year-old child. Do you really need to pressure her like this?” “What?” I was about to speak, but Serena, with red-rimmed eyes, interrupted me from behind. “Ethan and I have no relationship whatsoever.” “He just took pity on me, handled my divorce case, and let me temporarily be his administrative assistant.” “Why would you slander me like this and make my child suffer!” She cried, looking disheveled and frail. Given her age, many people thought I was being unreasonable this time. “I heard Mr. Blackwood has finally settled down. Why is the Reed heiress still so relentless?” “Exactly, she even went to the school. How can that child live with this?” “Rich heiresses really do love these public humiliation games.” The overwhelming accusations made me laugh bitterly. “What evidence do you have that I did this?” “Who else would it be but you?” Ethan’s cold gaze fixed on me. “You’ve ruined that actress before, spreading rumors about her being a mistress. This time is no different.” I was speechless. “Before, I did that because I wanted to divorce you…” “Go apologize to the school immediately!” Ethan didn’t want to hear it. I was practically dragged to the school’s parent committee office. Ethan said coldly. “Now, admit in front of everyone that you spread rumors, and apologize.” I shook my head indifferently. “Impossible. I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do.” I would never back down. Serena immediately broke down. She rushed forward and slapped me twice. My cheeks stung fiercely. I was completely stunned. It had always been me, the Reed heiress, doing the slapping. No one had ever dared to hit me like this! Especially not my husband’s old flame! “You!” I, furious and humiliated, raised my hand for a slap. But Ethan gripped my hand tightly! I looked at him in shock. “You watched me get hit?! Ethan, are you out of your mind?!” Perhaps the anger and pain in my eyes pierced Ethan, because his grip loosened. Once free, without thinking, I rushed forward and kicked Serena in the stomach. Sending her sprawling to the floor! Thud! Coincidentally, there was a stair step right there. “Save me!” Serena helplessly tumbled down the stairs. Her cries faded into the air. I froze. Ethan, even more frantic, rushed down. “Serena!”

Anya POV “It hurts so much!” Serena, having rolled twice, was bleeding from her head and looked utterly pathetic. She trembled in Ethan’s arms, tears streaming down her face. “Ethan, I just want a normal life. Please, I beg you.” “Please make Anya Reed clear my name, please don’t let her hurt me anymore.” Her tears poured down, making her seem tragic and pitiable. I stood above them, looking down coldly. In that moment, Ethan’s internal balance completely tilted. He picked her up, holding her steadily in his arms. He stared at me with icy eyes. “Anya Reed, you and I are not done with this.” After saying that, he turned and left. But behind his back, where he couldn’t see, Serena flashed a triumphant smile at me. She mouthed a single sentence. “You lost.” Watching his ruthless retreating figure, my heart ached as if it had been ripped out. After a long moment, I collapsed, feeling weak all over. A searing pain shot through my abdomen. I knew I had indeed lost. Ethan would completely sever ties with me, no longer caring about my status. The last time he did something like this, a large company went bankrupt, and its executives knelt at his feet begging for mercy. And that time, it was just because that executive had tried to touch my waist. It wasn’t until dusk that I stumbled to my feet and called my father, Richard Reed. After a long wait, the call connected. “Ethan is going to target our family business…” Richard immediately cut off my words. “Why would he do that? Did you go and annoy him again?!” “It’s normal for a successful man to have other women, especially him. Can’t you be more understanding?” “You go and apologize to him right now, beg him! Otherwise, I’ll kick you out of the house and won’t give you a single penny!” After saying that, Richard hung up fiercely. I put away my phone, standing in the cold wind, shivering slightly. “So cold.” There was a time when I thought Ethan, after seemingly changing, would give me a home. But it was just an illusion. My heart would never beat for him again. I walked out of the school, step by step. My vision went black. Someone knocked me out from behind. When I woke up again, my eyes were blindfolded. I smelled the damp, foul odor of an abandoned warehouse. “Was that kick earlier really satisfying?” Serena walked up and slapped me several times. “Strip her clothes off, take a few photos, and let everyone enjoy the show.” “Oh, and I want something extra spicy.” “Also, don’t do anything else!” After saying that, Serena waved to a few tattooed thugs behind her. The men grinned and walked closer. Thinking about what fate awaited me, I managed to croak out a trembling warning. “Get lost!” “I’m the Reed heiress; you’ll be dead if you touch me!” “Get lost, no, I’ll give you money, whatever you want!” “Let me go!” “Hehehe, we love playing with rich heiresses like you!” Amidst the men’s jeering and their foul stench. I went from crying for help, struggling, to despair and numbness. I never imagined I would fall to such a state. I thought about my past days, always high and mighty. Before, I would never have thought that my pride and confidence would be brutally crushed in this small, abandoned warehouse! The men brutally ripped off my clothes. They pinched and squeezed my pale body, posing me in various ways. Taking one humiliating photo after another. One of the men couldn’t help but swallow, muttering, “Why don’t we just go for it? Buddy, I can’t hold back!” “No! If this woman reports us, our crime will be too severe. Photos are enough!” But their hands moved all over me, back and forth, and their desires flared. Soon, I heard the sound of a zipper being pulled down.

Anya POV “No! Don’t!” In desperation, I bit the inside of my mouth, spitting out a mouthful of blood. I shrieked, struggling like a trapped beast. “If you dare touch me, I’ll kill myself right here!!” The men froze, scared. They didn’t want a murder on their hands either. “Forget it, just finish the photos and leave. We’ve got our money anyway.” “Such a shame, such a beautiful woman, only allowed to touch, not to taste.” … I don’t know how long it was until I heard the door open outside. I moved my wrists and found I wasn’t tied. I staggered to my feet, stiffly putting my torn clothes back on, piece by piece. I didn’t call the police. Instead, I went to the cemetery. I lay weakly on my mother’s tombstone, crying as if to shed all the tears of my life. “Mom, they’re all bullying me because you’re not here.” The next day, with a pale face, I brought fresh flowers to my mother’s grave. I stayed there for three days, oblivious to everything. Without food or water. Just sitting with my knees hugged, staring blankly at my mother’s photo. Until I collapsed from exhaustion and was taken to the hospital by a passerby. During this time, Ethan began openly flaunting his affair in the media, taking Serena to various events only wives could attend. He also punished the parents and students who had bullied Lily at school, then announced that Lily was his child. Finally, he arranged Serena’s divorce, ensuring her ex-husband left with nothing and was even sent to prison. Serena was constantly by his side. Countless times, Serena posted on Ins, thanking him profusely. “I thought I had entered hell, but I never expected him to bring me back to heaven.” The accompanying picture showed their hands clasped together. “He said we are the happiest family of three.” A happy photo of the three of them in front of an amusement park. Ethan holding Serena and Lily, smiling brightly. “Turns out, you don’t mind my past, and you’re even willing to…” This photo was the most explicit. It showed a white five-star hotel bedsheet, with the familiar bare shoulder of a man. Seeing this picture, I only felt disgust and ridicule. I still remembered Ethan’s solemn promises that he would never cheat again. But in just one year. He was dirty once more. So disgusting. I turned off my phone, unwilling to look anymore. A week later, at my mother’s grave, I saw the person I least wanted to see. Ethan, with a group of bodyguards, was destroying my mother’s tombstone. I instantly lost control, rushing forward and firmly blocking their way. “Stop! Who gave you permission to touch my mother’s grave?!” Ethan looked at me coldly. “It’s been a week. You disappeared for an entire week. I looked everywhere and finally found you here.” “Aren’t you going to explain?” I just felt absurd. “You didn’t ask why I disappeared, but you were having an affair with Serena.” “What explanation do you want?” Ethan’s gaze darkened. “Serena and I aren’t what you think; I just feel grateful to her.” I was so angry I laughed. “Grateful? Does gratitude involve kissing, sleeping together? Does gratitude involve destroying my mother’s tombstone for her?!” “Well, that’s quite remarkable gratitude. I want that kind of gratitude from you too!” Ethan’s suppressed emotions instantly erupted. He rushed forward and gripped my wrist tightly. “If I hadn’t cleaned up your mess last time, you’d be in jail for assault and slander!” “I’m only destroying your mother’s tombstone to force you out, to make you apologize to Serena!” I struggled desperately. “Get lost! Never!” His gaze grew even more sinister, and he motioned to the bodyguards beside him. “Keep smashing. Dig up the ashes and dump them in the sewer.”

Anya POV The sound of the bodyguards’ destructive work continued. I stared at Ethan, feeling my heart tremble with pain. Finally, I closed my eyes in a daze. “Fine, I’ll apologize.” Here, the only thing I cherished was my mother, who had always held me gently. I didn’t want my mother’s resting place to be disturbed, even in death. Ethan, seeing me finally relent, let out a sigh of relief. “Let’s go, come home with me to apologize.” I paused, slightly stunned. “She’s already moved into our marital home?” Ethan also realized his words were inappropriate, his gaze flickering as he explained. “No, it’s because your actions caused her mental breakdown, so I brought her home to calm her down.” “Let’s go.” I didn’t want to hear any more. Now, all I could do was to maintain my proud facade. Pretend I hadn’t been crushed. Stepping back into this house, which I hadn’t seen in a week, felt incredibly strange. White jasmine flowers in a vase, children’s toys, books scattered around… Facing me was Serena, holding an eight-year-old girl. “Ethan, you’re back.” Her smile froze when she saw me. She lowered her head, looking meek and timid. “Anya, you’re back too.” My eyes, full of resentment and coldness, stared fixedly at her. “If I didn’t come back, this house would be taken over by a cuckoo. Were you hoping I wouldn’t return?” Serena’s body trembled; she looked at Ethan with a pitiful expression. Ethan’s brows furrowed when he heard my words. “Enough. I brought you back to apologize!” Eight-year-old Lily Hayes immediately understood what was happening and rushed out like a small cannonball. She pushed me hard. “Bad woman, you’re bullying my mother!” Caught off guard, I was pushed to the floor, my head hitting the stair railing sharply, sending a piercing pain through me. “Hiss, you damn kid!” I scrambled to my feet, ready to teach her a lesson, but Ethan gripped my arm. “I told you, apologize!” “Why do you have to argue with a child who doesn’t know any better?” Ethan’s voice grew increasingly dark. I bit my molars in pain, glaring at Ethan. “Don’t forget about your mother’s ashes.” Ethan warned. In the end, I only felt utterly disheartened. I shook off his hand and looked at Serena. “I’m sorry.” “Is that enough?” I dropped those words lightly and turned to leave. When you no longer cared about anything, an apology didn’t sting as much. Ethan looked at my decisive attitude, paused, and felt an inexplicable sense of panic. “Where are you going?” I said nothing, continuing to walk out. “Ethan, Lily says her stomach hurts!” Serena, holding the child, looked at Ethan helplessly. Two women. One needed him. One was indifferent to him. Ethan didn’t hesitate. He turned, picked up Lily, and took Serena to the hospital. Days passed by. Later, I called Ethan. “See you tomorrow. You’re not going to back out, are you?” Ethan hadn’t seen me for over two weeks, and his temper was getting worse by the day. “I’ll be there tomorrow, but will Richard Reed let you go through with it?” He hinted at something. But I had already hung up. The next day, I was preparing to sign the final documents. Suddenly, a trending topic erupted online. “Reed Heiress Plays Performance Art in Abandoned Warehouse! Racy Photos Grab Attention!” One by one, they were the scandalous photos of me from that day.

Anya POV Richard slapped me hard. I hung my head, covering my face with one hand, my expression blank. Richard looked at me with disgust, his face full of heartache. “Tomorrow, go beg Ethan. Beg him not to divorce you.” “Your body has been exposed online. Who would ever marry you now?!” As I listened, I laughed. My body trembled uncontrollably, and a single crystalline tear fell. “How ridiculous.” “You don’t ask me how those photos came to be, nor do you ask if I willingly divorced. All the blame is just dumped on me.” “Are you truly my father?” Richard’s face grew even uglier. “Shut up. Tomorrow, no matter what, you cannot sign the divorce papers.” “Otherwise, don’t blame me for disowning you!” I looked up, my eyes brimming with tears, and nodded. “Fine, I’ll make sure you get what you want.” The third day, Ethan arrived as scheduled. He looked at my swollen cheek and indifferent expression and said coldly, “It’s not too late to regret it now.” “Your photos are all over the internet. Do you think anyone would still marry you?” “Why did you take those explicit photos with those men?” “Give me a reason.” His arm seemed to tremble slightly, betraying his unstable inner state. I said nothing, simply lowered my head and signed. Then I pushed it towards Ethan. “Sign.” Ethan was momentarily speechless. He stood up, exasperated, and signed his name without hesitation. Then he grabbed his suit jacket and turned to leave. “This time, we won’t remarry so easily. You’ll have to pay the price for your mistakes!” He got into his car without looking back. Serena, in the passenger seat, gently fastened his seatbelt. She looked towards the door, smiled at me holding the divorce certificate. And mouthed once more. “Thank you.” I put the divorce certificate in my pocket, my gaze icy as I watched the car speed away. “Heh, no need to thank me.” “Ethan, that cheating scumbag, he’s all yours.” I lowered my head, pulled out my phone, and made a call. The call connected. “Mark, take me out of the country now.” My uncle, Mark Miller, smiled, relieved, on the other end of the line. “I wanted to take you abroad when your mother died, but you insisted on staying in the country to guard her grave.” “Now you’ve finally seen sense.” I looked at the swirling fallen leaves in the sky, my voice faint. “I didn’t understand before, but now I do.” Actually, I always had a way out. I remarried Ethan twice because I truly loved him. But I kept that feeling so well hidden that my father and Ethan both thought our marriage was purely for a business alliance. But Ethan, in the end, wasn’t the boy I had fallen for at eighteen. He destroyed my true feelings again and again with countless infidelities. And this time, it was the last straw. We would never meet again. That evening, I threw away my phone card, blocked Ethan and all contact numbers from the Reed family, and boarded Mark’s private jet. I was leaving the country that had nearly destroyed me.

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The third year of my secret marriage to Ethan Knight, I watched him passionately propose to another woman on our wedding anniversary. Live on TV. In that moment, I finally understood. All his tenderness was for someone else. I was merely his “compliant” toy, hidden in the shadows. He asked me, his secret wife, to personally help his “fiancée” pick out her wedding gown. He even had all the blue roses I’d painstakingly planted for him pulled out. Right in front of me. Just because she said she “didn’t like them.” My heart grew cold. I signed the Doctors Without Borders agreement and left for a distant land to pursue my dream. Three years later, I became a top trauma surgeon. When he knelt before me, pleading bitterly, I linked arms with my new love. “Mr. Knight, I stopped loving you a long time ago.” Sera Hayes’ POV It was the third year of my secret marriage to Ethan Knight when he proposed to another woman, Lana Bellweather, at a televised gala live-streamed across all major platforms. On the TV screen, the flashing lights were blinding. Ethan wore a bespoke black suit, his posture tall and commanding, his eyes holding a tenderness I knew so well. Only now, that tenderness was entirely for Lana, who stood before him. “Lana, this ring is five years late. Today, I want to put it on you.” Ethan’s voice, deep and affectionate, resonated through the screen, eliciting gasps from the audience. Lana covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face, her pale cheeks flushed with happiness. She had been in a vegetative state for five years after a car accident, only miraculously waking up last month. I sat on the sofa, quietly watching the scene unfold. There was no hysteria, just a cramping, churning feeling in my stomach. Today was our third wedding anniversary. I had specially cooked Ethan’s favorite steak and seared foie gras. Just three hours ago, as Ethan left, he’d kissed my forehead and smiled, saying, “Honey, when I get back from my business engagements, I’ll give you a huge surprise. After tonight, we won’t have to hide anymore.” The surprise I’d imagined was that he would finally make our marriage public. After all these three years, to avoid impacting Knight Enterprises’ stock price and to not upset his grandfather, Arthur, who highly valued social standing and family reputation, I’d been hidden away like a mistress in this suburban villa. He spoiled me, utterly. I’d casually mention craving macarons from that trendy bakery across town. He’d personally drive halfway across the city to buy them during a break from an international conference. My hands and feet would get cold in winter, and he’d hold my feet in his arms all night to warm them. Everyone said Ethan Knight was a cold-blooded corporate titan, but only I knew how much he loved me, how gentle he was in private. But now, that tenderness had become the sharpest knife plunging into my heart. The lock clicked softly. Ethan walked in, carrying a faint scent of cologne. Seeing me on the sofa, he paused, then quickly came over, habitually reaching to pull me into his embrace. “Why aren’t you in bed yet? Didn’t I tell you not to wait up for me?” His tone was still gentle, laced with a touch of fatigue. I subtly shifted, dodging his touch. Ethan’s hand froze in mid-air. He followed my gaze to the television. The screen was replaying the scene of him putting the diamond ring on Lana. The air instantly went silent. “Sera, let me explain.” Ethan sighed, crouching down, forcibly gripping my cold hand. “I was just putting on a show. Lana just woke up. The doctor said she has severe depression and PTSD and can’t handle any shock. She had that car accident trying to save me back then. I owe her my life.” “So, you’re paying off your debt by proposing to her?” My voice was very soft, so light it seemed a breeze could scatter it. “It’s just an act!” Ethan’s brows furrowed, his tone tinged with irritation and a sense of entitlement. “My relationship with her is fake. You’re the one I love. You’re the one who sleeps next to me every night. Once her condition stabilizes, I’ll find a way to break off the engagement with her. Sera, you’re always so understanding, so accommodating. Just this once, for my sake, can you bear with it, please?” Understanding. Accommodating. I forced a bitter smile, finding those words utterly ironic. Because I was understanding, I was meant to be hidden in the shadows for three years. Because I was accommodating, I was meant to watch my husband propose to another woman on our wedding anniversary. “Ethan, did it ever occur to you that I might be sad?” I looked up, meeting his eyes directly. Ethan gazed at me. Then, he abruptly pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. “I know you’re upset, but I promise, this is the last time. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to pick out your favorite island. We’ll go on vacation, okay?” He was always like this, hurting me first, then trying to make amends. The old me would always soften, because I loved him, loved him until I lost myself. But now, I suddenly felt it was pointless. “Okay,” I said, without struggling, letting him hold me, my voice flat, without a ripple of emotion. Ethan sighed in relief and kissed the top of my head. “I knew it, my Sera is the best. Get some rest early, I’ll be with you tomorrow.” Watching Ethan walk into the bathroom, listening to the sound of water, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Caleb.” My voice was exceptionally clear in the silent night. “That Doctors Without Borders aid project you mentioned, to the impoverished region in Africa. Are there still spots available?” Caleb paused, his tone turning serious. “Sera, are you sure? The conditions there are extremely harsh. It could be deadly at any moment. And once you sign, you can’t return home for at least three years.” “I’ve thought it through.” I looked at the cold steak on the table, feeling no emotion. “I’m signing up.” “Alright, I’ll handle the paperwork. The medical team departs from the airport in half a month.” “Thank you.” I hung up and deleted the call record. Half a month. Ethan, fifteen more days, and I’ll cut you out of my life forever.

Sera Hayes’ POV The next morning, Ethan, as expected, didn’t go to the office. He personally cooked my favorite sandwiches and made a hot cocoa. As if nothing had happened, he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my neck, nuzzling me. “Sweetheart, after breakfast, let’s look at island brochures. Do you want to go to the Maldives or Tahiti?” His voice, soft and languid with morning sleepiness, was incredibly gentle. If I hadn’t seen that live broadcast last night, I would have thought I was the happiest woman in the world right now. I lowered my gaze and slowly pulled his hands away. “Let’s eat first, the milk will get cold.” Ethan didn’t notice my change. He smiled and kissed my cheek. Just as he was about to sit down at the dining table, his phone in the living room rang urgently. A distinctive ringtone. It was Lana. Ethan’s movements paused. He instinctively glanced at me. I quietly drank my milk, not even lifting an eyelid. He answered the call, not avoiding me, even putting it on speaker, as if to prove his transparency. “Ethan…” Lana’s delicate voice came through, tinged with a hint of expectation. “Are you free today? I want to look at wedding dresses. The doctor said getting out and about would be good for my recovery, but I’m scared to go alone…” Ethan’s brows furrowed. He instinctively refused. “Lana, I have something on today. How about I ask my assistant to go with you?” “Oh…” Lana’s voice immediately dropped, subtly tinged with a sob. “It’s okay, I know you’re busy. I just… I just haven’t been out in the world for so long, I’m a little scared. You go ahead with your work, I can go by myself, even if I have an episode…” “Lana!” Ethan’s tone instantly tensed. “Don’t overthink it, I’ll go with you.” After hanging up, Ethan looked at me, his eyes filled with apology and helplessness. “Sera, Lana’s emotional state is unstable, I have to go see her. Can we look at the island tomorrow instead?” I put down my milk glass, pulled out a tissue, and dabbed my mouth, my voice calm. “Okay.” My quick agreement made Ethan slightly suspicious. He walked over, cupped my face. “Sera, are you mad? I promise, I’m just accompanying her to pick out a wedding dress. I won’t do anything more.” “I’m not mad.” My gaze was clear. “Go ahead.” Ethan relaxed. Just as he was about to turn, his phone rang again. Still Lana. “Ethan, I heard you have a Ms. Hayes by your side, a very famous jewelry designer. I hear she has excellent taste. Could you ask her to come along and help me pick? I’m afraid you won’t like the style I choose.” The air froze again. Ethan’s face darkened. “Lana, don’t be ridiculous.” “What? I’m not being ridiculous.” Lana’s voice was innocent. “I just want to pick a wedding dress you’re most satisfied with. Surely… Ms. Hayes wouldn’t mind helping me?” Ethan covered the phone’s microphone and looked at me, his eyes pleading. “Sera, she doesn’t know about our relationship. She just thinks you have good taste. Could you please just do this for me? If you go, she won’t overthink things.” Asking his wife of three years to help his publicly proposed fiancée pick out a wedding dress. Ethan, how could you be so brutally direct? My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a fist, the pain making it hard to breathe. But I managed a faint smile. “Sure, I’ll go with you.” Anyway, I had fourteen more days. Might as well treat it as watching a play unfold. The most exclusive bridal salon downtown. Lana emerged from the fitting room in a pristine white wedding dress, like an angel fallen to earth. She lifted her skirt, walked up to Ethan, and shyly twirled. “Ethan, do I look pretty?” Ethan, sitting on the sofa, had a fleeting moment of distraction in his gaze. But he quickly recovered, instinctively looking at me, standing in the corner. I was wearing a simple trench coat, quietly standing there like an outsider. “Ms. Hayes, what do you think?” Lana suddenly turned to me, smiling. “The design concept of this dress is ‘One True Love.’ I think it’s perfect for Ethan and me. Don’t you?” I looked at the dress, my eyes flashing. The style of that wedding dress was almost identical to the one I had sketched in my design book a year ago, planning to wear it myself once Ethan made our marriage public. Ethan clearly recognized it too. His face instantly changed, and he abruptly stood up. “This one isn’t suitable, try another.” “Why?” Lana bit her lower lip, looking wronged. “I really love this one. Ms. Hayes, you’re a designer too, don’t you think it’s beautiful?” I met Lana’s seemingly innocent but actually provocative gaze, a sarcastic curve forming on my lips. “It’s very beautiful,” my voice was cool, devoid of any emotion. “Ms. Bellweather, it suits you perfectly.” Ethan snapped his head to look at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. He had expected me to get angry, to be jealous, to throw a tantrum. But I hadn’t. I was as calm as if I were evaluating a commodity completely unrelated to myself. This calmness inexplicably stirred a wave of panic in Ethan. He strode over to me, and using the blind spot created by Lana turning to look in the mirror, he grabbed my hand, lowering his voice and gritting out, “Sera, do you have to ruin the mood?” I forcefully pulled my hand away, looking at him coldly. “Mr. Knight, didn’t you ask me to come help? I offered my opinion, and you’re still not satisfied. What exactly do you want from me?” Ethan looked stung by the coldness in my eyes. He took a deep breath. “You clearly know that dress…” “I know,” I cut him off. “It’s just a dress. If Ms. Bellweather likes it, let her have it. Anyway, I won’t be wearing it.” With that, I turned to walk out of the store. “I have other commitments, I’ll be leaving now. Enjoy yourselves.” Ethan suddenly grabbed my hand from behind, trying to stop me. Suddenly, I heard Lana’s soft cry from nearby. “Ethan, my chest feels so tight, I can’t breathe…” Ethan’s grip on my wrist loosened. He glanced at me, but ultimately chose to scoop Lana into his arms. “Sera, I’m taking Lana to the hospital first. We’ll talk about us later.” I watched him disappear from my sight.

Sera Hayes’ POV Twelve days left until I leave. Since the argument at the bridal salon, Ethan hadn’t returned to the villa for three days straight. Each day, he’d send messages explaining that Lana’s condition was very bad, and he was at the hospital nursing her. I didn’t reply to any of them. I spent every day packing, little by little, the things that belonged to me. There wasn’t much, really. The villa was filled with luxury items, jewelry, and designer gowns Ethan had bought for me, but I didn’t plan to take any of them. I only took a few old clothes and my design sketches. On the fourth afternoon, Ethan finally returned. His eyes were bloodshot, stubble dotted his chin, and he looked utterly exhausted. The moment he stepped inside, he hugged me tightly, with such force it felt like he wanted to knead me into his body. “Sera, I’m sorry for neglecting you these past few days.” His voice was hoarse, filled with deep apology. “Lana’s condition has finally stabilized, and I’ve come straight back to be with you.” I let him hold me, my hands hanging naturally at my sides, not embracing him as I used to. “It’s okay,” I said faintly. Ethan sensed my coldness. He released me, pulling a delicate velvet box from his pocket. He opened it, revealing a dazzling sapphire necklace. “This is ‘Tears of the Deep Sea,’ I bought it at auction. Didn’t you say you liked it before? It’s for you. Please don’t be mad at me, okay?” He looked at me pleadingly. I gazed at the expensive necklace, my heart unmoved. Before, if I casually mentioned liking something, he would remember it. But now, that thoughtfulness was just a tool to alleviate his guilt. “Thank you, it’s beautiful.” I didn’t take it. I just turned and walked into the kitchen. “You haven’t eaten, have you? I’ll make you some pasta.” Ethan watched my calm back, his uneasiness growing. He would have preferred me to yell at him than to see me so indifferent. Just then, the doorbell rang. Ethan frowned and walked to open the door. Standing outside was Lana. She wore a white dress with a loose knit cardigan over it, looking quite pitiful. Seeing Ethan, her eyes lit up, then she shyly lowered her head. “Ethan, I… am I interrupting you?” “Why are you here?” Ethan’s face darkened. He instinctively blocked the doorway, not wanting her to see me inside. “I heard your mother say you have a villa in the suburbs with a large glass conservatory built behind it, filled with blue roses.” Lana looked up, her eyes full of anticipation. “The doctor said I need a quiet, beautiful place to recuperate. Ethan, can I stay here for a while?” Ethan’s body stiffened abruptly. That glass conservatory, he built it for me with his own hands. I loved blue roses, so he had the most expensive varieties flown in from abroad and planted them himself. His hands had been pricked and bleeding because of those flowers. It was our most secret, most precious sanctuary. “No,” Ethan refused without hesitation. “This place isn’t suitable for you. I’ll arrange the best sanatorium for you in the city center.” “But I only like it here…” Lana’s eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up. “Ethan, are you tired of me? I know I was in a coma for five years, I’m useless, but I only have you…” As she spoke, she clutched her chest, gasping for air, her face rapidly turning pale. “Lana!” Ethan was startled and quickly supported her. I quietly watched the two entangled figures outside the door. Lana leaned into Ethan’s embrace, and over his shoulder, she shot me a provocative glance, then weakly said, “Ethan, I really love that conservatory… just let me stay for a few days, okay?” Ethan looked at the barely conscious Lana in his arms, then at me. I imagined he was in agonizing struggle. “Sera…” he began with difficulty, his voice pleading. “Lana’s illness can’t handle any shock. That conservatory… could you lend it to her for a few days? I promise, once she’s better, I’ll have her move out immediately.” I looked at Ethan and suddenly found it somewhat amusing. Lend? It was a gift he gave me, a testament to our love. Now, for another woman, he was willing to destroy that testament with his own hands. “Whatever you want,” I said, placing the pasta on the dining table, then turning and walking upstairs. “Anyway, those flowers are almost withered.” The next day, Ethan called in workers. Because Lana claimed she was allergic to pollen but liked the sunlight in the glass conservatory, Ethan ordered all the blue roses in the conservatory to be pulled out. I stood on the second-floor balcony, watching the workers roughly uproot those delicate blue roses and toss them into the trash. The ground was covered in fallen petals, much like my utterly ruined marriage of three years. Ethan came up behind me and hugged me, burying his head in the crook of my neck, his voice heavy. “Sera, don’t watch. Once Lana leaves, I’ll build you an even bigger and better conservatory, filled with all the flowers you love, okay?” I didn’t struggle. I just looked downstairs and said softly, “Ethan, flowers that have been pulled out cannot be replanted.” Ethan’s heart sank abruptly, an inexplicable panic seizing him. He tightened his arms, trying to draw some sense of security from me. “Yes, they can. As long as we’re together, anything can start anew.” I closed my eyes and said nothing more. Start anew? No, Ethan. Ten more days, and we’ll be completely over.

Sera Hayes’ POV Eight days left until I leave. To appease Lana, Ethan hosted a small banquet at the city’s most luxurious club, inviting only his closest friends. Before we left, Ethan handed me a designer gown. “Sera, you’ll accompany me tonight.” My hand, which was organizing design sketches, paused. I looked up at him. “In what capacity? Your secret wife, or Ms. Bellweather’s accessory?” Ethan’s face stiffened, then softened. “Sera, don’t make a scene. Tonight, only my friends are coming, and they all know about Lana’s condition. You’ll attend as my executive assistant, to help me look after Lana, just in case anything happens to her. I feel more at ease with you by my side.” Disguising his wife as an assistant to cater to his publicly engaged fiancée. Ethan’s shamelessness continued to push the boundaries of my understanding. “Fine,” I said. I didn’t refuse. I took the dress and walked into the dressing room. The banquet hall was dimly lit and luxuriously decorated. Lana, in a red gown, leaned against Ethan, like a princess. People around raised their glasses, offering her congratulations. “Mr. Knight, your patience has finally paid off! Ms. Bellweather is awake, and you two can finally walk down the aisle!” “Exactly, Mr. Knight has been so faithful these past five years, never a single other woman by his side. Ms. Bellweather, you really need to make it up to him!” Everyone burst into laughter. I stood quietly in the corner, wearing a modest black business suit, like a ghost. I listened to those ridiculous blessings, watching Ethan with a faint smile on his lips, not refuting a single word. Faithful? Then what was I, who slept in the same bed with him every night for three years? “Hey, who’s this?” A slightly tipsy guest suddenly noticed me in the corner, his gaze dismissive. “Mr. Knight, your new assistant? Quite pretty, but she doesn’t seem to know any manners. Shouldn’t she be pouring wine?” The private room instantly fell silent. A few people here knew about my existence; they knew Ethan kept a mistress, but not a single one of them thought I was important. In their eyes, I was just a gold-digger, and now that Lana was back, I naturally had to leave. Ethan’s brows furrowed. He was about to speak, but Lana quickly grabbed his hand. “Ms. Hayes isn’t just any assistant, she’s Ethan’s wonderful helper,” Lana said, smiling sweetly at me. “Ms. Hayes, Ethan’s glass is empty. Would you mind pouring him some wine?” This was blatant humiliation. Ethan looked at me. He seemed a little hesitant, but he didn’t stop her. He probably thought that if I could endure it, once Lana was well, he would compensate me doubly. “Sera, pour the wine,” Ethan said blandly. I lowered my gaze, concealing the mockery in my eyes. I walked over, picked up the decanter from the table, went to Ethan’s side, and slightly bent to pour the wine. Just then, the guest beside me suddenly extended his foot and tripped me. Caught off guard, my body lurched forward. With a crash, the decanter smashed onto the table, sending broken glass scattering everywhere. Red wine splashed all over me, and a few drops splattered onto Lana’s gown. “Ah!” Lana shrieked, clutching her chest, her face instantly turning pale. She gasped for breath. Ethan shot up, not even glancing at me, who had fallen onto the broken glass. He immediately pulled Lana into his arms, anxiously patting her back. “Lana! Lana, are you okay? Where’s your medicine? Quick, get her medicine!” The scene became chaotic. I sat on the floor, my palm pressed onto the broken glass. Blood instantly gushed out, staining the carpet. A searing pain shot through me, but I felt nothing, just quietly watched Ethan frantically embracing another woman. This was the man I had loved for three years. “Are you alright?” A gentle voice suddenly spoke above me. I looked up and saw Caleb Reid, who had entered the room at some point. He wore a well-tailored gray suit, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with concern. Caleb crouched down, carefully avoiding the broken glass on the floor, and gently took my bleeding hand, quickly pressing a clean handkerchief onto the wound. “Caleb…” I was stunned. “I’m here to pick you up,” Caleb’s voice was not loud, but clear enough for everyone in the room to hear. He scooped me up from the floor, then coldly swept his gaze over the chaotic crowd, finally landing on Ethan. Ethan, who was feeding Lana her medicine, turned his head at the sound and was visibly shocked to see Caleb holding me. “Caleb, what are you doing? Put her down!” Ethan’s voice was laced with suppressed fury. Caleb scoffed. “Mr. Knight is so busy taking care of his fiancée, he can’t even see his assistant is injured. Since you can’t take care of her, I’ll take her away.” With that, Caleb held me and started to walk out of the room. Seeing this, Ethan quickly rose and grabbed my wrist. “What right do you have to take her?!” Ethan’s voice was full of anger. Before I could speak, I heard Lana behind Ethan begin to cry. “Ethan, my heart hurts so much… what should I do… am I going to die…” Ethan’s grip on my wrist loosened. He quickly turned back to the frail Lana. Watching this scene, I finally let out a low laugh. “Let’s go, Dr. Reid.” He chose someone else over me, again. I should be used to it by now, shouldn’t I?

Sera Hayes’ POV Five days left until I leave. Caleb took me to the hospital to get my wound bandaged. My palm had a deep cut from the glass, requiring three stitches. Throughout the entire process, I didn’t make a sound, as calm as a puppet without sensation. “The overseas paperwork is all settled,” Caleb looked at my face and sighed. “Sera, if you can’t bear it, you can always come to me. You don’t have to carry it all alone.” “Thank you, I’m fine.” I looked at my bandaged hand, a faint smile playing on my lips. “I just feel like these three years were a bizarre dream, and now that I’ve woken up, it’s time to go.” Leaving the hospital, it was pouring rain. Caleb drove me back to the villa. As the car pulled up to the gate, we saw Ethan’s black Maybach parked in the rain. Ethan stood under a black umbrella, his face terribly grim. Seeing me get out of Caleb’s car, he strode over, roughly pulling me under his umbrella, with a force that tugged at my fresh wound. I winced. “Ethan, you’re hurting her!” Caleb pushed open his car door, angrily moving to intervene. “Get lost!” Ethan glared coldly at Caleb, his eyes like poisoned daggers. “She’s my wife, it’s none of your business! Caleb, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Stay away from her!” With that, he forcibly embraced me and strode into the villa, slamming the door shut. The villa was dark, no lights on. Ethan pushed me against the door, his chest heaving violently. He had clearly smelled the unfamiliar cologne on me. “Sera, what is the meaning of this?” he demanded in the darkness. “I just wasn’t there to take care of you, and you’re already rushing to find a lover? Do you have any idea what people in that room will say about you tonight?!” Leaning against the cold door, I suddenly felt very tired. “Do you care what they say about me?” My voice was especially hollow in the dark. “In their eyes, I was already a mercenary woman. Ethan, you’re the one who pushed me into that position.” Ethan was stunned. “Sera, I didn’t mean it like that…” He softened his voice, trying to take my hand. “Tonight was an accident. Lana suddenly had an episode, I was too anxious and didn’t think about you. How’s your hand? Let me see.” I avoided his touch. “Ethan, you’re always like this,” I stated calmly. “You think that as long as you apologize, as long as you explain ‘it was for Lana,’ I have to unconditionally forgive you, understand you. But why should I?” “Because you’re my wife!” Ethan blurted out. “We’re married! We’re family. Lana isn’t my family, I’m just repaying a debt! Why can’t you be a little more understanding and not make a fuss right now?” Family. I laughed, tears almost welling up. “Yes, I’m your wife,” I said softly. “So you can propose to someone else on a national live broadcast, you can make me pour wine like a servant in front of others, and you can walk away without a backward glance while I’m injured and bleeding.” “Ethan, you actually dare to call me your family. It’s truly disgusting.” “Sera!” Ethan was stung. He suddenly raised his voice. “Do you have to be so mean? I told you this is only temporary! Everything will go back to normal once she has her surgery!” Just then, Ethan’s phone vibrated wildly. He answered with annoyance. The urgent voice of a hospital nurse came through. “Mr. Knight, Ms. Bellweather suddenly became emotionally unstable and ran to the hospital rooftop, threatening to jump! Please come quickly!” Ethan’s face instantly changed. He hung up, gave me a deep look. “Sera, Lana is threatening to jump, I have to go. We’ll talk about us when I get back.” With that, he turned and without hesitation, pulled open the door and rushed out into the rainy night. I stood there, listening to the car engine start, watching the Maybach disappear into the rain. I slowly walked to the sofa, pulled out a pre-prepared divorce agreement from my bag, and placed it prominently on the table.

Sera Hayes’ POV Three days left until I leave. Ethan hadn’t returned for two days. I learned from the news that Lana had cried and thrown a fit on the hospital rooftop, insisting she was useless and unworthy of the excellent Ethan Knight, and she wanted to jump. Ethan had stayed on the rooftop, trying to persuade her, eventually rushing into the rain to rescue the distraught Lana, then taking her for psychological counseling. Netizens were moved by their “great love story.” I gave a self-mocking laugh. Suddenly, I heard the sound of the door opening. Ethan was back. He must have immediately seen the divorce agreement I’d placed on the table. “Sera!” I heard Ethan roar, followed by a rush of footsteps. He stormed up to the second-floor bedroom. In the bedroom, I was sitting at my dressing table, calmly tidying the last few pieces of jewelry. Hearing the commotion, I turned, my expression composed as I looked at the furious Ethan. “What is the meaning of this?” Ethan slammed the divorce agreement onto the dressing table, his eyes bloodshot, like an enraged beast. “Divorce? Who gave you permission to suggest divorce?!” I glanced at the crumpled paper, my voice calm, without a ripple. “I’ve already signed it. I’m leaving with nothing, you don’t need to give me any assets. Let’s make time tomorrow to finalize the divorce.” “I don’t agree!” Ethan grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like my bones would shatter. “Sera, what exactly are you trying to do? I told you Lana is just a patient, I’m just doing my duty! Do you have to push me at a time like this?” “I’m not pushing you.” I met his eyes directly, no longer seeing the love I once held, only a dead calm. “I’m helping you. Ethan, I’m tired. I don’t want to play this three-way game anymore.” “You’re the only one I love!” Ethan panicked. He abruptly pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly, his voice trembling slightly. “Sera, don’t be like this. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have left you alone in the room, shouldn’t have ignored your injury. You can hit me, scold me, just don’t mention divorce, okay?” He thought I was just angry, that if he just sweet-talked me, I would forgive him as before. “Ethan…” A weak voice suddenly spoke from the bedroom doorway. Ethan stiffened, abruptly turning his head. Lana, wearing a hospital gown, stood weakly at the door, holding a piece of paper. Seeing us embracing, tears instantly welled up in her eyes. “Lana? How did you get out of the hospital?” Ethan instinctively let go of me and walked towards Lana. Lana held up the paper in her hand, her voice trembling. “I came back to the villa to get something, and I saw this in the study drawer… Ethan, you and Ms. Hayes… you’re married?” It was a copy of our marriage certificate. Ethan’s face instantly changed. He had kept the marriage certificate well hidden, never expecting Lana to find it. “Lana, let me explain…” “You lied to me!” Lana burst into heartbroken sobs, pointing at me. “You’re clearly married, so why did you propose to me? Why did you give me hope? What am I? A mistress breaking up someone else’s family?!” “No, Lana, don’t get agitated!” Ethan frantically tried to soothe her. But Lana abruptly pushed him away, rushed to me, grabbed my collar, and screamed hysterically. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re clinging to Ethan! You know he loves me, why are you monopolizing the position of his wife? You hussy!” I coldly watched her performance, then shoved her hand away. “Ms. Bellweather, getting too deep into character isn’t fun. Didn’t you already know?” Lana froze, then suddenly slapped herself across the face, and then fell backward, landing heavily on the floor. “My heart…” Lana clutched her chest, painfully curling up on the ground, gasping for air, her face instantly turning bluish-purple. “Lana!” Ethan roared in anger, rushing over to scoop Lana into his arms. He turned, glaring fiercely at me, his eyes filled with rage and disappointment. “Sera! Why did you push her?! You know her heart is weak and she can’t handle shock! If anything happens to Lana, I will never forgive you!” I stood there, watching Ethan protect Lana as if she were a precious treasure, watching him unhesitatingly pin a fabricated crime on me. I suddenly felt incredibly light. “She won’t die,” I said, looking down at them. “But Ethan, we’re over.” Ethan had no time to ponder my words. He picked up Lana and rushed downstairs like a madman, driving straight to the hospital. The villa fell silent once more. I walked to the dressing table, smoothed out the crumpled divorce agreement, and picked up my suitcase.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “384844”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

The night before my engagement, I was gagged and dragged into an alley by several men. Just as I was stripped naked and about to be violated, my fiancé, Ethan, suddenly appeared: “Enough, stop it! Don’t hurt her!” I stumbled into Ethan’s arms in a panic, but he chuckled and patted me: “Don’t be scared, it’s all fake. I hired actors.” I froze, tears still on my face: “What did you say?” He casually pulled out a ring and slipped it onto my middle finger: “Sophia, you passed my test. You were willing to die rather than comply. Indeed, I wasn’t wrong about you.” His assistant, Chloe, emerged from the shadows with a camera: “Sophia, don’t blame Ethan. It was my idea.” “After all, you reported your professor for sexual assault back then, causing a massive scandal, and who knows if you’d just turn against us later.” “I recorded the whole thing today, and I believe you now!” I gave a bitter smile and took off the ring: “Ethan, the engagement is off.” “Sophia, what are you talking about?” Ethan’s face darkened: “I already told you, you passed my test.” Seeing that I didn’t speak, his tone softened a bit. He took off his jacket and covered my naked body: “Don’t be silly. Besides, you were sexually assaulted… who else would want you besides me?” My fingernails dug deeply into my palms. I looked up, my face covered in tears: “Ethan, you clearly know this is the deepest scar in my heart, why do you still rip it open like this?” Chloe, standing nearby, pouted: “Sophia, don’t be so dramatic. What man wouldn’t mind? He just wanted to confirm.” I yelled back: “What does it have to do with you? Did I ask you to speak?” Ethan stood still, the tenderness on his face slowly fading. “Sophia, since you’re being so difficult…” He bent down and snatched the ring from my hand: “Then please return everything I gave you.” He ruthlessly yanked off the jacket covering me. Then he looked me up and down: “Take off your shoes too.” I stood there stunned, tears silently streaming down my face. Ethan raised an eyebrow: “What? You can’t bear to?” “If we’re going to draw a clear line, don’t keep anything of mine.” I bit my lip, squatted down, and took off my shoes, placing them in front of him. Ethan didn’t even glance at them, kicking them into the nearby trash can. He held out his hand: “Give me your phone.” I instinctively clutched my phone. It was a birthday gift from Ethan. Back then, he had looked at me gently: “Sophia, I saved my number. If anything happens, you must call me first.” I placed the phone in his palm. Ethan turned and walked away without hesitation: “No one is allowed to talk to her.” Chloe gave me a smug smile and jogged after him. I was left alone in the alley. I stood barefoot, completely naked, with only a torn pair of underwear barely covering me. I squatted down and hugged myself, sobbing uncontrollably. It turned out Ethan had never trusted me from start to finish. After Dad passed away, Mom saved every penny to put me through college. That year, I reported my professor for forcing me, causing a massive scandal. While Mom was seeking justice for me, she was obstructed by those people under various pretexts. They even twisted the narrative, maliciously editing footage to turn public opinion against her. Finally, Mom got so furious she had a stroke and was immediately admitted to the ICU. I used up all my savings to save Mom, but she was still partly paralyzed. It was Ethan who firmly stood by my side, helping me pay off the medical bills I’d incurred. He was gentle, considerate, and didn’t care about my past. Mom cried tears of joy when she found out we were getting engaged. She held my hand and said over and over: “Good, my daughter finally has someone to care for her.” Tomorrow was the engagement ceremony. Mom must be tossing and turning in her hometown, unable to sleep, waiting to see me happy. I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, and stood up. I decided to go back and pack my bags. Since Ethan never trusted me, I didn’t want him either. I walked home barefoot, step by step. I took a deep breath and pushed open the front door. The living room light was on. Chloe was draped over Ethan, their clothes disheveled. Her skirt was bunched at her waist, revealing a large expanse of pale skin. Ethan leaned back on the sofa, clutching her waist, his expression sated and languid. The next second, Ethan looked up and saw me.

My hands and feet turned cold, like someone had poured a bucket of ice water over my head. “What are you doing!” My body moved faster than my mind. I lunged towards the sofa, reaching out to pull them apart: “Have you no shame!” My fingertips had just touched Chloe’s hair when a powerful force suddenly pushed me away. Ethan protected Chloe with one arm and shoved my shoulder with the other. I stumbled backward, slipped, and fell hard to the floor. Ethan looked at me with a cold expression: “Enough! Sophia, don’t act like a shrew!” Through my tear-filled eyes, I watched Ethan calmly put on his clothes. Chloe nestled in his arms, giving me a triumphant smile. I struggled to sit up: “Why? Ethan, why are you doing this to me?” Ethan fastened his last button and looked down at me. “Because it’s fair.” I froze. “Every time I sleep with you, I always remember you being pinned down by that fifty-something professor. Sophia, I’m disgusted!” My mind went blank. But he was the one who approached me first. After I was forced by my professor, Ethan was the first to stand up and help me gather evidence. He accompanied me to the hospital for examinations, accompanied me to the police station to give a statement. When I was being pointed at and talked about by the whole school, he held my hand and walked through the crowd. The day I had a mental breakdown and slit my wrists. He broke down the door, rushing me, covered in blood, to the hospital. He guarded outside the operating room all night, and the first thing he said when I woke up was: “Sophia, no matter what happens, I’m here for you.” Chloe stood up from the sofa, the hickeys on her collarbone so glaring they made me want to vomit. She leaned languidly on Ethan’s shoulder, saying sweetly: “Ethan, you’ve torn my underwear, what should I do?” Ethan chuckled, pulling a damp lace thong from his pocket: “What to do? Then don’t wear them.” Chloe playfully hit him. I couldn’t stop trembling: “Chloe, I paid for your college tuition, I gave you living expenses, I sponsored you!” “When you couldn’t find a job after graduation, I told Ethan to make you his assistant.” “Was I not good to you?” Chloe tilted her head, smiling innocently: “Oh yes, Sophia was very good to me.” “But just because you were good to me, does that mean I have to be eternally grateful?” “You yourself slept with an old man, you’re dirty, and you still demand loyalty from Ethan?” My ears were buzzing. I squatted down, clutching my head tightly. That feeling was back. Five years ago, they said I voluntarily climbed into the professor’s bed for a master’s degree spot. They said I turned on him afterward to blackmail him, that I was unclean, shameless, and deserved it. Back then, I had the same nightmare every day. The professor’s obese body was pressing down on me, and I struggled desperately but couldn’t move. After waking up, I started self-harming, as if only pain could prove I was still alive. It was Ethan who pulled me out of that abyss. He accompanied me to see a psychologist every day, hugged me when I broke down: “Sophia, don’t be afraid, I’m here.” I thought he was my salvation. But he personally pushed me back into hell. I curled up on the floor, twitching uncontrollably. Ethan approached me, looking flustered: “Sophia? What’s wrong?” Chloe, standing nearby, rolled her eyes: “Don’t use your depression to threaten Ethan again; the story of the boy who cried wolf loses its meaning if told too many times.” Ethan paused, then stood up and looked down at me condescendingly: “Alright, stop acting! As you wish, the engagement is off.” He turned and walked out, pulling Chloe with him. Chloe looked back, giving me a mocking smile. I was left alone in the living room. My vision blurred, and my ears filled with sharp ringing. In the last second before losing consciousness, I thought: “Mom, I’m sorry. Your daughter really doesn’t seem to deserve love.”

The next day, I was woken by the doorbell. I struggled to get up, stumbling to open the door. “Sophia!” Mom leaned on a cane, one side of her body partly paralyzed, her forehead covered in sweat. It takes an hour to drive from her hometown to here; how did she, a half-paralyzed person, even get here? I quickly helped her inside: “Mom, why are you here?” Mom, leaning on me, walked into the house, her expression worried: “I’m just glad you’re okay…” She saw the cuts all over my feet, and her eyes immediately welled up: “Sophia, why are you like this? What happened?” I shook my head and helped her sit on the sofa. Mom took a breath, her voice hesitant: “Isn’t today the engagement? I waited all morning, but I didn’t get your call…” I lowered my head, not daring to look into Mom’s eyes: “Ethan’s company had an emergency, so the engagement is postponed.” “He asked me to tell you, but I forgot.” Mom froze for a moment, then let out a long sigh of relief: “That’s good, I thought something had gone wrong.” She reached out and stroked my head: “Sophia, my biggest wish in this life is to see you happy.” I endured the tearing pain in my heart, nodding hard and forcing a smile: Mom kept chattering. “All the way here, I was thinking, my daughter finally found a good partner, I hoped nothing would go wrong.” Listening to her, my eyes stung, but I dared not let the tears fall. Just then, the living room TV suddenly turned on. A scene popped up: it was me, naked, being held down by several men. In an instant, my hands and feet turned cold, and my blood ran cold. Mom’s voice trembled, disbelieving: “Sophia, what is this? Is that you?” I frantically rushed towards the TV, wanting to block the screen. But my legs gave out, and I fell to the floor. I turned around, desperately shielding the TV, and my tears finally burst forth: “Mom, don’t look!” Mom stood up, leaning on her cane, tears streaming down her face: “Who did this? Who did this to you?” Just then, the door was pushed open. Chloe walked in, looking around: “This video? Mr. Ethan asked me to play it. He said it’s better for Sophia to face reality.” Mom’s eyes widened, her lips trembling: “Impossible! Ethan wouldn’t do this to Sophia! He’s a good kid!” Chloe glanced at me, her expression knowing: “Looks like Sophia didn’t tell you? Ethan already said last night, the engagement is off.” Mom’s body swayed violently, and her cane slipped from her hand. “Mom!” I rushed to help her, but she pushed me away. Mom stared fiercely at Chloe, her eyes red: “Who are you? What right do you have to say these things here?” Chloe’s smile grew sweeter: “Me? I’m Ethan’s person.” I trembled all over, yelling at her: “Chloe, get out!” Chloe sneered: “What right do you have to tell me to get out? Mr. Ethan sent me!” She tilted her head, her tone contemptuous: “If you kneel down and apologize now, maybe Mr. Ethan will be in a better mood, and he might even…” “Enough! How dare you talk about my child like that?” Mom, her face flushed, reprimanded Chloe. But the next second, she collapsed to the ground.

Blood kept overflowing from Mom’s mouth. I held Mom’s head, screaming at Chloe. “Call 911!” Chloe tilted her head: “Ethan sent me to see if you’ve realized your mistake, not to be your nanny.” My voice was hoarse, unlike my own: “Can’t you see my mom is hurt?” Chloe smiled, then turned and walked towards the door. “What are you doing!” The next second, the door was locked from the outside. Then, the TV screen also went dark, and the whole house plunged into darkness. I rushed to the door, frantically pounding on it: “Chloe, what are you doing? Open the door!” My palms stung from hitting, but there was no response from outside. In the darkness, Mom’s breathing was so faint I could barely hear it. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. My phone was taken by Ethan, where was Mom’s phone? I trembled as I searched Mom’s pockets. But she left in such a hurry, she didn’t bring anything. Clutching a last sliver of hope, I staggered to the window, wanting to open it. But there wasn’t even a handle on the window frame. Because I had depression, Ethan was afraid I’d do something foolish. He had all the windows replaced with tempered glass and welded shut. I turned and ran back to the door, screaming desperately: “Help! Is anyone out there! Help!” My throat was raw from yelling, but there was no response. Ethan had specifically bought this villa for me. He said the air in the suburbs was good for recovery. The nearest neighbor was a mile away, and there wasn’t even a pedestrian on the road. I collapsed to the floor, all my strength drained. Mom in my arms, her breathing growing weaker and weaker. I held her, tears falling onto her face: “Mom, don’t sleep, please talk to me? Mom, hang in there, I’ll save you!” I gently placed Mom on the floor, then rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife. Aiming at the door lock, I hacked down hard. But the door only got a shallow white mark. I hacked again and again. The web of my thumb split open, blood flowed down the handle. I hacked countless times, my arm so sore I couldn’t lift it. The blade was bent, but the door was still intact. I knelt beside Mom, pulling her back into my arms. Her eyes were half-open, her pupils were already starting to dilate. “Mom! Mom, look at me! It’s Sophia!” I gripped her hand, pressing it against my face: “Mom, don’t leave me alone! Dad’s gone, you can’t go too…” Mom’s lips moved. I leaned closer and heard her weak voice: “Live well…” Then her hand slipped from my face. “Mom!” I screamed heartbroken, holding her and crying uncontrollably. I don’t know how long I cried, until I felt like an empty shell. I carried Mom to the bed in the bedroom, covering her with a blanket. Time passed, minute by minute, until finally there was a sound. I walked into the living room. Ethan stood at the door, with Chloe behind him. He looked at me, his voice gentle as if nothing had happened: “Sophia, Chloe said you’ve realized your mistake.” Ethan walked up to me, reaching out to touch my face: “Alright, stop this. I won’t bring up that professor thing again. Chloe and I, it was just this once, we’ll live well together from now on.” He said casually: “I’ll inform everyone, the engagement will proceed as planned. You can be Mrs. Evans in peace.” Chloe stood behind him, smiling sweetly: “Yes, Sophia, a man as good as Ethan, you won’t find another if you miss him. What else are you unhappy about?” She licked her lips, her tone suggestive: “And Mr. Ethan is really good in bed…” Ethan chuckled, not denying it: “Sophia, why aren’t you speaking? Still angry?” I finally looked up, meeting his eyes. “Before that, I have a big gift for you both.” Ethan paused, then smiled: “What gift? An engagement gift?” I walked into the kitchen, picked up a knife, and hid it behind me. Ethan and Chloe exchanged glances, waiting where they stood. I walked up to Ethan, and with all my strength, plunged the knife into his abdomen. The blade pierced his shirt, sinking into his flesh. Ethan looked down at the knife in his stomach, his face filled with disbelief. The next second, I pulled out the knife and plunged it fiercely into my own heart. Blood gushed from my chest, splattering Ethan’s face.

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Austin brought her childhood friend, Glenn, home to care for him after he was paralyzed, always prioritizing him above everything else. She completely ignored my feelings, even forcing me to help him bathe. Six months later, I took in a homeless, disabled girl. “She has mental issues and no one to rely on. She’ll be bullied out there, so I couldn’t bear to leave her.” Austin, who always demanded I be generous, flew into a rage. “Jackson! Are you out of your mind?! You brought another woman home? And a mental patient? Are you that desperate?!” I frowned, facing Austin’s gaze, which felt like she was interrogating a criminal. “Can you please get rid of your filthy thoughts? Can you show some compassion? Are you just going to stand by and watch a vibrant life die?” Six months ago, Austin’s childhood friend, Glenn, got into a car accident. Austin not only stayed with him at the hospital for a month but insisted on bringing him home. I objected. Austin shot back, “Glenn has no one here. I can’t just abandon him.” “Can’t you be a little more understanding? A little more empathetic? Stop making such a big deal out of everything!” Now, I was just doing the same thing. “How is that the same thing?” Austin clenched her fists. “I’m going to the hospital to pick up Glenn right now. When I get back, I don’t want to see this woman here anymore.” She slammed the door shut, thinking a show of anger would make me back down. But I turned to the girl with a smile and reassured her, “Charlotte, I’ll go run a bath for you and get some clothes ready.” “Thank you.” Charlotte nodded obediently, leaning on her crutches. She had been filthy, her face covered in grime. After her bath and fresh clothes, I finally saw her face clearly. Delicate and pretty, she was a natural beauty. Only her body was too thin, like a withered branch. So, I ordered a big meal for her, to help her regain some nutrition. Just then, Austin returned, pushing Glenn’s wheelchair. Seeing Charlotte eating on the sofa, her face instantly turned cold. “Jackson!” “What is the meaning of this? Not only did you let her stay, but you let her wear my pajamas? How disgusting is that? How unsanitary?” Her reaction was extreme, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “I’m sorry, I’ll take them off right away.” Charlotte stood up nervously. “Please don’t argue because of me.” “No need.” I grabbed her wrist, not looking up. “It’s just a pair of pajamas, isn’t it? What’s the fuss? I’ll return them tomorrow. I’ll buy Charlotte some new ones then.” I remembered when Glenn first arrived, he took a liking to my only custom-made suit, which I only wore for important events. Austin gave it to Glenn without even asking me. Who knew Glenn would relieve himself in it? I was furious. But Austin was nonchalant. “Oh, come on! Don’t be so petty! It’s just a suit, right? It’s not like Glenn did it on purpose. You can just wash it yourself, what’s the big deal?” The next day, she even grandly bought Glenn five custom suits, which made my head spin with anger. “Austin, don’t blame Jackson. It’s just that I’ve been staying at your place for too long, so Jackson is unhappy and deliberately found an actress to make you mad.” Glenn spoke up, looking remorseful. “I’m just a burden! I’ll move out tonight. You two don’t have to argue over me.” His eyes were red as he spoke, then he maneuvered his wheelchair to leave. I glanced at Austin, curious to see her reaction. No surprises. Austin, just like before, anxiously hugged Glenn and comforted him softly, “Glenn, you’re never a burden. You’re a very important person in my life.”

Then, she shot me a rather defiant look. “You’re truly despicable.” “To get rid of Glenn, you actually came up with such a vile trick.” With that, she pushed Glenn into the master bedroom. That used to be Austin’s and my room, but Glenn claimed he had “claustrophobia.” So, Austin, again without consulting me, gave up the room, and even put a small bed next to our king-sized one. She set a rule: “Monday to Saturday, she would care for Glenn in the master bedroom, and on Sunday, she would spend time with me in the secondary bedroom.” I tried talking, I tried complaining, I even argued. But every time, Austin would say one thing and do another. That evening, after settling Charlotte, I went to my study. Late into the night, I heard Austin’s scream. “Jackson, you pervert! You psycho!” Immediately after, Austin stormed into the study, furious. She was wearing a sexy lace nightgown, black stockings, full makeup, and perfume. It suddenly hit me—today was Sunday! “Jackson, you actually gave our bedroom to that unknown woman.” Austin’s brows were tightly furrowed. “Charlotte is so pathetic. How could you make her sleep on the floor or in the study?” I didn’t turn my head, my eyes still fixed on the computer screen. These were Austin’s own words, once upon a time. Austin froze for a few seconds, then sighed, rushing over to sit on my lap. “Jackson, please stop being difficult, okay? Just send that homeless woman away. Once Glenn is a bit better, I’ll send him away, alright?” Send him away? Austin had said things like that many times. But she’d always drop it afterward, completely a tactic to placate me. Seeing I wasn’t speaking, Austin draped her arms around my neck and whispered in my ear. “Just say yes, okay?” “Today’s Sunday, our special day. Let’s not let outsiders spoil our mood.” All this time, I had liked Austin both physically and emotionally. So, she only needed to flirt a little, and I’d instantly be hooked. But after over half a year of torment, now my heart didn’t stir at all. Instead, I felt a sense of disgust. Before I could refuse, Glenn’s pained groans echoed. “Austin, please help me…” The next second, Austin abruptly pushed me away, sprang up, and rushed out of the study. “Glenn, if you need to go to the restroom, just tell me. See? You fell all by yourself.” Her voice was loud, her tone anxious and full of concern. I remembered last month, I slipped coming out of the shower, fell, and cut my knee, bleeding profusely. I called Austin several times, but she didn’t answer. Later, she even said sarcastically, “You’re a grown man, and you trip just walking? How embarrassing is that?” Glenn deliberately fanned the flames, saying, “Jackson, I won’t steal Austin from you. We’re just good friends.” “So, you don’t need to intentionally hurt yourself just to compete with me.” Hearing that, Austin immediately turned and called me childish and sick. At that moment, my heart shattered. I didn’t sleep all night. A while later, Austin texted me: “Glenn just fell. I’m worried about him, so I’ll stay with him tonight.” Similar situations had occurred more than once. Every weekend, Glenn would always feel unwell in one way or another, holding onto Austin and not letting her leave. And Austin would always agree.

The next morning, Charlotte and I were having breakfast. As soon as Austin emerged from the bedroom, she frowned unhappily. “Why isn’t there any for me and Glenn?” “If you want some, make it yourself,” I replied flatly, without looking up. What? Austin’s temper flared again. She slammed the table. “I think you’ve truly fallen for her charms, completely lost your mind over this woman.” “You’re ignoring me for a stranger.” Charlotte quickly stood up to apologize, “I’m sorry, Austin. Please, take my plate.” She picked up her untouched noodles and offered them. “Get lost!” Austin snapped, knocking the bowl over. “Ah!” The scalding noodle soup splashed all over Charlotte, her arm skin immediately turning red. “Austin, you’re absolutely insane! Charlotte was being kind, offering you food, and you not only ungratefully attacked her, but you started a fight!” I scolded Austin while grabbing ice to apply to Charlotte’s burn. This scene stunned Austin. She was so furious that veins popped on her forehead. She yelled right there, “Jackson, I’m telling you.” “It’s either her or me in this house. There’s no in-between.” “You choose!” I had been that hysterical once. But Austin, presuming upon my deep love, not only reacted calmly but said, “Can’t you be more mature? Do you really think I can’t live without you?” Now, I didn’t react much either. But before I could speak, Glenn came out of the room. “Jackson, Austin, are you two arguing again because of me?” “If I cause your divorce, I’ll feel guilty for the rest of my life.” “Maybe I should just leave.” He wore a bitter expression, seemingly thinking of Austin and me, but actually just fanning the flames. “Glenn, this has nothing to do with you. It’s all Jackson’s fault for being so petty.” Austin comforted Glenn, then looked at me coldly. “Glenn just reminded me. If you insist on going against me, then let’s get a divorce.” “I’ll find someone to draft the divorce papers today.” With that, she pushed Glenn out the door, proudly saying, “Come on, let’s go out for a fancy meal.” “Austin, please don’t misunderstand. Jackson and I really have nothing going on.” Charlotte cried out, but Austin ignored her. Charlotte then turned to me, sobbing, “I’m so sorry, Jackson. I caused you trouble. It’s all my fault.” “Maybe you should just send me to a mental hospital.” Austin paused, grinding her teeth as she muttered to herself, “Bitch!” “You just escaped. How can you go back? Just stay here and feel safe.” I comforted Charlotte. “With me here, you won’t suffer.” As my words fell, I heard Austin scoff, walking away without looking back. I didn’t mind her. After finishing our meal, I took Charlotte shopping at the mall. Unexpectedly, I caught a glimpse of Austin and Glenn at a watch store. Austin picked up a watch and put it on Glenn’s wrist. Their eyes met, full of deep affection, almost radiating sparks. I recognized that watch. It cost about fifteen thousand dollars, a style I had coveted for a long time. But Austin always said, “A watch is just for telling time, isn’t it? Why waste money on that? Better save up for our future children.” Yet now, Austin bought it for Glenn. And all of Glenn’s medical expenses for the past six months had also been paid by Austin.

“Should we go say hello?” Charlotte whispered. “No need.” I waved my hand, pulling Charlotte into the clothing store across the way. Charlotte had just picked out a dress and was trying it on when Austin burst in. “Jackson, what do you mean by this? You dare to spend money on her?” I just turned my head when Charlotte quickly said, “Austin, please don’t be angry. I’m keeping track of every expense, and I’ll pay Jackson back when I get a job later.” “You btch, shut up!” Austin’s eyes widened, and she raised her hand to slap Charlotte. But I reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist in time. “You… you’re siding with an outsider?” She grew even angrier. “Aren’t you siding with Glenn?” I calmly retorted. “This… this is different!” Austin gritted her teeth, arguing, “Our friendship is pure. You two have something shady going on.” Glenn echoed, “Jackson, what you’re doing is really going too far.” Too far? I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, saying sarcastically, “You’re someone living in my house, eating my food and drinking my drinks for free. What right do you have to point fingers?” Hearing me say that, Glenn’s eyes instantly turned red, tears streaming down his face like a wronged child. Smack! Austin immediately slapped me. “All you ever do is bully Glenn. What kind of man are you?” “Divorce!” She said, then turned and walked away. Beside her, Glenn’s mouth curled into a defiant smirk, clearly declaring victory. I raised my hand to touch my stinging face, muttering to myself. “Austin, that slap just severed the last thread of affection between us.” That evening, Charlotte and I returned home to find no one there. On the coffee table was a document bag. I opened it to find a divorce agreement, signed by Austin. Buzz buzz! Almost simultaneously, Austin called. “Glenn wants to travel to clear his head, so I’m taking him out for three days.” “Did you see the divorce agreement on the table? In three days, either kick that btch out, or we’re officially over.” Her tone was full of arrogance. “Are you sure?” I asked calmly. “Of course.” Austin laughed. “If you’re scared, just do what I say, and think about how you’ll compensate me.” I lowered my head in silence. Then Glenn’s voice came through the phone, “Austin, my back is so itchy. Can you scrub it for me?” The next second, the call ended. I shook my head and picked up a pen nearby. “Jackson.” “Are you really getting a divorce? This is not something to joke about! You need to calm down.” Charlotte quickly tried to stop me. “Actually, I’ve been calm for a long time.” I smiled, moved Charlotte’s hand, and signed the divorce agreement. Before, I was indeed afraid of losing Austin. But a person’s patience and love always run out eventually. After signing my name, I hired a lawyer to handle the subsequent property division. Finally, I packed my bags and took Charlotte on a trip as well. That same evening, Austin had just finished showering when she received a call. “Hello, Ms. Austin? I’m Mr. Jackson’s lawyer. When would be a good time for you to discuss property division after the divorce?”

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My son, Andy, and I were on our way to confront my husband about his affair when we got into a car accident and lost our memories. Meanwhile, Steve, my husband and a psychologist, prioritized caring for his depressed first love, Olivia, and her daughter, Chloe, traveling the world with them. When Andy and I finally regained our memories, Steve was surprised to find us quiet, sensible, and incredibly independent. At first, he was pleased, believing he had perfectly balanced everything. That was until Christmas, when he went to celebrate with Olivia and Chloe again, only to overhear Andy and me talking outside the door. “Mom, is that man really my dad? Every time I call him ‘Dad,’ it just feels weird.” I nodded. “I think it’s strange too. He doesn’t seem like my type at all. How did I even end up marrying him?” Andy cleverly chimed in, “Mom, your type is Mr. Anderson, my teacher, right? Every time after school, his ears turn bright red when he sees you, and he always finds excuses to drive us home… I think you’ve got a real shot!” Before I could answer, my face flushed, Andy leaned closer to my ear. He whispered what he thought was a quiet suggestion, loud enough for anyone outside the door to hear: “Mom, how about… we just get a new dad?”

At dinner, I’d ordered two plates of hot wings, and Andy and I were sweating as we devoured them. A familiar yet strangely distant voice suddenly spoke from behind us: “You didn’t wait for me?” We jumped in fright. Turning around, we saw it was Steve, my husband. He walked closer, saw our chili-stained mouths and the spicy wings on the table, and his brow furrowed. “Six years of marriage, and you don’t know I have a sensitive stomach and can’t handle spicy food?” Andy, munching on his wings, blurted out, “We didn’t order any for you, these are for us.” Steve froze. I gave a dry laugh and quickly tried to cover. “Um… I saw on Ins that you were at the amusement park with Olivia and Chloe. I thought you’d eat with them…” “Emily.” He cut me off, his tone habitually impatient. “I’ve explained this. Olivia and Chloe were abandoned by their husband and are severely depressed. I’m a doctor; I’m just doing my job.” “But what about you? As a wife and mother, you not only caused a scene at my workplace, but you’ve also taught Andy to be nothing but jealous and petty.” He paused, his voice colder. “Was the car accident not enough for you both to reflect and change?” Memories flooded back. I remembered discovering he’d been ‘caring for’ his high school ex-girlfriend day and night. I’d taken Andy with me to confront him. He’d just pulled us aside, looking exasperated. “I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d overthink it. As a doctor, abandoning my patients would be irresponsible.” “Don’t bring Andy here and act out in front of my patients.” His calm tone made Andy and me seem like hysterical fools. So, I hired people to display signs outside his hospital that read: “Olivia and her daughter are trying to hook up with a married man.” Andy ran around the kindergarten with a megaphone, chasing Chloe and yelling, “She’s the other woman’s daughter! Don’t play with her!” Later, Olivia and Chloe cried and threatened self-harm. To force us to back down, Steve got me fired and made Andy an outcast at kindergarten. I completely broke down, threatening divorce. He finally relented, promising to keep his distance from them. Andy and I believed him. We even booked a trip for our fifth wedding anniversary, counting down the days for his rare vacation. That day, we joyfully went to the hospital to pick him up, only to receive a cold FaceTime call: “Urgent business trip, vacation postponed.” Andy and I left the hospital heartbroken. But around the corner, we clearly heard his colleagues chatting, laughing: “Dr. Steve is really devoted to Ms. Olivia, isn’t he? He took half a year off to help them with their therapy!” “Tell me about it. I heard he’s already on his way to the airport to personally escort them.” My ears rang, and my heart felt like it was being ripped out. Before tears could fall, I saw Andy’s pale little face, big tears rolling down, his voice trembling: “Mom… is Dad really… abandoning us?” That single sentence shattered my composure. I immediately grabbed Andy, and we chased after them, desperate for an answer! We needed to understand! Did he still want this family? But before we could catch up, the car accident happened. When I woke up, the world was a blank slate. Except for each other, we didn’t remember him. And he conveniently put us aside. The memories faded. Andy and I exchanged awkward glances. Even though our memories were back, our feelings weren’t. In fact, we couldn’t understand why we had been so hysterical back then. We could only reassure him repeatedly that we really wouldn’t bother them again. Steve’s face grew even darker. After a long moment, he regained his usual air of being in control. “Tomorrow, I’m taking them to the forest park for therapy. Remember to prepare packed lunches for three.” “Andy, help Chloe organize an extra set of class notes.” He turned, then added lightly, “It would be best if you truly kept your word and stopped doing… those embarrassing things.” The door closed, leaving Andy and me to look at each other, then simultaneously shrug. Then, I pulled out my phone and ordered a deluxe takeout for three. Andy sent a message to his teacher, politely asking for a backup of the class materials. As for tomorrow? We already had plans to go hiking with Mr. Anderson. Who had time for them?

Early that morning, Olivia’s soft voice drifted from the living room: “Steve, are we going alone? Or… should we still invite Emily and Andy? I’m afraid they’ll overthink things. I’m fine, but Chloe is still young and can’t handle more stress…” Chloe whispered in agreement, “Mom, I’m okay. Andy… he didn’t mean it.” Steve’s voice was gentle: “Chloe, honey, don’t overthink it. Taking them would just cause more trouble, and it’s not good for your condition.” I sighed, rolled over, and drifted back to sleep. When I opened my eyes again, I was brutally pulled from the bed. Steve practically dragged me into the living room. “Look at what your good-for-nothing Andy has done!” His voice was barely controlled rage. “Look at Chloe!” Olivia was holding a trembling Chloe, who was covered in food stains, her eyes red. Andy was sitting amidst the mess, clutching three insulated lunchboxes, his little face beet-red, tears falling in big drops onto the floor. “I didn’t push her!” he cried. “She’s a thief! She stole the lunch Mom made for me! I just wanted to get it back!” Steve didn’t even look at him. He was carefully wiping Chloe with a wet wipe, whispering words of comfort to Olivia. Only after he finished did he turn to me, his eyes filled with a weary, knowing look, as if to say, “I knew it.” “Emily, just because I asked you to make a few extra lunches, you got resentful and taught Andy to do such despicable things again?” “You made a promise last night. Are you already going back on your word?” I took a deep breath, patiently explaining: “I really didn’t. And I believe Andy isn’t lying. I already left your lunches on the dining table. Maybe Chloe accidentally picked up the wrong one…” “Enough.” Steve interrupted impatiently, his eyes like he was watching a pathetic act. “Stop acting. I haven’t forgotten what you’ve done before. You should really reflect on how to be a competent mother.” All my words caught in my throat. We had agreed to meet each other halfway; as long as he kept his distance from Olivia and Chloe, we would be fine. After that, Steve did come home on time and reported his whereabouts. But if Chloe got even a tiny scratch at kindergarten, he would always show up immediately, unilaterally demanding Andy apologize. When Andy was unable to defend himself, Steve would just coldly look at me: “Emily, are your promises so worthless? Stop making a fuss. Don’t exhaust all my patience and feelings. If it comes to that, there’ll be nothing left for us to say.” The worst time, he just dropped a line: “An Andy with such malicious thoughts? I don’t want him.” Young Andy couldn’t bear such words. He chased after him barefoot, his feet bloody from the pavement, grabbing his shirt and admitting to all the groundless accusations: “Dad! I’m sorry! It’s all my fault! I won’t ever do it again! I apologized to Chloe!” “Please don’t abandon Mom and me!” From then on, Andy never dared to defend himself. I sighed softly. What was the point of explaining? In his eyes, we were already repeat offenders with a record. I hugged Andy tight, my voice low and calm: “Andy, give them the lunchboxes.” Andy’s body stiffened, then he wiped his face hard, no longer arguing, and silently pushed the tightly protected lunchboxes toward them. Steve no longer looked at us. He bent down, picked up Chloe in one arm, and with his other hand, gently guided Olivia’s back, shielding them by his side as he turned and left. “Bang—!” The door slammed shut, clean and sharp, and the house suddenly became terrifyingly quiet. Only Andy and I were left, amidst the scattered mess on the floor. I silently picked up a cloth and began cleaning. Andy also knelt down, helping me pick up the overturned items. After a while, I quietly asked: “Andy, if one day, Mom and Dad separate…” “Who would you want to live with?” When things were at their worst with Steve, I had asked him this, and back then he had cried his heart out: “I don’t want Mom and Dad to separate. I want our family to be together forever.” But now, he barely hesitated. He looked up, his eyes clear and firm: “I’ll stay with Mom.” “No matter what happens, I’ll only stay with Mom.” I looked at him and suddenly smiled. The last bit of chill in my heart instantly melted into warmth. I stroked his head. “Okay.” Then there was nothing to be afraid of.

After cleaning up the last of the mess, the doorbell rang. “Emily? Andy? Are you home?” Andy’s eyes lit up. “It’s Mr. Anderson!” He ran to open the door. Outside, a clean-cut and handsome young man bent down, catching the child who rushed into his arms. Seeing Andy’s red and swollen eyes, Mr. Anderson’s voice immediately softened. “What’s wrong, Andy? Did you cry?” Andy buried his face in his shoulder, whimpering miserably, “Mom’s lunch… it was taken…” “It’s okay,” Mr. Anderson gently patted his back, his voice warm. “I made new ones, all the things you and your mom love to eat.” He was very good at coaxing children, and with a few words, he made Andy smile through his tears. Mr. Anderson then looked up at me, smiling apologetically. “I’m sorry, Emily. Didn’t get an answer when I called, so I got a bit worried and just came over.” “Please don’t say that,” I quickly replied. “You’re a lifesaver for Andy and me. Just call me Emily.” Half a year ago, during that car accident, it was Mr. Anderson who pulled us from the mangled car and ran red lights to get us to the hospital. Later, when he learned we had partial memory loss and were a bit slow to react, he voluntarily took on the task of providing our daily meals and taking Andy to and from school. When our memories returned, he discreetly stepped back to a respectful distance. But not long after hearing the full story of the accident, he became Andy’s new teacher at kindergarten. Mr. Anderson’s ears tinged red as he softly said, “Emily, I’ve planned all the hiking routes. Shall we head out?” Indeed, everything was perfectly organized, just as he said. He naturally took all the heavy items and put them in his backpack. When Andy got tired of walking, he naturally knelt down. “Andy, hop on.” I felt a little guilty. “Don’t spoil him too much, Mr. Anderson. You’re already carrying a lot.” He just smiled, his hand hovering gently at my side. “It’s fine, I work out regularly. I’ve got enough strength.” For some reason, looking at his clear profile, my heart skipped a beat. Even when we reached the rest area and he took Andy to buy water, that flutter hadn’t subsided. Just then, a childish yet familiar voice came from afar: “Dad! Let’s go!” Followed by Olivia’s laughing voice: “Chloe, slow down, be careful not to fall.” Finally, Steve’s smiling reply: “Chloe, I’m going to catch you!” I turned my head, and my gaze met theirs across the distance. The air froze instantly. Olivia’s face paled. She suddenly pulled Chloe into her arms, her voice trembling. “Mrs. Steve… are you, are you tracking us again?” “Steve and I really have nothing going on. Chloe just wants a dad so badly, that’s why she spoke out of turn… Whatever issues you have, take them out on me, don’t hurt the child…” Steve immediately stepped forward, completely shielding Olivia and Chloe behind him, as if I were some kind of monster. His jaw was tight, his brows deeply furrowed. “Emily, I told you this is therapy. Their emotions are very fragile, and they can’t handle stress. How many times do I have to tell you to get rid of your suspicious tendencies?” I looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before me, and this scene that had countless times made me lose control and break down. Yet, my heart was utterly calm, almost finding it absurd. You can’t even empathize with your past self. I don’t even know what feelings I have for this man anymore. If I loved him, I should be angry. But I waved my hand, my tone light. “I understand, it’s your duty as a psychologist. You don’t need to explain it to me.” “I’m just here to hike and happened to run into you. You guys carry on. Just pretend I’m not here.” Steve visibly froze, his gaze fixed on me. “Chloe called me Dad. You’re not angry?” I was a little confused. “Angry about what?” He stared intently at my face, trying to find a trace of pretense, but found nothing. His face grew increasingly grim, his entire demeanor colder. After a long silence, he seemed to reach a conclusion, his voice cold and firm. “Stop acting, Emily. I know you’re pouting. We’ll talk properly later, but for now, you should go home. I won’t hold this against you this time.” I was about to speak when a clear, pleasant male voice came from behind me: “Emily, what’s wrong?” Steve looked in the direction of the voice and suddenly froze. “What happened?” Mr. Anderson, holding a sticky-faced Andy who was covered in candy, walked quickly to my side. I stepped forward. “What took you so long? Did Andy get greedy again?” Catching Andy’s pleading gaze, Mr. Anderson smiled, rescuing him. “Just one small marshmallow for energy. Here’s yours.” He said, conjuring a larger marshmallow from behind his back and handing it to me. I instinctively smiled, just about to take it— “Emily,” Steve’s cold voice cut in. “Who is he?” Chloe, peeking out from behind him, whispered, “Why is Mr. Anderson here?” I paused, realizing that since Olivia and Chloe appeared, Steve had never been to the kindergarten, nor had he ever cared who helped us after the car accident. This was the first time he had seen Mr. Anderson. “This is Mr. Anderson,” I introduced. “He saved Andy and me after the car accident six months ago.” When it was time to introduce Steve, Mr. Anderson had already naturally extended his hand with a smile. “You must be Chloe’s father, then? Pleasure to meet you.”

As the words left his mouth, Steve’s face instantly turned livid. He looked at Andy and me, saw our lack of reaction, and his voice grew colder. “I am Andy’s father. But Mr. Anderson, why are you with my wife and child?” “Mr. Anderson came to hike with us!” Andy hugged Mr. Anderson’s neck, his voice full of affection. “He’s super strong! He carried me for a long time and didn’t get tired!” Steve seemed to be trying hard to suppress his anger. He pulled back the hand that was protectively around Olivia and Chloe, stepped forward, and reached out to Andy. “Come here, I’ll carry you. Don’t bother outsiders.” Andy’s smile instantly froze. He twisted his little face and buried it tightly in Mr. Anderson’s arms. “It’s no trouble at all,” Mr. Anderson said, his arms steady as he held the child, his smile still gentle. I spoke softly, “Don’t you still need to continue therapy with Olivia and Chloe? Don’t delay your important work. Go on. Andy will understand.” Steve, however, seemed glued to the spot. No matter how Chloe tugged at his sleeve, he didn’t move, just stared intently at me, his eyes filled with incredulous anger. “Emily,” his voice was hoarse. “Are you… truly so indifferent?” “Work is important,” I replied blandly. Steve scoffed, laughing in anger. “Fine. Don’t regret this.” Seeing this, Olivia’s eyes immediately reddened. She pulled her daughter close, her voice trembling: “Steve, don’t be like this… Emily and Andy must still be angry with us. You should spend time with them. Chloe and I… can just go back by ourselves…” “No need,” Steve sneered, then his voice instantly softened as he turned to her. “Didn’t you say you learned a new dish? I’d love to try it. And I can still draw with Chloe.” He said, naturally putting his arm around Olivia’s shoulder and taking Chloe’s hand. Before turning away, he gave me a deep look. “I’ll be home late tonight. Don’t call to disturb us.” I was very obedient. I didn’t call him once. It wasn’t until late at night that my phone screen lit up. It was a message from him: “Emily. Good, you are very good.” Then, for two weeks straight, Steve didn’t come home. His Ins, however, constantly showed photos of him traveling with Olivia and Chloe. The location was the Maldives—the very place we had planned for our wedding anniversary trip but never went. The scenery was indeed beautiful. I instinctively tapped ‘like’. That same night, Steve called. His voice held a hint of suppressed triumph: “Emily, stop pouting. I saw your like. Isn’t Andy’s birthday the day after tomorrow? I’ll buy him presents and rush back.” I was half-asleep. “No need to bother. Andy’s birthday was the day before yesterday. Mr. Anderson celebrated with him and gave him lots of presents.” The other end fell silent. “I… I got it mixed up.” His voice was tight. “I’ll be back tomorrow to throw Andy a make-up party.” I was about to refuse, but he hung up. Oh well. He is the child’s father, after all. The next day, I took Andy to the hotel, following the address Steve had sent. The party was grander than any before. He came forward, bending to hug Andy. “Happy birthday, Andy. All the gifts I bought you have been sent home. Do you like them?” Andy instinctively shifted, avoiding his touch, and nodded. “Thanks. I like them.” Steve’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. He led us into the banquet hall, where a giant screen displayed scrolling photos of Chloe. He quickly explained, “It’s also Chloe’s birthday today, so I thought the two kids could celebrate together. You know, her father left them after she was born…” “It’s okay,” I cut him off. “I understand.” Chloe’s birthday celebration was first. She wore an expensive, limited-edition princess dress, dancing gracefully on stage, holding a microphone, and thanking Steve for filling the void left by her father. I looked down at Andy, who was just quietly eating his cake, completely unfazed. I smiled softly, wiping the cream from the corner of his mouth. Before it was Andy’s turn on stage, Olivia called me to the hotel poolside. She had shed her usual gentleness, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. “Emily, do you see? Even if you’ve been married for six years and have Andy, as long as I’m around, in Steve’s heart, you and your Andy will always come second to us.” “Whether it’s the trip you looked forward to, or Andy’s birthday… guilt isn’t love. It’s just pity.” “Are you suggesting I divorce him?” I said calmly. “Don’t worry, I’ll find a chance to bring it up.” She paused, looking confused. “You’d give him up? You even gave up a chance to study abroad for him back then.” I vaguely remembered that in college, Steve was a campus celebrity, handsome and brilliant. But his personality wasn’t my type. Until that one time, he saved me from a dangerous situation. After that, I became completely obsessed with him, convinced I couldn’t live without him, and pursued him all through college. I even had a huge fight with my parents, gave up my career prospects, and desperately wanted to marry him. But now, looking back, my heart was completely calm, and I even felt that my past self must have read too many romance novels back then, which led to so many embarrassing actions. I shook my head, my voice sincere. “It’s nothing. If you like him, you can have him.” “Emily, what are you saying?!” Steve stood behind us, his face ashen, his eyes slightly red. Olivia glanced behind me and coldly snorted. “Keep up the act. I’ll make you give up.” Before I could react, she suddenly fell backward! I instinctively reached out to grab her, but the momentum pulled me with her into the cold swimming pool! “Emily!” “Mom!” Cold water suddenly filled my nose and mouth. I struggled desperately. Through my blurry vision, I saw Steve hesitate for a moment, then swim without hesitation… toward Olivia. The pool water completely submerged my head, cutting off all sound. In the chaos, a firm arm suddenly lifted me, and I was pulled into a warm embrace.

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As the top sales rep, I was “downsized.” Reason for termination: Rarely in the office, failed to clock in on time. Me: “???” Bro, if I stayed in the office 24/7, where would my $3 million monthly quota come from? I didn’t understand it, but I respected the company’s decision. I immediately ripped up a $50 million contract that was just waiting for a signature, and took my clients and my elite team straight to a rival company. Half a month later, my former boss called, his tone desperately humble: “Sloane, I didn’t think things through before. Attendance really isn’t important. Can you come back?” I put him on speakerphone: “Boss, the failing company across the street is trying to poach your new partner.” 01 “Sloane, get back to the office right now.” I frowned as I read the message from our company’s HR manager. I quickly typed a reply and hit send. [I’m in a meeting. It’ll have to be later this evening.] I had just set my phone down when the HR manager called. I gave an apologetic smile to the client sitting across from me, stood up, and stepped aside to take the call. “Hello? What’s so urgent?” The woman on the other end, Ashley, suddenly shrieked, “Surprise!” Her voice was ear-piercingly shrill. I quickly pulled the phone away from my ear. “Sloane, congratulations! You’ve been optimized!” I froze, unable to process her words for a moment. Then it hit me. Optimized. She meant I was fired. I pressed my lips together, my mind racing to figure out if this was some kind of sick joke. I had been at Vertex VR for eight solid years. I watched it grow from nothing into an industry leader, establishing a firm foothold in the virtual reality sector. Unfortunately, our former CEO, for reasons known only to him, sold the company to a venture capital firm without warning any of the employees. He just packed his bags and went traveling around the world. He left a group of veteran employees staring at each other in confusion. Later, the VC firm stepped in and brought in a new management team to run Vertex. And this Ashley? She was the new CEO’s niece. A fresh-out-of-college grad installed directly as the HR Manager. It wasn’t that I looked down on recent grads. After all, everyone starts as a blank slate. But shouldn’t she at least have some relevant background? Ashley knew absolutely nothing about Human Resources. Her degree was in Supply Chain Management—completely unrelated. Since taking the job, she hadn’t done much of anything productive. Instead, she just kept firing veteran employees. The old-timers she let go all had plenty to complain about when it came to Ashley. But everyone knew whose idea this really was. If it weren’t for the team I managed, I would have left Vertex a long time ago. In the adult world, loyalty and sentimentality are just empty words. I just didn’t know what to make of this new CEO. Firing me? The top sales rep? Hilarious. 02 I glanced at the person sitting nearby: “Reason for termination?” Ashley covered her mouth and giggled on the other end of the line. “Oh, Sloane, listen to you! This isn’t a termination, this is optimization~ “As for the reason… well, because you’re rarely in the office, you don’t clock in on time, and your attendance hasn’t met the performance targets.” Me: “???” Was she even listening to the garbage coming out of her mouth? “Bro, if I was always in the office, where the hell would that $3 million monthly quota come from?” “Oh, Sloane, I’m a woman, you shouldn’t call me ‘bro.’ Besides, I’m younger than you, you should be calling me ‘little sister.’” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I didn’t want to argue with her, so I asked point-blank: “Does Gavin know about this?” “Manager Gavin certainly knows.” I let out a soft chuckle, suddenly feeling a surge of relief that I hadn’t told Gavin about the massive contract I was about to sign today. “Fine. Let’s leave it at that. I’ll be back to discuss my severance.” Ashley laughed out loud again on the other end of the line. She pinched her voice and said: “Oh, I’m so sorry, Sloane. You’re being optimized, not terminated. There is no severance.” I laughed out loud. “Ashley, do you think I’m legally illiterate, or are you legally illiterate? What kind of nonsense are you trying to pull?” I didn’t bother engaging with her anymore and hung up the phone. I let out a breath, walked back to the table, picked up the contract lying there, and smiled at the man sitting across from me. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Mitchell. It looks like we won’t be able to sign this contract today after all.” “You heard it yourself. I’ve just been ‘optimized’ by my company.” I paused for a moment, then asked tentatively, “How about this… I’ll send someone else over to sign with you?” After all, I had negotiated this deal while at Vertex. If they used this against me later, it could have a huge impact on my career. Mr. Mitchell refused without hesitation. He handed his copy of the contract back to me. “Don’t bother sending someone else from your company to sign with me. This deal isn’t urgent. I’ll wait until you’re at your new company, and I’ll sign it with you then!” I raised an eyebrow and smiled, satisfied. “Thank you for your trust, Mr. Mitchell.” “Then I guess I better hurry up and find a good company. I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting.” 03 After exchanging a few pleasantries with Mr. Mitchell, I left his office and prepared to head back to Vertex. I glanced at my phone and realized Ashley had already removed me from the company’s Slack workspace. She really wasn’t wasting a single second. I put my phone away, turned my car around, and made a quick stop at an electronics store to buy a voice recorder. When I got back to the company, I could see Ashley standing by the entrance from far away. I smiled, clicked on the voice recorder in my pocket, and walked toward her. When Ashley saw me, her face was full of disdain, but only for a few seconds before she plastered on a fake smile and said: “Sloane, you’re back! Your keycard has been deactivated. I was worried you wouldn’t be able to get in through the main doors, so I specifically waited for you. “But this will be the last time. Hurry up, pack your things, and leave.” I gave her a flat look, shoved my empty coffee cup directly into her hands, and walked right past her into the office without saying a word. Ashley quickly followed me from behind, yelling indignantly: “Sloane, what the hell is your problem?! Throwing your garbage at me? Are you insulting me?!” The surrounding colleagues heard her voice and turned to look at us. I didn’t care. I kept walking toward my office. As soon as I entered the sales department, my entire team rushed over. “Sloane! You’re back!” “Sloane, we all heard! This is outrageous! You’re the top sales rep at Vertex! How could they possibly fire you?!” “Shh.” I pressed a finger to my lips, signaling them to keep quiet. I didn’t want my situation to negatively impact their future careers. I patted Lauren, who was standing next to me, on the shoulder and asked: “Where’s Gavin?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I heard a greasy voice fake a cough. I looked up and saw Gavin. Gavin waddled over with his prominent beer belly, smiling greasily at me. “Oh my, if it isn’t our Sloane. Looks like you’re looking for me? “Even though you’re about to leave the company, I’m still the Sales Manager now. How can you just call me by my first name? You should be calling me Manager Gavin. “Oh, it’s such a shame. Who would have thought our top sales rep would end up like this! The new CEO is just so… unsentimental. “Sloane, my hands are tied. I pleaded your case, I really did. But the CEO was adamant. I can’t protect you.” Ashley, who was standing next to him, nudged him in annoyance. Gavin instantly shut his mouth and didn’t say another word. If I couldn’t see what was going on here, I’d have to apologize to my years of professional experience. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Gavin had been whispering in the CEO’s ear. Gavin and I joined Vertex around the same time. Like me, he started from the very bottom. But he could never outperform me. His numbers were always lower than mine. However, the guy did have one redeeming quality that made bosses and managers like him. He was a world-class kiss-ass. And sure enough, relying on his formidable brown-nosing skills, he managed to instantly transform himself into the Sales Manager the moment the new CEO arrived. After he became manager, he constantly targeted me and made things difficult for me. But because I brought in millions of dollars in revenue every month, he couldn’t touch my position. So if he couldn’t shake my position, he’d just kick me out of the company altogether? 04 I raised an eyebrow at Gavin: “Weren’t you trying to fire me? Tell me, what’s the severance package?” Gavin gave a greasy smile and glanced at Ashley beside him. “Oh, Sloane, why are you asking me? That has nothing to do with me. And this isn’t a firing, it’s just a company optimization. You’re just being optimized.” I scoffed and slammed a folder onto a nearby desk. “What’s your problem, Gavin? I’m trying to have a civilized conversation, and you’re insisting on playing games! “If you don’t want to handle this properly, then we can have a nice, long chat right here about that $2 million deal you signed when you first joined the company.” Hearing that, Gavin immediately pulled me aside, all his previous arrogance completely gone. “Oh, Sloane, didn’t we agree to never bring that up again? There are too many people here, let’s… let’s go to my office to talk.” I let out a cold laugh and strode purposefully toward Gavin’s office. As soon as we entered, Ashley coldly held out her hand. “Sloane, please hand over your phone. The conversation we’re about to have involves company confidentiality, and we need to prevent any unauthorized recording.” Gavin piled on the fake smiles beside her: “Sloane, just do what HR says so we can move on to the next step, right?” I sneered and tossed my phone to Ashley. “You haven’t grasped the basics of HR, but your paranoia is off the charts.” Ashley smugly lifted her chin and flipped her hair. “Hmph, of course.” Gavin looked a little embarrassed and nudged Ashley. Ashley finally realized what was happening and glared at me indignantly. I beamed at the two of them. They were still too young. They couldn’t even tell an insult from a compliment. “Spit it out. Skip the bullshit. What’s the severance?” Ashley’s face instantly dropped. She picked up a file and flipped through it. “Sloane, you were frequently absent from the office and failed to clock in. Management was very dissatisfied. This is a dereliction of duty on your part. What kind of severance are you expecting?” Gavin chimed in from the side: “Yeah, Sloane. I talked to management, but the CEO was determined to optimize the company. He felt the sales department was overstaffed and needed to be streamlined.” Ah, streamlined. They ‘streamlined’ me right out, the top sales rep. I didn’t say anything, just stared at them blankly. Gavin and Ashley exchanged a glance, and then he said: “Sloane, as your colleague, let me give you some honest advice. Look at your age. You’re almost thirty. If you suddenly get married and have a baby, what is the company supposed to do? “As employees, we definitely need to consider the company’s interests. The company is our home. “You’re a veteran employee, you need to think about the company, right?” I laughed out loud. Did he think I was a naive new grad, trying to gaslight me like this? “What’s wrong, Gavin? Is the company discriminating against me because I’m a woman?” Seeing my attitude, Gavin dropped the act and crossed his arms contemptuously. “How is this discrimination? Isn’t what I’m saying the truth? “You’re a woman nearing thirty. You should just go back home, get married, have kids, and be a housewife. What are you doing out here showing your face? This society isn’t a woman’s world! “You need to step aside and give opportunities to young people. Besides, your sales job is simple. “Don’t think that just because you negotiated a $50 million contract for the company, you can strut around like you own the place. They didn’t sign because of you; they signed because of Vertex’s reputation. Anyone else could have closed that deal!” I suddenly understood everything. No wonder they were in such a rush to kick me out. They wanted to swallow that contract for themselves. I smiled slightly, looking straight at that son of a bitch, and said slowly: “According to the Fair Labor Standards Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, women enjoy equal employment rights with men. Employers may not discriminate against employees based on race, sex, age, or religious beliefs. “I’m not going to waste any more breath on you. According to the regulations, a company terminating an employment contract without cause must compensate the employee. “I’ve been at Vertex for eight years, going on nine. Less than six months counts as half a year. That means the company owes me severance pay. “Oh, right, and there’s my unused PTO for this year. According to the rules, that should be paid out as well.” 05 As soon as I finished speaking, both Gavin and Ashley’s faces changed. Gavin was so angry he slammed his hand on the desk and pointed at me, yelling: “Sloane, don’t push your luck! Who do you think you are? “Making such outrageous demands! Did you not hear a single word of what I just said? Do you think the company can’t function without you? You’re way too full of yourself! “You’re a woman in sales. All you do is go out and drink with clients. Anyone can do this job! If Ashley were in your position, she’d do it even better!” Ashley scoffed coldly and chimed in ominously: “Sloane, don’t blame me for not warning you. When you look for a job in the future, if they do a background check, they’ll definitely have to contact us.” I raised an eyebrow: “What, are you threatening me?” Ashley giggled, her voice as grating as a crow’s. “Sloane, I’m just reminding you of the facts. “How about this? The company appreciates your years of service. On behalf of the company, I can offer you standard one-month severance pay. How does that sound?” Gavin sneered from the side: “Sloane, I know what you’re thinking. You’re just upset about missing out on the commission for the $50 million deal, right? Let me tell you, even if we gave you another month, you wouldn’t be able to close it! “Ashley already contacted them. They specifically requested that only Ashley handle the account, and they’ll sign immediately! Stop dreaming! “Offering you any severance is a gift. You should be grateful!” I raised an eyebrow. Ashley had already contacted Mr. Mitchell’s team? And they specifically requested Ashley to handle the account? But Mr. Mitchell is the CEO of his company. If it hadn’t been for their interference today, I would have already signed the contract. He wouldn’t lie to me. Look at how confident they are… I couldn’t help but ask, “Who did you contact?” “None of your business! Why are you asking so many questions?! You’re no longer a Vertex employee. This is company confidentiality! No comment!” I didn’t press further. I stood up and stretched my wrists and neck. This move clearly intimidated Ashley. She quickly hid behind Gavin, stammering: “Y-y-you… what, what are you trying to do!” Gavin puffed out his chest, pointed at me, and yelled: “Sloane, don’t try anything crazy! If you dare lay a hand on me, I’m calling security!” I quietly picked up my phone and glanced coldly at Ashley: “Please present my termination notice.” Both Ashley and Gavin breathed a sigh of relief. They quickly handed over the termination notice they had prepared. Gavin thought I was compromising. He immediately changed his tune, smiling as he patted my shoulder. “Sloane, this is the right move. A smart person knows when to adapt to the circumstances.” I paused the recording and coldly swatted his hand away. “Gavin, Ashley, be prepared for an arbitration lawsuit!” Gavin and Ashley froze, clearly not expecting me to pull this move. “What do you mean? Did you not listen to anything we just said?” Ashley stared at me menacingly, threatening: “Sloane, if you dare file a lawsuit, I guarantee you won’t find a job anywhere in this city!” “Bring it on. We’ll see about that.” 06 I went back to the sales department and started packing my things. My team members all gathered around. “Sloane, are you okay?” “Sloane, what are you going to do about them treating you like this?” I looked up and smiled at them. “Nothing. I’m leaving. “There are some things I can’t say, but you guys keep working hard. Let’s get together when we have time.” Lauren quickly pulled me aside and whispered: “Don’t wait until we have time. We’ve already booked a place. Let’s get together tonight.” I nodded, not refusing. “Okay. Hurry up and get back to work. It won’t look good if you’re seen.” My team was entirely handpicked by me. The hardest part was leaving this group of people. But I couldn’t just tell them to quit and come with me right now. Some of them had mortgages and car loans. Some were getting ready to get married. They couldn’t afford to be jobless right now. I hadn’t even found my next job yet. Waiting until I was established and then bringing them over was the safest approach. I casually packed a few things and left the company. Colleagues walking by glanced at me, then buried their heads back in their work. No one wanted to get caught in the crossfire. This was completely normal, especially in a tough job market. I walked out of the building, holding my cardboard box, and sighed. Eight years at Vertex, and in the end, my belongings didn’t even fill a single box. Logically speaking, I had been a bit impulsive. Daring to challenge the company before securing my next job. But I wasn’t willing to let it go. In the VR industry, while I might not be at the very top, my influence wasn’t small either. I was easily in the top five. My performance was the source of my confidence. If they dared to use such a ridiculous reason to fire me, I certainly wasn’t going to let them slaughter me without a fight. Otherwise, if this got out, what would my clients think of me? People would start questioning my professional capabilities. I got back into my car, took a picture of the cardboard box, and posted it on LinkedIn. [Got optimized! (Facepalm emoji) Any kind souls out there willing to take me in?~] I glanced at my phone. It was still early, so I drove home first. As soon as I got home, I found that many people were already asking me about it. Before I could reply, my best friend, Paige, called. I quickly answered. “Hey, Sloane, what’s going on? You got fired?” “Yeah, just now.” I briefly explained today’s situation to her. Paige snorted coldly: “This stupid company must be blind, firing you! They’re really getting ahead of themselves, thinking they can thrive without you! Sloane, what are you planning to do next?” “Go to arbitration first, and take a little break. Oh right, Paige, do you know any reliable lawyers? Recommend one to me.” “Sure, I’ll send you their contact info later. By the way, do you remember my cousin, Grayson?” I thought for a moment: “Yeah, I remember. I’ve met him a couple of times. Why?” Paige’s tone was somewhat excited as she said: “It’s like this. He started a company a while ago, and it’s right in your wheelhouse. They do VR too. “Don’t you still have a contract that hasn’t been signed? Go to my cousin’s company! If you go there and immediately land that contract, your compensation will definitely be better than before!” I thought about it and said to Paige: “Okay, send me a link to their company website. I’ll take a look first.” After chatting with Paige, I checked LinkedIn. The post I had just made already had a lot of likes, but no one was saying anything negative in the comments. Most were congratulating me, and then they turned around and sent me private messages. I started replying to them one by one. I organized today’s recordings and clipped the part where Gavin and Ashley talked about the $50 million contract and sent it to Mr. Mitchell. Less than an hour later, Mr. Mitchell sent a voice message. “Sloane, I’ve figured it out. The people at your former company contacted a scammer! He pretended to be my relative, convinced them he could secure the contract, and collected quite a bit in kickbacks from those two! “I’ll handle that scammer through legal channels. But don’t worry! I’m only giving this contract to you! Never mind anyone from Vertex—even if their CEO came, I’d only sign it with you!” Hearing that this was the reason, I couldn’t help but laugh. Let’s set Ashley aside for a moment, seeing as she’s a recent grad with no professional experience, it’s normal for her not to see clearly. But Gavin is an old pro. How could he not distinguish true from false? Or maybe, in the face of massive profit, he was too dizzy to care. 07 As soon as I got home, I received a call from an unfamiliar number. I checked the time. It was 10:00 PM. I was afraid it might be a client, so I quickly answered. “Hello?” A cool voice came from the other end of the line: “Sloane, this is Grayson.” Grayson? How did he get my number? I suddenly realized—it must have been Paige who gave it to him. “Hi Grayson, what’s up?” Grayson said calmly: “Paige told me you were let go by Vertex. Why don’t you come to my company? “As for compensation, I won’t have you working for me. You can come on directly as a partner. 20% equity, annual dividends. You can also continue doing sales. A base salary of $20,000 a month, and a 10% commission on every deal. How does that sound?” I was stunned, unable to speak for a moment. When I didn’t respond, Grayson continued: “If you feel that’s not enough, we can negotiate in person.” Me: “…” How is that not enough? That’s more than enough! You have to understand, when I was at Vertex, my commission on each deal was only 1%! Not to mention the 20% equity. This is a complete game-changer! I quickly replied to Grayson: “No, no, no, Grayson. That’s not what I meant. “It’s just so sudden, I couldn’t process it for a moment.” Grayson on the other end of the line audibly sighed in relief and said slowly: “Then are you free tomorrow? Why don’t you come to my company to take a look, and we can discuss the details in person.” “Sure. Send me the address.” After hanging up the phone, I still hadn’t recovered from the shock. I lay blankly on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. Grinding in the city for eight years. After rent and daily expenses, I really hadn’t saved much money. At least, not enough to buy a decent apartment in a prime real estate area. According to the terms Grayson offered, in less than a year, I’d probably be able to buy a luxury apartment downtown. Thinking of that $50 million contract, I suddenly felt very grateful for Gavin’s decision. Thank goodness they didn’t get their hands on it. I knew Grayson had probably heard about the $50 million contract from Paige, which is why he offered a high price to poach me. But this was completely normal. There are many sharks and little blood in the water; you have to fight for it. I didn’t think Grayson sought me out just for Paige’s sake. After all, what I possessed was real capability. Gavin thought things were simple, believing that even if I left, the client contracts would still belong to Vertex. Changing the person who maintained the client relationships would be the same. But the fact that I was able to sit in the position of top sales rep wasn’t just because of drinking and kissing ass. As a woman in the tech industry, I definitely was at a disadvantage. Many clients wore naturally tinted glasses, believing that a woman like me wouldn’t understand any professional jargon, yet still dared to sell virtual products. When I first entered the industry, a client poured red wine over my head to mock me. I didn’t confront him publicly. I didn’t yell or make a scene. Instead, I silently improved my professional knowledge. I went through all the tech industry knowledge that those arrogant men thought only men could understand, ensuring that I could comprehend and converse about anything the clients discussed. When treating clients, I was on call 24/7. Not just during holidays, but usually, as long as the client needed me, I was there whenever called. I treated them with sincerity, and only then would they treat me with sincerity. Because of this, my clients trusted my capabilities. They introduced me to their friends, bringing me even more resources. I sat in the position of top sales rep, and I deserved it. And the client who poured the red wine earlier? His company collapsed and went bankrupt less than two years later. The client resources I held in my hands—Gavin and Ashley couldn’t steal them.

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My son returned from his Harvard graduation to attend my birthday party. With his right hand, he held his biological mother, and with his left, his girlfriend. He poured a glass of red wine over my head and said that the person he hated most in this life was me, and he wished I were dead. In the moment of agonizing heartbreak, his cold, disgusted eyes became my last memory. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to five years ago. 1 “Hello, Mrs. Vance, please come down to the school. Ethan, he…” Receiving the familiar phone call, I felt a bit dazed, my heart racing as if I’d had a long dream. “Mrs. Vance, Ethan happens to have a math competition this Friday, but he suddenly pulled a stunt like this. Please talk some sense into him. His future is on the line.” The homeroom teacher adjusted his glasses, looking at the two people in the corner with frustration. Ethan Vance and his girlfriend. The two were caught dating by the teacher, and showing no signs of remorse, the parents were called in. I watched my son glare at me with sheer hatred. His little girlfriend hid behind him, her lip gloss and eyeshadow shimmering as she pouted with grievance. “I don’t need you controlling me. You aren’t even my real mom! You’re just a homewrecker.” The teacher’s expression drastically changed, and the other teachers in the office looked up at me. Ethan didn’t spare me an ounce of dignity. “Mr. Davis, I’d like to take him outside to say a few words. Sorry for the trouble.” In my previous life, I forced the two to break up, compelling Ethan to participate in the competition that was crucial for his early admission to Harvard. He didn’t disappoint, taking home the gold medal and securing his spot. But his girlfriend suddenly transferred schools. He hated me for tearing them apart. On my birthday, he intentionally brought that girl to me. The two looked at me with disgust and poured red wine all over me. Ethan gnashed his teeth and said: “You just can’t stand to see me happy. You tore my parents apart, and now you want to tear us apart. Go to hell. I will never forgive you.” Coming back to my senses, I looked at the two holding hands in front of me. “I won’t…” “I won’t oppose you guys, just don’t embarrass me in front of the teachers. I don’t want to be called to the school for this kind of thing again.” Before Ethan could speak, I beat him to it. My son stared at me in disbelief. I ignored them, nodded to the homeroom teacher, and left the office. This Friday, that girl would make Ethan choose between celebrating her birthday and taking the math competition. Obviously, no matter what, he turned eighteen last month. This time, I was handing the choice back to Ethan himself. Let him choose! 2 The homeroom teacher still didn’t give up and called me again. Half an hour before the exam, the two had skipped class. I drove to the amusement park and could faintly see their backs—youthful, unrestrained, and reckless. I checked my watch, waited until the exam start time had completely passed, and drove away. The first time I met Ethan, he was only two years old, a tiny little thing. His mother divorced his father, Richard Vance, because Richard was always busy with work. She quickly found a new love and didn’t even take him with her. Ethan’s little hand gripped my thumb, and he spoke sweetly. Though it was slurred, he said: “Mom… Mom…” I hugged him tightly. Even though he wasn’t my biological child, I decided then and there that I would treat him as my treasure and be good to him for the rest of my life. He started growing up and went to school. I didn’t yield an inch to Richard on the issue of his education. I strongly disagreed with his free-range parenting style. I read countless books on child psychology and cognitive development, yet I was afraid of applying them incorrectly on him. Worried that my lack of expertise would hold him back, I entrusted him to professional tutors. I rejoiced at his every progress and lost sleep over his every setback. I had a gentle and kind personality, but I forced myself to play the strict mother. I loved him dearly and couldn’t bear to see him cry, but I was merciless when it came to correcting his mistakes. He once made a wish to me, saying he wanted to go to the best university in the country, to Harvard. That was his dream. I etched that firmly in my heart. Ethan’s natural talent was limited; he was a bit lazy and not very self-disciplined. So, I willingly became the stepping stone beneath his feet. Even if he complained about me and resented me, I wanted to lift him up to achieve his dream. In my previous life, after discovering Ethan had a knack for math, I swallowed my pride to seek out renowned professors to tutor him. I took time off to accompany him to summer camps and traveled across the country for tests. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on tutoring fees, which caused me to miss out on several career promotions. But in the end, he said he hated me. He said he didn’t like math at all, and even without the competitions, he could have gotten into Harvard on his own. Now, I just wanted to see how he would get into Harvard on his own. When Richard called from overseas, nine out of ten sentences were questions about his son. “Audrey, thank you for taking such good care of him. I know it’s been hard on you all these years. Deep down, Ethan treats you like his real mom. I’ll make it up to you properly. I love you.” I coldly hung up the phone. One said he loved me; the other said he treated me like his real mom. Yet, in the end, I was humiliated by them and died full of resentment. Late that night, Ethan still hadn’t returned. I turned off the lights and fell asleep peacefully. I used to stay awake all night when he came home late, full of worry and anxiety, waiting up for him. He complained and accused me of restricting his freedom, saying my strict control was suffocating him. Now, I was setting him free. 3 When I received the call from the police precinct the next day, I wasn’t surprised. In my previous life, this same event occurred, but I had aggressively intervened and bailed Ethan out of the entire mess. The center of this incident was his crush, Chloe Harper. “Whose parent are you?” I scanned the dejected teenagers and said, “Ethan Vance’s.” “They got drunk and started a brawl. One kid got his head smashed and is in the ER right now. Nobody is admitting to throwing the punch, so we…” On Chloe’s youthful face, her makeup was heavy, her hair styled in big waves, yet she leaned pitifully against Ethan. Ethan glanced at me, lowered his head, and said stubbornly, “I want my dad here. I don’t need you!” I called his dad right in front of him. It just rang busy; no one answered. The police officer suddenly asked sternly again, “Who exactly threw the punch?” Chloe suddenly burst into tears, hugging Ethan tightly. He looked up, and our eyes met. I knew who did it, and Ethan knew too. How would he choose? “It was me. I threw the punch. I smashed the bottle over his head.” Ethan lifted his chin, his voice echoing firmly, taking the blame entirely. This was his defense of his true love, a display of his courage. He shielded Chloe in his arms like a real man. At that moment, Chloe’s mother arrived. Highly emotional, she slapped Ethan across the face: “You delinquent, ruining my daughter! Now you didn’t just end up in the precinct, you put someone in the hospital. One look at you and I know you’re a thug. You’re gonna end up in prison!” “Stay away from Chloe, do you hear me?!” Ethan’s face turned pale. As a proud, privileged boy, this was the first time he had ever been cursed at like this. He looked at me, lost and confused, unable to understand why I—who usually coddled him—was just watching him get insulted. Without a single ripple of emotion. Chloe hid behind her mother at this moment, not saying a word. Ultimately, because it was his first offense, he was a high school student, and the other party had fought back (resulting in minor injuries overall), the situation was deemed mild. As long as we actively paid compensation, it could be settled out of court. He was still wearing a ridiculous studded leather jacket, ripped jeans, and reeked of cheap alcohol. I rolled down the car window. “You, why did you…” he started blankly, looking at my reflection in the rearview mirror, a swollen red slap mark still on his face. He didn’t finish his question. After I finished handling the paperwork, we headed back to the school. 4 He used to hate me coming to his school. He wouldn’t even allow me to attend parent-teacher conferences. From the moment he started school, he never once called me Mom. Once he realized the existence of his biological mother, he stopped calling me entirely and instead began to hurl insults. He firmly believed I was the one who ruined his parents’ marriage, that I was a despicable homewrecker. I explained to him countless times that his dad and I dated normally; they had already been divorced. I was not a mistress. But Ethan clung to his own judgment. Combined with his rebellious teenage phase, he embarrassed me multiple times. He even directly invited his birth mom to family gatherings. Mother and son would sit together and pull his dad in, making me look utterly redundant. When introducing me to his friends, he would say: “Look, that’s my stepmom. She’s the mistress.” I truly loved and protected him, treating him as my own child. How could a mother hold a grudge against her kid? But then, I caught him slipping birth control pills into my water. When confronted, he made ridiculous excuses. He didn’t want me to have a child of my own, thinking I would start abusing him and that my child would fight him for the inheritance. I finally couldn’t hold back and slapped him, demanding to know why he harbored such messed-up thoughts. He glared at me, like he was looking at a sworn enemy. When I was heartbroken and in despair, Ethan suddenly apologized. He said he was wrong, and our relationship temporarily softened. I gave in again. I watched him grow from a tiny toddler into a tall, strapping young man; he was my child. He said he wanted to get into Harvard, and I did everything in my power to help him, sacrificing my own career to manage his diet and schedule. Getting into an Ivy League is no easy feat. If he could win gold in the national competition, he’d secure early admission. If he failed the competition and his SAT scores weren’t enough, I planned to arrange for him to study abroad. I had planned everything out for him, hoping his future would be smooth and brilliant. He achieved his dream; his future was bright. But it turned out he had always despised me deep down. I was a stain on his life. His warmth towards me was nothing but a fake facade, a scheme brewing to humiliate and take revenge on me. At his graduation, which also happened to be my birthday party, he was the golden boy, the envy of everyone. With his right hand, he held the birth mother who abandoned him, and with his left, the girlfriend who had once blackmailed me for $200,000. He looked at me with eyes full of pure hatred. In front of everyone, he called me a wicked stepmother with a venomous heart who abused him constantly, tearing him away from his true love and destroying his happiness. I was painted as an unforgivable, malicious woman. In front of the entire crowd, he poured red wine over my head and said he wished I were dead. In the moment my heart seized in agonizing pain, Ethan leaned close to me. He whispered that he had poisoned my medication, causing my body to fail day by day, because he truly wanted me to die. 5 I poured everything into raising him, yet he refused to attribute even a fraction of his success to me. But now, I was frequently heading to the school to clean up his messes. The homeroom teacher’s expression was one of absolute heartbreak: “Ethan, how did you end up like this? The school has always treated you as a top Ivy League prospect! And you? Now you’re dating, fighting, and ending up in the police precinct. What are you trying to do?!” “Mrs. Vance, as a parent, you have to care and discipline your child! You can’t just let them run wild! Both the school and the family need to take responsibility.” I patiently listened to the teacher’s lecture. I used to understand this logic better than him, but this was Ethan’s own choice. This time, I decided to respect all of his choices. I wanted to see if, by following his own desires, he could live a better life than in his previous one. He wasn’t expelled, but he received a major demerit and was transferred from the AP classes to the regular classes. Studying is like rowing upstream; not advancing means falling back. He was already failing to keep up with the AP curriculum anyway. Due to my outstanding work performance, I was scheduled to travel for a very important corporate meeting that week. Ethan mentioned that the class was holding a parent-teacher conference. He lowered his eyes, seemingly already knowing my choice, assuming I would choose him. I used to want to go to his parent-teacher conferences so badly as his mother. I wanted to witness his honors, to proudly show everyone the gem I had carefully polished. But he never allowed me to go. He never gave me that chance. In my past life, when he got his first top-tier grades, I turned down a major promotion from my boss just to watch him receive his award. But Ethan intentionally gave me the wrong time and place. I waited there all day like an absolute fool. I wouldn’t be a fool in this life. The next day, at his class’s parent-teacher conference, only his seat remained empty. I chose my job, fulfilling his wish from the previous life. When I walked through the door, Ethan smashed a glass cup at my feet. His eyes were dark and bloodshot: “Why didn’t you go to the school for the conference?! I was the only one in the whole class without a parent!” I looked at him silently. The scene was so strikingly similar. In the past life, he had roared at me just like this. “What right do you have to go to my school? Do you deserve to? You aren’t my mom; you’re just a disgusting homewrecker!” Time and space overlapped, shadows merging. I walked past him without a shred of emotion. In my past life, I was devastated, my heart pierced by the person I viewed as my own son. That feeling made me constantly doubt myself, wondering where I went wrong, where I had failed him. But now, my heart was completely indifferent. I wasn’t his mom, so why should I go to his parent-teacher conference? His dad finally found the time to deliver a long, trans-oceanic lecture. In the past life, he was an absentee father. He left all the “bad cop” parenting to me, occasionally popping up to play the “good cop.” It was so easy for him to become the tolerant, open-minded, ultimate good dad in his son’s eyes. “Audrey, Ethan’s teacher told me his grades have been slipping lately, and he’s not studying properly. He’s been doing all sorts of nonsense. What’s going on?” “My ability to educate him is lacking. Why don’t you come back and parent him yourself? Ethan misses his dad very much.” The man immediately changed the subject: “Sigh, studying is ultimately his own responsibility. I’m too busy over here, I want to come back too, but I really can’t get away. Audrey, you’ll have to put in more effort. I’ll call the boy and scold him too.” This was an outcome I had anticipated long ago. His son was important, but not as important as his job. Only the old me, blinded by self-righteous maternal love, willingly sacrificed everything for him. Only to receive not a single ounce of gratitude in the end. 6 My career skyrocketed, and I quickly became the general manager of the branch office. The truth is, I was never inferior to anyone; I had just poured all my time and energy into Ethan before. Meanwhile, Ethan had completely degenerated into a delinquent. Skipping class, fighting, dating, and receiving multiple school-wide disciplinary warnings. His teachers stopped calling me. If even the parents had checked out, what could a teacher possibly change? We all gave up on Ethan. He finally got to choose the freedom he desperately wanted. He didn’t have to be forced by me to drink milk every day or eat a balanced diet. He didn’t have to wake up early for study hall, didn’t have to shuttle between SAT prep classes on weekends, and didn’t have to wear the same boring uniform every day. He no longer had to endure my nagging, my supervision, or my “unnecessary” care. He started fighting with his dad: “You were always busy with work and never cared before! What right do you have to interfere in my life now?! I make my own choices!” “You ungrateful little brat! If I don’t make money, who supports the family? Who feeds you, clothes you, and apparently raises an enemy?! You better study hard and listen to me, do you hear me?!” “You guys never actually cared about me! You just treated me like a mindless puppet to satisfy your own control issues!” “What nonsense are you talking about?!” “…” “You little punk, if your teacher calls me again to say you’re failing, I’ll break your legs…” Crash— Ethan smashed his brand-new smartphone onto the floor. With bleached blonde hair and a black ear stud, he had completely transformed into a different person. He shot me a cold glare, left the house, and didn’t return all night. Time refreshed day by day, and the countdown to the SATs and college admissions had begun. My professional performance was stellar, and I was successfully transferred back to corporate headquarters, promoted to senior management. “Ms. Collins, I’d like to request some time off. My son’s school is having a parent-teacher conference. He ranked first in the entire school this time.” My subordinate, Linda, asked for leave with a proud expression. Her child sent a voice memo at that moment. “Mom, you have to come! I want you to watch me get my award.” I gladly approved her request. “Ms. Collins, your son must be taking his college entrance exams soon, right? I haven’t heard you mention him lately. Ethan, wasn’t it? You used to say he was so smart, he might just be the valedictorian this year!” I smiled. “I hope so. Hard work never deceives anyone.”

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