I received a new case at my private detective agency. My assignment was to investigate Jasper Lin’s infidelity. While tailing him, I discovered the person he was cheating with was my wife, Nora. Devastated, I decided to accept an invitation to join an international mercenary organization’s reconnaissance camp. For seven years, I had been anonymously donating blood to Nora. But now, I wouldn’t need to be her donor anymore. 0 I arrived at the address in Hawthorne Villa District provided by the client. Jasper was entangled with a woman. I took out my phone and started filming. The woman, in the heat of the moment, had the face of my wife, Nora. My knees almost gave way as I staggered. My colleague, Leo, saw it too and hesitated, “Detective Beckett, maybe you should let someone else handle this case.” I shook my head, fighting the pain. Providing excellent service is a must in this line of work. Jasper thrust into Nora with a force that made my heart ache, his voice low, “How do I compare to your husband?” Nora’s voice trembled, “He doesn’t compare to you.” “Jasper, Jasper, you’re the best,” she gasped repeatedly. It took a while for them to settle down. Jasper played with her hand, looking at the wedding ring on her finger, “Seeing your ring makes me uneasy.” Nora giggled, took off the ring, and tossed it into the trash. I thought they would part ways soon. But after one round, they immediately moved on to the next. Nora turned over the box, but no condoms came out. Jasper asked anxiously, “What should we do?” Nora said casually, “Inside. I’ll take the morning-after pill.” My heart felt like it was being crushed, the pain unbearable. I once loved her with all my heart. I would never risk it inside. Yet she gave herself completely to another man. She has a blood disorder, and her periods are very heavy. A miscarriage or childbirth could be life-threatening for her. So, I’ve always been cautious to prevent pregnancy. I preferred to bear the discomfort myself rather than put her at risk. She needs blood transfusions twice a month, and with her Rh blood type, finding a match is tough. Coincidentally, I share the same blood type. I donate twice a month, 400ml each time, specifically for her. To ease her mental burden, I’ve always done it anonymously. The woman I treasured was letting herself be treated like this by another man. As I reminisced, I received a message on my phone: “Declan, my best friend needs Plan B, can you buy a box and send it to Hawthorne Villa District?” Pain spread throughout my body, and I clenched my fists unconsciously. Sweat dripped from my forehead and body. “Nora, what if your husband finds out you’re cheating?” Jasper eagerly awaited her response. “Even if I cheated with ten people, he wouldn’t have the heart to leave me.” Yes, I once said, “Nora, let’s never part. I’d be lost without you.” Back then, Nora loved me wholeheartedly. She was a formidable CEO outside but cooked and cleaned for me at home. When I had a fever, she stayed up all night taking care of me. But that was then, and this is now. When I delivered the Plan B to the villa’s door, Jasper came out to take it. He looked at me with amusement, “The woman inside is quite something.” As he spoke, his cologne wafted into my nose. I lowered my head, hiding my clenched fist, and hurried away… Nora once said she’d love me forever and never betray me. I was prepared to be her blood donor for life. With her betrayal, my plans had to change. I opened my email and clicked “Accept” on the invitation from the international mercenary organization. They needed excellent scouts, and I needed to leave this heartache behind. Departure in five days. 0

Back home, I drank alone. Seven years of love, three years of marriage, and a lifetime of plans ended like this. When Nora came home, I was nearly drunk. Seeing me with the drink, she asked anxiously, “Declan, what’s wrong? Did something happen?” As she approached, Jasper’s cologne still lingered on her. Nausea hit me, and I pushed her away, rushing to the bathroom. Her eyes flashed with panic for a moment. I vomited violently into the toilet. She followed me closely, gently patting my back. “Don’t drink so much; it’s bad for your stomach. It pains me to see you like this.” Switching from one man to another, how could she change so quickly? “I’ll make you some hangover soup.” When I came out, she had already prepared the soup. She stirred it with a spoon, hoping it would cool faster. Sitting on the couch, she fed me spoonfuls. I noticed her ring finger had a ring very similar to her wedding ring. But on the palm side, there was a small “Lin” engraved. She threw away her wedding ring and wore someone else’s. Fine. Love’s wounds are like skinning flesh. The more thoroughly they’re drawn out now, the less it will hurt when I leave. Noticing my gaze, she spoke with concern, “Am I neglecting you? Work has been hectic. I’ll accompany you tomorrow to order a suit. Our third anniversary is coming up. Let’s celebrate then.” She took a warm towel and wiped my face. When she lowered her head, her neckline was too loose, exposing the hickeys all over her chest. I grabbed her and tried to pull her clothes. She quickly covered herself with her hands, “Declan, you’ve had too much to drink. This is bad for you. You need rest, okay? Be good.” After a brief panic, she switched to a gentle tone. I just wanted to see how she hid the marks on her body, but she thought I was looking for intimacy. In the past, her words would have made me feel how considerate and caring she was. But today, I knew she just didn’t want me to discover the hickeys. While she cleaned the bathroom, her phone received a message: “You wildcat, you drained me today.” I didn’t move, staring blankly at the phone screen as it went dark again. After cleaning the bathroom, she helped me to bed. Gently changing me into pajamas. Tucking me in carefully. She even took my clothes to wash. Beside me, she still played the role of the dutiful wife. If she were to compete for the Best Actor Award, the gold medal would surely be hers. The next day, at the suit tailor’s, I was getting measured when she received a call from Jasper. “Wildcat, I want to devour you. Come find me.” She sneaked a glance at me, thinking I couldn’t hear. But I was once an excellent scout; my hearing is unmatched. My hands clenched unconsciously, my body tense and stiff. As she approached, she pretended to act casually and naturally. But the blush on her face showed her eagerness. “Declan, something came up at work. I’ll have to go. After you’re measured, go wait for me at the River View Restaurant’s penthouse. I’ve reserved a table. We’ll eat together.” I held her hand, “Can’t you stay? You promised to be with me today.” Though I decided to leave, watching her go and be with another man still hurt deeply. She pried my hand away, “Work is important. I’ll be back soon. Wait for me.” She hugged my waist quickly and left. I waited at the restaurant until the sun set, the city lights up, and the whole city fell into darkness, but she never came. I called five times, but each time was unreachable. 0

She returned home after 1 a.m. Thinking I was asleep, she didn’t call me and went straight to the guest room. I lay awake, recalling our seven years together, unable to sleep. She made long calls from the guest room, speaking coquettishly and ambiguously. It was undoubtedly Jasper on the other end. When I got up in the morning, she had already made breakfast. Including my favorite soft-boiled eggs. She apologized, “I was busy at work yesterday and couldn’t make it to the restaurant. You won’t blame me, right?” Saying this, she leaned in to kiss my forehead. I reached for the egg, avoiding her kiss. She seemed startled. Her eyes flashed with a brief disappointment. Thinking about her kissing another man made me feel dirty. Today’s task was still to tail her. She went to the hospital for a blood transfusion, and the man holding her waist was Jasper. “I heard someone has been donating blood for you for years? 800ml a month, who could it be?” Jasper wondered. “Idiot, who would willingly give so much blood monthly,” Nora scoffed. If not for loving her deeply, I wouldn’t have. The doctor always scolded me for donating too frequently. But if I didn’t, she wouldn’t have any. Only two people in the city matched her blood type. The other person wasn’t healthy enough to donate. Jasper pinched her under her clothes, “You should thank him. What if he stops donating?” Nora pinched Jasper’s butt in return, “Don’t jinx it.” A while later, they came out of the transfusion room. Nora’s face was dark, visibly puzzled. If it weren’t for the profound love I have for her, I wouldn’t find it so hard to let go. The doctor often scolds me for donating blood too frequently. But if I didn’t, she wouldn’t have any. In this entire city, only two people have a compatible blood type for her. The other person is in poor health and unable to donate. Jasper jokingly teased as he touched her waist: “You should be grateful. What if he stops donating? What would you do?” Nora playfully pinched Jasper back: “Don’t jinx it.” A short while later, they emerged from the transfusion room. Nora looked troubled, clearly perplexed. “Why didn’t he donate? He’s never missed a session in seven years. Even during a snowstorm, he still came. Something must have happened this time,” she speculated. I was supposed to donate yesterday, intending to get my suit tailored first and then donate for the last time—to finish what I started. But she left me for another man’s embrace, so I canceled the donation. Yesterday, the blood center called me, but I didn’t pick up. Nora made a few calls, trying to find out the name and number of the donor. I don’t know what was said on the other end, but her face remained a mask of disappointment and concern. Jasper gently tapped her nose: “Don’t worry, there must be a solution.” They hugged and headed to the car, both getting into the back seat. Through the car window, I saw Nora nestled into Jasper’s arms. Soon after, the car began to shake slightly. Not long after, they returned. Nora’s hair was disheveled, and her clothes were wrinkled, clear signs of intimacy. I turned away, unable to watch. Their affection felt like knives and arrows to my heart. I looked down at my hand. I touched the wedding ring she had lovingly placed on my finger. The vows that once moved me now felt nauseating. I took off the ring and tossed it into the trash can. When I looked up, they were gone. 0

I went home to pack my things. There wasn’t much; I’m quite a minimalist. But I had bought her many gifts. I discarded the shared memories along with them. Just as I was about to lie down and sleep, she returned. She approached me, bent down, and tried to hug me. The scent of another man’s cologne wafted over, and I pushed her away. Her eyes flickered with a moment of panic. “Declan, what’s wrong? You’ve seemed distant these past couple of days.” She feigned calmness and looked around. “Why is there so much less stuff in the house?” I hadn’t decided how to respond when her phone rang. She took her phone and walked to the balcony. “When I’m home, don’t call me. I don’t want our relationship to affect my relationship with Declan.” … “If you dare tell him, you’ll regret it.” … “Okay, after our third wedding anniversary, I’ll take you out.” Her deliberately hushed voice was harsh to my ears. To me, the feelings she cherished seemed so worthless. The third anniversary was to be celebrated on a cruise. I thought about finding an opportunity to tell her I was leaving. Ending things properly is my principle. Nora seemed oblivious to my impending departure. She reminisced about how we met and grew to know each other. All our sweet moments. When emotions ran deep, she nestled against me as if our marriage could last forever. But my response was no longer as enthusiastic as before. Just indifferent. Her dual behavior in public and private felt ironic to me. Her betrayal caused me deep pain. During the toast, Jasper stayed by her side. Thinking I didn’t know him, she introduced us: “Declan, this is my assistant, Jasper.” Jasper wore the suit I had tailored, and it fit him perfectly. I said calmly, “I’ve met him. Delivered medicine once.” “This suit suits him well.” She was momentarily stunned, then seemed to understand instantly: “Oh, he’s my best friend’s boyfriend.” “This suit is for him first. I’ll get another one made for you later.” From the reflection on the door’s glass, I saw Jasper secretly pinch her waist. Halfway through, Nora went to the restroom, and Jasper pulled me aside. “Declan, I heard your… abilities aren’t great, right?” He looked at me provocatively. “I can fully satisfy Nora, can you? You should leave, don’t cling to her like an octopus.” He pulled out his phone, showing me their intimate video. These, I had already seen. I turned to leave but noticed a pillar about to fall. I quickly dodged and pushed Jasper out of the way. A scout’s reflexes to danger are always faster. Jasper’s leg got hit by the falling pillar. “Declan, you damn bastard, you did this on purpose.” Jasper cursed loudly. Nora came out just in time to see everything. She walked towards me coldly and slapped me. “Declan, just because you don’t like Jasper doesn’t mean you should hurt him.” I was furious, raised my arm, but ultimately lowered it. I don’t hit women. “Why wouldn’t I like Jasper? You just introduced him to me today. Do you two have some kind of relationship?” I glared at Nora with bloodshot eyes, my voice icy. Concern clouded her judgment. She thought I didn’t know about their relationship, but her words seemed to give it away. She quickly covered up: “My best friend entrusted him to me, now his leg is injured, how do I explain to her?” “Get him to the hospital now.” The injury wasn’t severe, but he was hospitalized. Nora was running around, busy. A doctor from the hematology department saw her and came over: “You asked the director for the donor’s number, he gave it to me. Here it is.” He handed her a piece of paper with a string of numbers—my number. I wondered if Nora would regret slapping me if she knew I had been the one donating blood to her all these years. Would she regret her affair? I was curious about her reaction. I stared at her, and at the paper. Nora took the number, about to look when Jasper groaned, and she quickly placed the paper on the bedside. Jasper stretched his leg, and the paper fell to the floor. People passing by stepped on it, leaving it covered in footprints. Later, the cleaning staff came in and thought it was trash, so they cleaned it up. I didn’t linger, went straight home. The parting words I prepared were no longer needed. I left the divorce papers and the USB with their video on the living room table. I threw the keys in the door. I took one last look at the home I’d lived in for seven years and slammed the door shut. Dragging my suitcase, I headed to the airport. Just as I entered the departure lounge, Nora called. I didn’t want to answer, but accidentally hit the accept button. Nora’s voice came through, choking with tears: “Declan, was it really you donating blood for me all these years?”

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My boyfriend of five years finally proposed to me. Filled with joy, I celebrated a bit too much that night. The man I knew to be calm and considerate seemed to have vanished. He accused me of lacking self-control and left me alone and intoxicated by the roadside. Battling a headache, I wandered the chilly streets by myself for what seemed like an eternity. When I got home, I found him in our new house, embracing another woman. “I regret it. If you come back, I’m willing to call off the wedding for you.” Watching him shower her with the tenderness I once knew, I suddenly felt regret as well. To prevent him from canceling the wedding, I ran away on the day of the ceremony. No one expected that after I left, the man who was usually so confident and composed would search for me frantically everywhere. Through the window of our new home, I saw two familiar figures locked in a tight embrace. I slipped off my high heels. Theo Brooks had given them to me as a proposal gift. I liked them, but they were uncomfortable and had rubbed my feet raw. So now, I’d rather walk barefoot than endure the pain any longer. I dialed a familiar number. “Sis, I’m not getting married. I want to come find you.” My sister paused, “Alright, little sister. You’re always welcome here whenever you’re ready.” I choked back tears as I answered. Then I heard a sigh from her side, “I thought he was different… I didn’t expect you’d get hurt.” “Nora, don’t cry. You’re still young. There’s more to the world than love, so many beautiful things for you to discover. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.” Until tonight, I thought Theo Brooks was different too. He was mature, steady, and always caring. He kept a respectful distance from other women. Even when busy with work, he made time for me. But tonight, at the celebration, he saw Lydia Harris, who showed up uninvited. For the first time, he lost his composure and knocked over a glass. For the first time, he exploded over something trivial and left me alone by the roadside. If Theo Brooks had seen someone else, I might have thought it was all a misunderstanding. I might have given him another chance. I would have been willing to spend another five or ten years quietly by his side. But the woman in the room was Lydia Harris. The Lydia Harris who bullied me for years, who took so much from me. The Lydia Harris I could never forgive. When I saw Theo Brooks bring Lydia Harris home, I gave up on him completely in my heart.

Yet, for some reason, I couldn’t help but check the home surveillance. On the screen, Lydia Harris was wearing my nightgown, lounging in our new house. Theo Brooks, who never did housework and always criticized me for drinking, was in the kitchen making her a hangover soup. Lydia looked up at him, “A stand-in, are you really going to marry her?” Theo didn’t reply, instead bending down to massage Lydia’s foot. “You don’t have to say it, I know you’re doing all this to upset me. The proposal party was just to make me show up.” “You can’t forget me. This room is decorated to my taste, the wedding ring is the style I like, the cake has our initials, even the shoes she’s wearing are ones I didn’t want.” With that, Lydia pressed her foot against Theo’s chest. “The one you love has always been me.” Theo remained silent. After a moment’s pause, he suddenly embraced Lydia. He poured all his love into a passionate kiss. Watching this, tears streamed down my face. I remembered our five years together, every time I wanted to kiss him, he’d find an excuse to avoid it. I thought he was just shy. I never imagined he reserved his deepest affection for Lydia. For five years, his body was with me, but his heart belonged to another woman. I took a deep breath, ready to leave. But Theo, somehow, was downstairs, calling my name. When I turned around, he instinctively let go of Lydia’s hand. “Lydia drank too much tonight. I was worried about her walking alone, so I brought her home.” “She’s considerate, worried you’d misunderstand, she insisted on leaving first.” Theo, usually a man of few words, seemed to have endless things to say about Lydia. And every word was in her defense. I looked at the man in front of me, suddenly feeling he’s a stranger. Clearly, I’m the girlfriend who has known him for years. Clearly, I’m the fiancée who’s been through so much with him. Why, in the end, did I become just a substitute? I held back my heartache, took a deep breath. “An offspring of an affair is still an affair.” Hearing my words, Theo suddenly got angry. “Nora Harris! How can you say that about Lydia? Apologize to her now!” “No wonder no one cares about you since you were little, no wonder no one likes you. Your sharp tongue makes me sick, you deserve to be unloved!” As if afraid I’d hurt Lydia, Theo pushed me aside to protect her. The soft moonlight fell on Theo’s face. That concerned look overlapped with the warm figure in my memory. Many, many years ago, when we were young. Theo would protect me like this. He said, “Nora, you’re the kindest girl. Even if everyone ignores you, I’ll love you forever and ever.” Growing up, I always kept Theo’s words close to my heart. I worked hard, wanting to create a beautiful future with him. But whenever I brought it up, he’d always brush it off with “We’ll talk about it later.” And now, Lydia Harris appeared. He didn’t even bother with excuses anymore. With “You deserve to be unloved,” he stabbed my deepest wound.

I turned my head away, unwilling to look at him. Yet my eyes reddened uncontrollably. Theo’s eyes trembled slightly. I don’t know if he realized he’d gone too far or noticed my bleeding feet. He sighed, “Tonight, I’ll pretend you were talking nonsense while drunk. From now on…” “There will be no ‘from now on’.” I spoke calmly. “What?” Theo was puzzled, wanting to ask more, but then he saw Lydia running away in tears. He could no longer care about his doubts, hastily chasing after her. He left so quickly, he didn’t notice the bracelet falling from his pocket. I picked up the bracelet, recalling the small tattoo on Lydia’s wrist. All the details I ignored connected at that moment. Childhood bonds couldn’t withstand a sudden love. Our so-called five years of love was just my wishful thinking. Given that, there’s no need to cling to an undeserving man. As I turned to head home, I received a message from my sister. She booked me a flight to leave. The timing was just half a month later, on our wedding day. The wedding countdown in the living room now became my countdown to leave. I let out a bitter laugh, discarding all new house decorations and couple items. With destiny’s will, I’ll use this last half month to bid farewell to my past.

After dawn, Theo’s call woke me up. “Nora, are you awake? I ordered your favorite breakfast. I won’t be back today, there’s an emergency at the company, let’s reschedule the wedding photos.” “Don’t worry about last night, I apologized to Lydia for you.” “Alright.” Theo didn’t expect me to agree so easily. Awkwardly, he added, “The wedding is just a formality, our relationship is so strong, we don’t need to prove anything with this, let’s keep it simple.” “Alright.” Keep it simple. This wedding had no marriage certificate, no wedding photos, no emcee, and no bride. After hanging up, I used a marker to cross off “wedding photos” on the calendar. Theo was busy with work, rarely having time for me. So I wrote down all the things I wanted to do on the calendar. I planned to fulfill all my wishes during the wedding period. Unfortunately, one by one, those wishes got covered by thick marker strokes. They became unspeakable regrets. I no longer focused on Theo. After submitting my resignation, I met up with some friends to say goodbye. In the following days, I slowly contacted my friends here, informing them that the wedding was canceled. “Actually, we all guessed…” A friend opened Theo’s social media for me to see. “During this time, Theo has been with Lydia.” “People who don’t know might think the person in his posts is you, but we recognized her immediately.” Theo, who never posted a photo of me, now had his profile filled with images of Lydia. They watched movies together, dined at restaurants, strolled in parks. His love for Lydia was blatant. Yet he blocked me from seeing it. My friend looked at me with concern. “Nora, don’t be too upset. Lydia can’t compare to you. If Theo knew her true colors, he would definitely regret it.” “Theo has been spending all his time with Lydia lately.” “People who aren’t familiar with them think it’s you in his social media posts, but we can tell otherwise.” Theo has never shared a single photo of me. Now his feed is filled with Lydia. They go to movies, dine out, and stroll in parks together. His affection for Lydia is on full display. Except, I’m the one who’s blocked out. My friend gives me a worried glance. “Nora, don’t be too upset. Lydia can’t hold a candle to you. Theo will realize his mistake once he sees her true colors.” “It’s alright. I’ve stopped caring long ago.” I gaze out at the street. In a few days, I’ll leave this place for good. I don’t have the time or energy to be heartbroken over Theo. So when Theo finally returns after being away for days, I remain indifferent. 5. Upon his return, he keeps responding to messages, barely looking around. “Why is the house so empty? Didn’t you pack?” “You said to keep it simple.” Theo falls silent, his eyes landing on the countdown showing “7.” “Time flies. Our wedding is just a week away.” I tear off two pages. “Our wedding is in five days.” These pages had wishes like “go to the beach together” and “stargaze together.” But Theo will never notice anything about me. Just then, my sister calls, and I step out to the balcony for a brief chat. When I return, Theo is still on his phone. “What’s up? I thought I heard something about a plane ticket.” “Nothing, just work stuff.” “Okay, just don’t plan a honeymoon. I’m too busy.” “I know.” Since Lydia returned, he hasn’t wanted to be apart from her for a second. Trying to ease the awkwardness, I hand Theo the bracelet. His calm eyes light up immediately. “So it was with you. I’ve been searching everywhere for it.” “I know. I saw your high-priced lost and found post online.” Ten thousand for a simple bracelet. Our entire wedding costs only five thousand. I look at Theo and suddenly ask, “Where’s your wedding ring?” He pauses, only realizing then his finger is bare. “Not sure when I lost it…” Theo tries to explain, but another message arrives on his phone. It’s Lydia’s special notification sound. He glances at it, then stands to kiss my forehead. “Sorry, babe. I’ve been so busy lately. Please take care of the wedding details.” “Once things settle, I promise to make you the happiest woman in the world.” Theo, usually so quiet, suddenly knows how to sweet-talk. In the past, I would have been moved. I’d have felt like I warmed that icy mountain. But now, I wash my face with disdain and continue my own tasks. Time slips by. Soon it’s the day before the wedding. The calendar’s wish is “have dinner together.” It’s been my biggest wish for years. But I know it will never come true. My sister won’t forgive the one who hurt me. And I won’t forgive Theo. I went to the beach myself, watching the stars by the sea. The starry sky envelops this familiar land, and all memories seem to fade with the sea breeze. Meanwhile, Lydia posts a new update. A big family dinner, everyone is there. Theo is beaming as he serves Lydia food. The caption reads, “Both families meeting, discussing final wedding details.” I don’t feel angry, just amused. Whose wedding? Mine or Lydia’s? I block and delete Lydia, trying to compose something to Theo, but I can’t send it. Just as I’m about to head home, Theo calls. “Where are you? Why aren’t you at home?” “Send me your location. I miss you.” 6 Theo arrives quickly. Once in the car, I notice a pillow on the passenger seat. I move it aside and find an opened box of condoms. Hesitating, I choose to sit in the back seat. Theo’s eyes remain glued to his phone, oblivious to my discomfort. He casually asks, “Why the beach? Is everything for the wedding done?” “Almost.” “I remember you always wanted to go to the beach. When I have time, I’ll take you for a proper trip. I didn’t mean to interrupt today, but my mom wanted to see you.” In Theo’s eyes, the wedding is solely my responsibility. He only thinks of me when he needs me. I don’t respond; my eyes sting from the wind. At the old house, only leftovers remain. Dad is chatting with Aunt Hazel. Aunt Hazel warmly takes my hand. “Nora, I really like you. You’re sensible and well-behaved.” As she says this, her eyes flicker to Lydia. “Though with Theo’s conditions, he could find someone better. But I advised him to cherish what he has.” “But you’re not young anymore. After the wedding, maybe stop working, have a child soon, and focus on taking care of Theo.” I respond perfunctorily. When I look up, Theo is already by Lydia’s side. He brings bridal and bridesmaid dresses for us to try on. “Knowing you’re busy, I let Lydia choose. She has better taste than you.” The old yellowed dress even has a tear. Meanwhile, Lydia, in a white dress, looks more like the bride. Theo seems anxious. “It must be a store mistake, nothing to do with Lydia.” “It’s too late to change. I’ll figure something out tomorrow.” “It’s fine.” I calmly want to change out of the bridal dress. But Lydia suggests taking a big group photo. She squeezes me to the side, standing next to Theo. As the shutter clicks, she nudges me. The final photo is so blurry, I can’t be recognized. Theo suggests retaking it. I smile, “Maybe another time. It’s late.” The wish for a group photo has already been crossed off my list. Lydia, with teary eyes, apologizes to me. “Sis, don’t be mad at Theo. I’ll scour the city tonight to find you a dress you’ll like.” With that, she runs out crying. Theo glares at me and chases after her. I feel bored and leave with the tattered dress. Anyway, tomorrow, everything will be over.

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On our seventh wedding anniversary, I joyfully prepared a table full of my husband’s favorite dishes. But he brought his first love back home. Our five-year-old daughter clung to her hand, nestling close. “Aunt Hazel, you’re so wonderful! My mom only stays home to wash clothes and cook. You’re like a fairy who can do anything.” “Aunt Hazel, can you be my mom?” My heart wrenched, and I staggered backward, shocked by my daughter’s words. My husband didn’t correct her; he just smiled at them. Then he glanced at me standing in the corner with impatience, saying, “Why do you always have that sour look? Our daughter is young and doesn’t understand, but shouldn’t you know better? Go set the table for our guest!” I quietly set the table, trying to muster a smile. “I’m not hungry. You all go ahead.” That night, I saw my husband’s latest Snapchat post. In the picture, he and that woman were holding our daughter, looking blissfully happy. The caption read: “After all the twists and turns, I’m grateful to have you, to have you both. How fortunate.” With tears in my eyes, I liked the post, then opened our chat. “Let’s get a divorce. I’ll let you be.”

The next morning, I returned home to collect my bank card and left the divorce papers on the coffee table. Passing through the living room, I saw the mess they left from last night’s meal. Hazel was sleeping in our bedroom, Sierra clinging tightly to her as if afraid she’d disappear. Declan was sleeping at the edge of the bed. I let out a dry laugh, unable to stop my tears. I took a photo of the three of them with my phone. Declan, a light sleeper, stirred at the sound of the camera shutter. Seeing me ready to leave with my suitcase, he stopped me. “Where are you going with a suitcase so early?” I smiled faintly, “Making room for you all.” Declan was annoyed. “Why are you acting crazy again?” “Hazel just returned from abroad and has nowhere to stay, so I brought her home for a bit. Do you have to be so petty?” I laughed inwardly, realizing the last bit of hope I had for him was gone. “Isn’t City A big enough for hotels?” Declan avoided my gaze. “It was so late, a woman staying at a hotel alone isn’t safe!” “Dad, Mom, why are you fighting again? Can you keep it down? Don’t wake Aunt Hazel!” Our daughter, who was holding onto Hazel, woke up and shouted at me impatiently, covering her ears protectively. Looking at the daughter I carried for ten months, my heart was torn apart, bleeding painfully. Even for a simple cold, I would get up in the middle of the night to take her to the hospital. When she had a fever, I stayed up all night caring for her, making her favorite yogurt melts. I worked tirelessly for days, collapsing from exhaustion for three days before recovering. When did she start hating me like Declan did? Was it when she inadvertently said, “Why can’t my mom make money? She just cooks and washes clothes like a lazy parasite.” But I graduated from a prestigious university, got recruited by a Fortune 500 finance company in my freshman year. In my sophomore year, Declan, then a freshman, pursued me. He wore a gray tracksuit, his eyes enchanting. He held a bouquet of roses under the girls’ dormitory, offering it to me: “Senior, I like you.” “This bouquet is for you. Once you agree to be my girlfriend, I’ll save up to buy you all kinds of flowers, everything you like, and shower you with love, making you the envy of your friends.” His love was pure and intense. I had never dated before and was drawn to him. I accepted his confession, growing to love him more deeply. Gradually, I learned he pursued me because… When I painted, I resembled his ex-girlfriend from the side. But I thought, hearts are made of flesh. If I loved him well, he would be moved. Seven years passed. He said he wanted to focus on his career, so I submitted my resignation to my boss, who had also experienced a memorable love. They agreed to give me a few years to think it over. But I had to create a new plan for their company and launch a business video account, gaining a million followers within three days to avoid paying a penalty. I worked tirelessly for days and succeeded. Thus, I became a dutiful wife. He came home later and later, growing more distant. Initially, he’d give me a reluctant smile. Eventually, only Sierra got a warm smile. Later, he’d stare at his phone late into the night, his smile unwavering. I couldn’t hold it anymore and asked who he was chatting with so late. I caught a glimpse of the note, a heart emoji, and the word “baby.” The other person sent a photo in a sexy nightgown with barely visible text: “When I return, we’ll go to a hotel. You can do whatever you want. Until then, you better behave and keep your bullets safe!” My mind exploded. My blood froze. I thought of his ex-girlfriend who went abroad. He immediately put away his phone with a dark look: “Nora, you eat what I earn, live in what I earn. When have you ever appreciated my hard work?” I trembled, my mind a mess, silently taking his dirty clothes to wash. As I thought of the past, my eyes reddened. The bitterness pressing on my heart began to clear. Some things aren’t sweet when forced. I asked our daughter, “Do you want her to be your mom?” Sierra puffed her chest, looking at me disdainfully: “Yes! Aunt Hazel is so beautiful and buys me lots of dolls and snacks. She’s better than you in every way!” “But if she becomes your mom, I won’t be around anymore.” I still held a tiny bit of hope. After all, she’s my daughter. I’ve cared for her so long, she must choose me. Sierra didn’t care, clinging tightly to Hazel. “As long as I have Aunt Hazel, I don’t need you!” My heart shattered completely. Declan frowned. “Nora, don’t make trouble! You only have the hundred dollars I gave you for groceries. You’ll be back begging for forgiveness within a day. Why bother?” I looked at him, took out the hundred dollars, and tossed it at him: “Declan, Sierra, I don’t need you.” I smiled at them, grabbing my suitcase and walking out the door.

The moment I left, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. It was like the weight on my heart for seven years had vanished. I contacted friends I hadn’t seen in seven years and planned a night out at a bar to start my new life. They all sighed. “We thought you found true love back then, but who knew he was like that!” “Seven whole years, not letting you meet us, saying we’d lead you astray?” “Ridiculous, we went shopping, got facials, did Pilates, how is that bad?” “He made you a full-time housewife!” “Companies lined up to hire you, and he shamelessly said he wanted to develop his career?” “Now he only makes twenty thousand a month! What career is that? Seven years ago, companies offered you the same!” They were indignant for me and relieved I finally escaped the nightmare. After parting with them, I left City A, rented an apartment for myself. I texted Declan, urging him to sign the divorce papers. He didn’t reply but was more active on Snapchat. All posts were with Hazel. Candlelit dinners, strolls, role-playing at home. My daughter sat eating roasted sweet potatoes, her small face beaming with happiness. At that moment, I realized… Love and indifference were so obvious. The romance I longed for was meaningless to Hazel. I blocked Declan on Snapchat and messaged him: “This is adultery, violating morality and the law.” The chat showed typing, then stopped. After a while, he sent: “Realized you need money? Admit you’re wrong, come back and cook for me, Hazel, and our daughter, and I’ll forgive you, like nothing happened.” I laughed out loud. He really thought I was just throwing a tantrum. He thought I couldn’t live without him. Even if he was with his ex, I’d endure it. I replied: “Declan, you seem to forget it’s me who doesn’t want you and Sierra.” No reply came. I had to work from home to care for our daughter and him, turning down stable job offers. I managed to earn three million dollars, planning to surprise them, but it proved to be my own fantasy. I thought he’d be happy to hug me, saying, “You’re amazing, honey.” I feel like I can’t live without him for the rest of my life. Even if he reconnects with his ex, I can endure it. I responded, “Declan, you seem to have forgotten something. I’m the one who didn’t want you and Sierra anymore.” There was no reply. I had to become a stay-at-home wife to care for our daughter and him, so I turned down several full-time job offers and chose to work from home instead. I managed to earn three million dollars, hoping to surprise them, but it turned out I was only fooling myself. I imagined that when he saw the three million, he’d joyfully hug me and say, “You’re amazing, honey.” He’d suggest taking time off work so we could all go on a trip. Even if his ex messaged him, I could pretend it never happened. But… My eyes stung as I mocked my own foolishness. A stone remains a stone; it can’t be warmed. To maintain my routine and stay connected with society, I put on the career suit I had once taken off and started applying to larger financial companies. My resume showed a seven-year gap, and although I graduated from a prestigious university, they were hesitant. However, once they saw my previous work experience, they quickly signed me, fearing I might change my mind. When I returned to my rented place, I saw a familiar Audi parked outside. Declan was there, holding Sierra’s hand, and he didn’t look pleased.

Upon seeing me, he arrogantly declared, “Nora, Genevieve advised me to bring you back home. She said you’re penniless, sulking outside, borrowing money everywhere. You have no job, and in the end, I’ll have to repay all these loans you’ve taken!” I laughed. Yes, in Declan’s eyes, I’m indeed a freeloader waiting for death! How could I have money to rent a place? How could I live without him? Declan frowned, “Why are you laughing? I’ve been generous enough to come and get you. Don’t be ungrateful.” Sierra, unwillingly, added, “Mom, don’t be so unreasonable. Don’t make things difficult for Genevieve!” A pang hit my heart. “Genevieve?” Declan’s gaze shifted, looking slightly uneasy. Sierra pouted, “Why that expression? You’re so lousy, and you won’t let me find someone better to be my mom?” If I had any lingering feelings for my daughter, they disappeared completely now. I didn’t respond to her; I just told Declan, “Sign the divorce papers quickly and stop bothering me.” “What do you mean by bothering!” He was so angry he approached me and slapped me across the face. “Slap!” The sharp sound echoed, and I didn’t react. The employment offer letter I was holding fell to the ground. The name of a top 100 financial company in the country shone brightly. Declan’s gaze fell on it. My head was still buzzing. He picked up the offer letter from the ground, glanced at it several times, then threw it at me. “Nora, I thought you were just incompetent, a parasite at home, and that was it!” “Now you’re even forging job offer letters from top companies?” “Even if you want to prove to me you’re not a parasite, you don’t need to go this far to match up to even a strand of Genevieve’s hair!” He sneered, giving me an ultimatum: “I’m telling you, if you don’t come home, then our home is never yours again!” I shook myself out of it and glared coldly at him. This reaction made Declan feel a bit guilty. After all, I used to be obedient, as loyal as a dog. When he hit me, I just thought of it as marital fun. He steadied himself, “What kind of expression is that? Do you want to hit me? Dare you!”

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My sister was often caught up in fantasies of being a real heiress after reading a novel about such characters. Eventually, an assistant of a wealthy tycoon sought us out, claiming the tycoon was looking for a true heiress from the public to inherit his business. I tried to dissuade her, suspecting there was more to it than met the eye. But soon after, my sister’s friend was chosen and began living a life of luxury, eventually marrying the city’s renowned Declan Graham. My sister blamed it all on me and shoved me into the street when I was off guard. When I regained consciousness, my sister asked for my opinion. I smiled and replied, “Such a great opportunity, you should definitely seize it.” Just like in my previous life, the tycoon’s assistant arrived as expected. He explained that the tycoon, having no children in his old age, had been told by a fortune teller that our family’s daughter shared a father-daughter bond with him. He wanted to choose one of us as his true heiress to inherit his business. Last time, I thought it was too good to be true and advised my sister against it. Yet, my sister’s best friend was chosen and received more wealth monthly than most people earn in a lifetime. She even married the dashing and wealthy Declan Graham, whose family topped the city’s wealth rankings. Consumed by jealousy, my sister turned her anger on me. She pushed me into the street, hissing behind me: “It’s all your fault. I should be the one marrying Declan Graham. You ruined everything for me. Go die.” The agony of being hit by a car is still etched in my memory. This time around, my sister wanted my advice again. I smirked slightly, a trace of sarcasm in my eyes. “Sister, this is a rare opportunity. Making the right choice outweighs hard work. If you don’t choose, I will.” True to her selfish nature, my sister quickly agreed. But my parents looked worried, as she was their treasured daughter. “Sierra, do you really want to leave us to become someone else’s daughter?” Sierra playfully took my parents’ arms and reassured them: “Oh, it’s for our family’s sake. They said they have no children and feel connected to us. If I go, there will be endless money. You’ll always be my dearest parents, and I’ll never forget you. I’ll take care of you in your old age.” After speaking, she kissed my parents’ faces. They were overjoyed. “Alright, our daughter has grown up and become sensible. If you want to go, go. But if you don’t like it, you can always come back.” “Okay, I know. Isn’t my sister here to keep you company?” After she said this, my parents gave me a disdainful look. “Your sister? She’s ungrateful, not as obedient and understanding as you. She hasn’t even bought your dad a new car yet.” I found it amusing since the car was bought less than three years ago, and they were already asking me to get them a new one. “May I ask who bought the current car?” My parents were speechless, then retorted disdainfully: “That cheap car only cost tens of thousands. Raising you was a waste. In the future, Sierra will buy us something better.” I chuckled and stayed silent. Sierra raised her head proudly. “Don’t worry, parents. Once I’m the tycoon’s daughter, tens of thousands are nothing. I’ll buy you a Rolls Royce.” My parents and sister were lost in their dreams, oblivious to the assistant’s sarcastic look.

The assistant noted the time and reminded us. “If everything’s fine, we need to sign an agreement. From now on, Miss Sierra won’t be your daughter. However, we understand raising a daughter isn’t easy, so you’ll receive a million as compensation. But you can’t contact Miss Sierra actively. Our boss Mr. Carter is a well-known figure in City A and wants to avoid gossip.” Hearing this, my parents frowned but were tempted by the million—an amount they could never earn in their lifetimes. They remained silent. The assistant continued: “Of course, it’s not like you’ll never meet. If Sierra misses home and gets Mr. Carter’s approval, she can visit you.” Seeing their hesitation, Sierra quickly said: “Mom, Dad, I’ll become a rich heiress overnight. If I’m acknowledging someone else as my parent, there will be sacrifices. Don’t hesitate.” I stirred the pot: “If you’re hesitant, I can go instead of Sierra.” That did it. At the thought of me taking away their daughter’s opportunity, they agreed immediately and signed the agreement. As soon as it was signed, Sierra didn’t pack anything, shed a few fake tears, and left with the butler. I said to my parents: “Doesn’t seem like she misses this home much, leaving so quickly.” Their faces darkened, and my mom scolded: “Sierra is doing it for this family. Without her, where would the million come from? When will you be as successful, so we don’t raise you for nothing?” Yes, the duty of upbringing outweighed everything. I used to believe that. So even when I was seriously ill and they refused to pay for my treatment, I was grateful for their upbringing. But the moment Sierra pushed me into the street in my last life, I repaid that debt. This time, I came to uncover the truth.

Two months later, I saw Sierra again. She was clad in an Hermes bag, a shiny gold necklace around her neck, wearing designer brands from head to toe. A complete transformation. Sierra generously bought Mom a pearl necklace and Dad a Rolex watch. She looked at me with disdain. “Sis, I didn’t get anything for you. No matter how expensive, people will think it’s fake on you.” I shrugged indifferently, thinking her good days wouldn’t last long. My parents’ combined gifts weren’t even worth thirty thousand, not even as much as Sierra’s outfit. They couldn’t tell and just praised: “Sierra is capable, bringing us gifts. We missed you so much. How have you been?” They reached out to hold Sierra’s hand, but she avoided them. “I’m good. My dad treats me well. Life with the rich is worlds apart from ordinary life. Uncle and Aunt, I’m here to share some good news.” The words “Uncle and Aunt” made my parents’ faces stiffen, but they were curious about the good news. “Daughter, what’s the good news?” Sierra looked smug. “I’m about to marry Declan Graham, the famous heir of the Graham family in City A. His family tops the wealth list here. Meeting new people really changes you.” My parents were thrilled. “Really? Our daughter is amazing. When’s the wedding? We’ll prepare a grand dowry for you.” Sierra’s face showed a hint of hidden disdain, but her voice was playful. “Oh, my dad has everything. Doesn’t need a dowry. I’m here to tell you not to attend the wedding. The Carter family says I’m the lost heiress, and rich families care about reputation.” My parents understood, their eyes filled with disappointment. I scoffed and said: “After raising you, you won’t let them attend your wedding. At least let them meet the son-in-law.” My words hit my parents’ soft spot. This was the only time they didn’t just think about my sister. Sierra glared at me. “Fine, but Declan is busy. I’ll bring him to meet you in a few days.”

A few days later, Sierra brought Declan Graham home. Luckily, I checked beforehand, and it was really him. When Declan saw me, his eyes lit up. “Sierra, who is this?” Sierra was upset seeing Declan gaze at me but reluctantly introduced us. “Oh, my sister. Declan, these are my adoptive parents.” Declan seemed gentlemanly and modest, and my parents praised him. In Sierra’s words, they were her adoptive parents who raised her. They chatted happily while I was like air. Declan didn’t act like an arrogant heir, nor was he as difficult as rumored. But I knew he was far from simple. Declan noticed me watching him. His gaze had a hint of scheming intent, but he quickly withdrew it. Feeling bored, I returned to my room. Unexpectedly, Declan sneaked into my room soon after. I frowned, puzzled. “Is there something you need from me?” Declan’s lips curled into a wicked smile. Declan Graham didn’t have the airs of a typical rich heir, nor was he as difficult to deal with as the rumors suggested. But I knew better; he was anything but straightforward. When Declan caught me looking at him, there was a fleeting hint of malice in his gaze before he quickly looked away. Feeling uninterested, I went back to my room. To my surprise, it wasn’t long before Declan slipped into my room. Frowning in confusion, I asked, “What brings you to my room?” Declan’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. “You were staring at me earlier, and now you’re acting all coy? I didn’t expect Nora Anderson’s sister to be so enchanting.” I felt a wave of disgust. “Sorry, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not interested in you.” Declan raised an eyebrow. “Really? Your sister is about to become my wife, enjoying endless wealth. Don’t you want that too?” I let out a scoff. “No, thanks. That kind of fortune should stay with my sister. She’s more suited to you.” Declan’s eyes darkened as if he had more to say, but Nora’s voice interrupted from behind him. “Declan, what are you doing here? It’s time for dinner.” Declan coughed, pretending nothing had happened. “Oh, I was just curious and came up to take a look.” With that, he turned and left. Nora stayed, her whole demeanor radiating anger. “Cora Anderson, how could you be so shameless? He’s your sister’s fiancé, and you’re trying to seduce him. Have you no shame?” I laughed instead of getting angry. “Do I look like I want to seduce him? Maybe you should find out what kind of person your fiancé really is before accusing me.” Nora was breathless with anger, then suddenly laughed. “Hmph, I know you’re jealous that I can marry someone like Declan Graham. The Graham family’s wealth is something you’ll never see in your life. You’re just an outsider, stop dreaming.” I looked at her without a word, and she walked away, thinking she had struck a nerve. But I knew her good days were numbered.

Logically, with my sister marrying into the Graham family, the media should have been buzzing with this happy news. Yet, there was nothing online, as if nothing had happened with the Graham family. In interviews, Declan never mentioned his marriage, focusing instead on the Graham Corporation. As for Nora, after that incident, she seemed to vanish. She didn’t call or visit home. Our parents were worried but couldn’t reach her, and they were too embarrassed to actively search, fearing it might affect the Graham family’s view of Nora. Then, one day, six months later, Nora suddenly returned home looking unwell and vacant. If not for her glamorous attire, one might think she had just been released from prison. Our parents showered her with concern, which she brushed off with a few dismissive replies. But when she saw me, she acted strangely and handed me an exquisite gift box. “Look, sis, I specially picked out this dress for you. It’ll look great on you.” I opened it for a glance. It was a new Chanel low-cut dress. Curiously, she only got a gift for me, not our parents. A sense of unease crept over me. I smiled faintly. “Thanks, sister, but I don’t need it.” Nora didn’t seem offended by my refusal. She just put the gift down and continued catching up with our parents, saying she planned to stay the night. When asked about Declan, Nora’s face changed. I could tell she was scared, but she maintained her composure, explaining that Declan was busy, though her eyes often darted toward me. That made me suspicious. Sure enough, late at night, I overheard noises from my parents’ room. It was Nora, crying and complaining to them. “Dad, Mom, you must help me. Declan Graham is a monster in disguise. I can’t take it anymore.” Our parents were furious. “How could he be so ruthless? Let’s go to the police. I refuse to believe he’s untouchable.” “It’s no use. There’s no evidence. Declan Graham has the entire city under his thumb. If this escalates, he won’t spare us. But luckily, Declan promised me that if I could bring Cora Anderson over to take my place, he’d let me come back home.” Hearing this, my parents didn’t hesitate. “Then let your sister take your place. We’ve raised her for so many years; it’s time she repays us. But how will you make her agree?” “She doesn’t need to agree. Tomorrow, I’ll slip some knockout drugs into her food. You just need to cooperate with me.”

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I have a husband who is not only handsome and wealthy but also loves me dearly. Not long after we got married, my sister-in-law was diagnosed with liver cancer and needed a transplant. After testing, I was the only compatible donor in the family. But shortly after the transplant, my sister-in-law passed away due to rejection. My mother-in-law and husband blamed me for her death and sent me down to join her. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day I was supposed to sign the donation agreement. I threw down the pen and said, “I’ll donate, but what are you willing to give in return?” Your lives, perhaps? My husband, Declan Turner, looked at me with sudden anger. “Didn’t we agree that if you save Nora, our whole family will be eternally grateful?” “Nora is so close to you. You wouldn’t want to see her lose her life so young, would you?” When I stayed silent, he resorted to emotional blackmail again. Never mentioning what they’d offer me, just expecting me to give up half my liver to save his sister. My mother-in-law, Beatrix Carter, looked like she was about to start shouting. I tapped the agreement on the table, and she closed her mouth. She took a deep breath and said, “Cora, are you worried about something? Tell me, and I’ll fix it for you.” Only then did I slowly speak up, “Mom, didn’t I say? You know there are risks with donating. I need something in return.” “Nothing will happen. The expert we found is top-notch and won’t let anything go wrong. Besides, everything I have will eventually be yours.” She pretended to act in my best interest. In my past life, I was fooled by this facade, signed the liver donation agreement, and ended up being killed by this heartless family. I met my husband by chance. One day after work, a creep was following me, and he saved me. After finding out I was single, he pursued me relentlessly. He said it was love at first sight. He sent flowers to my office every day and took me out to dinner. He took me out on weekends. He was completely devoted to me. My coworkers were all envious. After all, I was an orphan girl, and he was not only handsome and kind but also a modestly wealthy businessman. It seemed like I had a stroke of luck. He was eight years older than me and said he’d been busy building his career and hadn’t found the right person. After meeting me, he felt it was time to marry. I was skeptical about such good fortune, but he said his family consulted fortune tellers, and not marrying this year would affect his business. Business people often believe in this. Under his persuasion, we quickly got married. The first time I met my sister-in-law, she was very affectionate, constantly calling me “sister-in-law” and personally made a gift for me. My mother-in-law also gave me several sets of valuable jewelry on our wedding day, and the attendees praised how kind his family was to me. I didn’t notice anything wrong. Shortly after the wedding, my mother-in-law tearfully told us my sister-in-law had liver cancer and needed a liver transplant to survive. My husband said we should ask all relatives to do a compatibility test, to see if anyone could donate, as donating a liver wouldn’t affect one’s life. Under their persuasion, I naively went for the test. My husband reassured me it was just for show for his mom and unlikely to succeed. But I was the only successful match. My mother-in-law tearfully said her husband had passed away a few years ago, and now all her focus was on her two children. Declan was married, so she wasn’t worried, but Nora was so young. If she died, how could she live? She implied that if I didn’t save her, it would be my fault if Nora died. My husband promised it was just a liver donation, not dangerous, and they’d be grateful to me forever. All their property would be ours in the future. I said I didn’t marry him for his money. Upon hearing this, he was even more patient and caring. But he constantly looked troubled in front of me. Feeling sorry for him, I softened and agreed. But my sister-in-law still didn’t survive the rejection after surgery. My mother-in-law blamed my liver for being bad, causing my sister-in-law’s death, and hit me, completely ignoring that I had just donated my liver and was recovering from surgery. I thought my husband would be reasonable and went to him. I found him and his ex-girlfriend discussing how to get rid of me. Turns out I was just a tool they had planned to use to save his sister. In shock, I dropped my phone, alerting the two inside. Afraid of being exposed, my husband personally pushed me down the stairs, saying his sister would be lonely underground and since I was so good to her, I should go down and continue taking care of her. Perhaps the heavens couldn’t tolerate this family’s actions and gave me a chance to start over. This time, I will make them pay.

Thinking of this, I looked at my eager husband, pretending to hesitate. “But what if after the surgery, I’m not well, and you end up disliking me?” Hearing my concession, my husband and mother-in-law both relaxed. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him. If he ever wrongs you, I won’t recognize him as my son,” my mother-in-law promised. I picked up the pen, and they thought I was going to sign. They exchanged a glance, smiles forming. I spun the pen in my hand but didn’t sign. “Cora, as long as you sign, all our property will be yours,” Declan promised. “If it’s going to be mine eventually, why not transfer it to me first? Then I’ll feel assured.” Their smiles froze. It took a while for Declan to find his voice. “We’re all family. I said I’ll give it to you later, so why aren’t you assured?” “I trust you, husband. But I’m just nervous about the surgery. Since it’s all going to be mine, let me feel at ease first.” I suggested kindly. Then, I excused myself to the restroom to take care of something. I left the room for the mother and son. When I returned, they had come to an agreement. Knowing them, they were either planning to manipulate the gift contract or plotting how to quietly get rid of me after the donation. … As soon as I entered, Declan approached. “I’ll give you two houses in my name. Sign this first, and I’ll transfer them to you later, okay?” “No, I need the house first to feel at ease.” They were anxious, but I wasn’t. Seeing my insistence, they had to go back and sign the property transfer agreement. I deliberately chose the notary office to sign. My husband and mother-in-law wore sullen expressions. “What do you mean by this, are you afraid we won’t keep our promise?” my mother-in-law asked angrily. “No, you misunderstood. I just don’t know much and thought this place was convenient. Let’s sign quickly so we can go to the hospital.” With the big promise hanging in front of them, they reluctantly completed the gift contract under the staff’s guidance.

On the way to the hospital, I casually mentioned, “After the surgery, I won’t be able to work for a long time. Without money, I’ll be in a bad mood.” My mother-in-law, who had a sullen face the whole way, retorted without kindness. “Didn’t you just get two houses worth over ten million? How can you have no money?” “Then should I sell the houses?” I pretended to get out to sell the houses. My mother-in-law rolled her eyes in exasperation. My husband quickly appeased me, “I still have a credit card, I’ll give it to you when we get back.” Only then did I sit back, satisfied. When we arrived at the hospital, they flanked me, afraid I would run away. Sigh, their vision is too narrow. This is just the beginning. In the office, they kept their eyes fixed on me. The doctor, seeing their urgency, repeatedly confirmed if I was volunteering. Seeing Declan and his mother’s tense expressions, I paused. Until their faces darkened, ready to hit me, I said I was volunteering. The doctor instructed me to rest and keep calm for the pre-surgery examination in a few days. I agreed to everything. Once the signing was complete, they were finally relieved. Back home, I immediately asked my husband for the money. Since the houses were already given, he saw no point in making me unhappy over the money and handed it over willingly. Happy, I used the excuse of being unable to go out a few days before surgery to go shopping with my best friend. I spent over a million on the credit card in one day. Declan called many times, but I didn’t answer. Leisurely, I took my spoils and had hot pot with my best friend before heading back. On the couch, Declan was suppressing his anger. “Where did you go? Why didn’t you answer my calls?” “I bought some things,” I replied nonchalantly, kicking off my shoes and slipping into comfy slippers. “Lin Wei, I’d like to know, what did you buy that cost over a million?” he asked angrily. The Turner family is modestly wealthy, running a company that makes a few million a year. Over the years, they’ve accumulated assets worth tens of millions. Spending so much in one day made him feel the pinch. “Jewelry!” I waved the shopping bags. “Didn’t you say before the wedding that you didn’t have time to buy anything, and we could buy it after? I happened to have time today.” He was speechless. Before the wedding, he kept saying he was busy and promised to go shopping with me later. In my last life, until my death, I never received anything. The Turner Family is moderately wealthy, owning a company that earns millions each year. Over the years, they have accumulated assets worth tens of millions. Although I spent a large amount in a single day, he still felt the financial strain. “Jewelry!” I said, holding up the shopping bag. “Didn’t you say before our marriage that there was no time to buy it, and that we could go shopping after the wedding? I just had some time today, so I went ahead and bought it.” He was at a loss for words. Before the wedding, he always used the excuse of being busy, promising to go with me afterward. In my previous life, I never received anything until the day I died. “Oh, by the way, Mom said to give me the jewelry she set aside for me. I bought a safe, and it would look nice to keep them together,” I added, as if reminded. In my previous life, my mother-in-law pretended to care for me, saying she was worried I’d lose the jewelry she gave me at the wedding, so she took it all back. I thought I wouldn’t wear it anyway, so it was fine if she kept it, and I even thanked her for her thoughtfulness. Later, I realized she just didn’t want me to have it. After all, I was just a tool to them, and once I donated my liver, my role was complete. How could they possibly let me spend more money? This family was always deceiving me. Afraid of upsetting me and affecting the liver donation for her daughter, my mother-in-law reluctantly gave me the jewelry, but couldn’t help but remind me, “You’ve got the house, spent the money, now you should be willing to undergo the transplant surgery. Go to the hospital for the pre-surgery examination tomorrow.” I casually agreed. There would be quite the scene for them tomorrow. 4. The next morning, I went to the hospital. My mother-in-law thought I had run off and frantically searched everywhere. I only called them after ten o’clock to tell them where I was. When they arrived, breathless, I handed them a test result. “This surgery might not be possible.” At the hospital, they stared incredulously at my test result. My mother-in-law’s hands trembled as she held the thin paper that read: early pregnancy. “What about Nora?” she shouted anxiously at her son. Declan Turner looked at me, troubled, and without a moment’s hesitation, said, “Cora, we can have children in the future, but my sister can’t wait. The donation agreement is signed; only you can save her now.” Who says signing means I have to donate? I can still back out, right? Though it’s not ideal, the person I’m meant to save isn’t good either. In my previous life, I felt sorry for that sister and took good care of her. But she always knew their family’s plan. When her condition worsened, she claimed I refused to save her, accusing me of deliberately donating a bad liver. Even on her deathbed, she cursed me. Why should I save such an ungrateful person? “I need to think about it,” I said, and quickly left the hospital. Back home, they took turns trying to convince me, but I remained unmoved, acting determined to keep the child. I moved out of their house and into the property he transferred to me. Seeing my determination, Declan agreed to find another way. He said he was worried about my safety while living alone during pregnancy and came to take me back, promising not to pressure me to donate my liver to his sister anymore. He would find another solution. A few days later, I found out about his plan. The car I often drove was in a car accident.

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My daughter suddenly collapsed and urgently needed surgery. When it was time to pay, I discovered that the education fund, which I had painstakingly saved up for her, was gone. Desperate, I called my husband, Declan, the hospital director, to ask if he could expedite the process. He dismissed me coldly, “Adeline, how could you joke about our daughter’s life out of jealousy?” “You expect me to break the rules?” In tears, I tried to reach him again, but his phone was off. My daughter never woke up. Later, I found out that Declan had used my daughter’s life-saving money to buy a house in a good school district for Rosalie’s son. And on the day of her cremation, he spent the entire night watching fireworks with Rosalie and her son. At the hospital. Watching my daughter’s heart rate plummet, I was so desperate that I fell to my knees. “Dr. Wesley, please operate on my daughter. I promise I’ll pay the fees soon.” Dr. Wesley gently pushed my hand aside, looking troubled. “Sister-in-law, please don’t put us in a difficult position. We can’t perform the surgery without payment.” “Director Declan didn’t approve it over the phone.” “And he specifically instructed us not to let you cause a scene here.” “Is this causing a scene?” “This is life and death!” “The patient’s heartbeat is weakening,” an abrupt voice sent chills down my spine. The alarm from the monitor filled me with terror and confusion. Yes, I could call Declan’s Rosalie, Nora; they were likely together. With trembling hands, I dialed Nora’s number. After what felt like an eternity, she answered. “Adeline, Declan is bathing Finn right now. If it’s urgent, I’ll get him to answer.” I closed my eyes, trying to suppress my fury. “Tell him to come to the hospital immediately!” Declan must have heard me, as he shouted angrily on the other end. “Adeline, aren’t you done with your drama?” “You’re taking this too far.” “No,” I cried out in desperation. “Our daughter needs you. Come back quickly; she doesn’t have much time.” Before I could finish, the call was disconnected. Tears streamed down my face as I watched my daughter slipping away. As I hesitated, wondering whom to call next, the nurse’s urgent voice rang out again. “The patient’s heart has stopped.” “No, it can’t be!” I screamed and rushed to my daughter’s side. “Zoe must be in pain, just asleep. She wouldn’t leave me.” I shook her frantically. “Zoe, wake up and look at Mommy, please?” But no matter how hard I tried, her eyes remained closed. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, I fainted. When I awoke, my daughter had been taken to the morgue. I pushed through the pain in my head and stumbled there. I could only touch my daughter’s cold body. No! I couldn’t accept it. My Zoe was alive. Just a while ago, we were playing games happily. How could she leave me? I didn’t know how long I had been crying, my eyes swollen. With trembling hands, I dialed Declan’s number again. But he kept rejecting the call immediately. I laughed bitterly at myself. Why was I still hoping? Suppressing my deep sorrow, I called my best friend. She was the one helping with my daughter’s arrangements. At the crematorium, she said with red eyes. “Maybe, try calling again.” “After all, he is Zoe’s biological father.”

I remembered how much Zoe adored her dad. Not wanting her to leave with regrets, I dialed his number with a composed face. “Then I’ll give him one more chance.” The call was quickly answered. “What is it this time? You have time to call me; you should spend more with Zoe drawing.” Yes, Zoe loved drawing with me the most. But we would never have that chance again. “Come to the crematorium to see your daughter one last time.” I held back tears, speaking calmly. “Heh.” Declan laughed mockingly, “Where did you learn these lines? Don’t teach Zoe bad things.” “Let Zoe talk to me.” “You can’t hear her voice anymore.” “If she’s asleep, then tomorrow. I’m busy now.” Without listening further, Declan hung up. He even turned off his phone. If he wouldn’t listen, let him regret it. Watching the fire turn my daughter’s small body into ashes. My heart hurt so much I could barely breathe. I silently made a vow in my heart. At home, I held a memorial service for my daughter. Guests were curious. “Adeline, where’s Zoe’s dad?” “Yeah, what’s more important than a child’s funeral?” Indeed, I also wondered what Declan was doing. My daughter’s playful smile appeared in my mind. “Mommy, come catch me.” “Mommy, my birthday wish is to celebrate with both parents, okay?” A noise at the door snapped me back. I looked up to see Declan, who hadn’t been home for days, carrying a big cake. Beside him were Nora and her son, both dressed in red. I felt a sting in my nose and looked down. “Adeline, what are you doing? Turning our home into a funeral hall.” Guests started whispering as Declan walked in with the unfamiliar pair. He sensed something was wrong. He saw our daughter’s black-and-white photo on the table. Emotionally charged, he shouted, “Adeline, you’ve gone too far. Why put Zoe’s photo here?” “You’re crazy and shouldn’t curse my daughter.” “Can’t you see? This is Zoe’s funeral and memorial service.” My tone was calm, devoid of emotion. Declan squinted, frowning, in disbelief. To cover up his unease, he raised his voice several times. “No, this must be some trick of yours. Tell me, where are you hiding Zoe? Bring her out.” “Dad Declan, where’s Zoe? Didn’t we agree to celebrate her birthday today?” Nora’s son, Jasper, asked. Yes, today was supposed to be my daughter’s fifth birthday. But it turned out like this.

“Yes, today is Zoe’s birthday. I bought her favorite cake.” He said, panicking as he went upstairs. Calling, “Zoe, are you upstairs? Don’t play hide and seek with Dad, okay?” Guests started whispering again. “What kind of father doesn’t know his daughter died?” “Exactly, bringing a mistress and her child here, heartless.” I ignored them, kneeling, continuing to burn paper money. Unable to find my daughter, Declan stormed back down. “Adeline, where’s Zoe?” “Dad Declan, is Zoe playing hide and seek with us?” “Can we take her to our new home to play? It’s beautiful.” Hearing “new home,” I suddenly looked up. Remembering Nora wanted to buy a house here for her son to attend school. Could it be? I quickly stood, walked to Declan. “Declan, did you use our daughter’s education fund to buy a house for them?” “Adeline, don’t blame Declan. He felt sorry for us having no place to live and used it temporarily.” Nora acted pitifully, trying to gain sympathy. So it was true! If Declan hadn’t taken that money, Zoe wouldn’t have died from lack of surgery funds. I suddenly shouted at Declan angrily, “That was our daughter’s life-saving money! How could you do this?” “What life-saving money? Our daughter is alive.” Declan still couldn’t accept that our daughter was gone. “Then, Dad Declan, can I invite Zoe to see fireworks tonight?” “Last night’s fireworks were beautiful.” Hearing Jasper’s words, I laughed in anger. “So yesterday, when you hung up on me, it was to watch fireworks with them?” Declan answered confidently. “Yes, kids like excitement. I joined them. So what?” Ha! What do you mean, so what? Yesterday was our daughter’s cremation day, and he was busy with someone else’s child. Zoe always wanted Declan to take her to see fireworks, but he always had excuses. Yet now, he watched fireworks all night with Rosalie’s child. Declan, you’re so heartless. It’s fine if you don’t love me, but how could you treat my daughter like this? My best friend, unable to hold back, shouted at Declan. “Declan, you’re such a jerk, ignoring your child but treating someone else’s as your own. Is he your biological son?” Nora suddenly, with teary eyes, explained. “Miss, you can’t say that. It will cause misunderstandings.” I spent the entire night watching fireworks with Rosalie’s child. Declan, how could you be so cruel? You may not love me, but how can you treat my daughter this way? My best friend, unable to hold back any longer, began to berate Declan. “Declan, you’re truly despicable. You neglect your own daughter but treat someone else’s child like they’re your own. I bet that kid is actually yours.” Nora’s eyes welled up with tears as she tried to defend herself. “Ma’am, please don’t say such things. It will cause misunderstandings.” Declan stepped protectively in front of Nora and her child, glaring at my best friend. “Your words are damaging Nora’s reputation. Apologize to her.” My best friend sneered, “Apologize? Never. You should be the ones apologizing to Zoe.” “You didn’t even know your own daughter had passed away. You don’t deserve to be called a father.” She spoke the last sentence with sheer contempt for Declan. “Stop spewing nonsense. My Zoe isn’t dead; she’s only five years old.” He shouted, then began to tear apart the wreaths in the room. “I’ll show you acting. I’ll show you playing.” “Declan, you can’t do this. Zoe wouldn’t be happy.” “Stop it right now.” I rushed to stop Declan from destroying things, but he wouldn’t listen. In a matter of moments, the entire memorial service was in shambles. Many guests, unable to bear the sight, left, shaking their heads. Seeing him about to strike my daughter’s urn, I ran over and cradled it protectively in my arms. “You can’t smash this.” “Heh, Adeline, you’re really putting on a show, even setting up an urn.” “No, it’s truly my daughter’s ashes inside,” I croaked, my voice nearly gone. Declan snatched the urn from my hands and smashed it to the ground. Watching the ashes scatter, I fell to my knees with a thud. I murmured in agony, “Zoe, I’m sorry. It’s Mom who didn’t protect you.” “Truly sorry!” Tears streamed down my face like a broken string of pearls, mingling with my daughter’s ashes on the floor. Declan seemed to realize he had gone too far, his lips moving slightly. “You wanted to use these things to deceive me.” My best friend, furious, shoved Declan, “Declan, do you have any humanity? Why would you scatter Zoe’s ashes? She was just a child!” At that moment, Dr. Wesley from the hospital arrived at the memorial service. 4. Seeing the chaos inside, he feared being implicated in the child’s death and wanted to leave. But Declan stopped him, “Dr. Wesley, you’re here just in time. Tell me, isn’t Zoe still alive?” Dr. Wesley was even more frightened by the question, trembling as he replied, “Dean, back then, Adeline didn’t have the money for the surgery fees. She called you, but you refused to authorize the surgery. All the doctors present heard it.” “So now you’re lying for her, saying Zoe is dead?” “Answer me!” Declan shouted when Dr. Wesley remained silent. “I’m sorry, Dean Declan. Your daughter didn’t survive because the surgery wasn’t performed in time.” Dr. Wesley’s head was almost touching the ground as he spoke the last words. “Declan, did you hear that? Zoe is really gone, and it’s your fault.” My best friend took the opportunity to add. “No, that’s not how it is.” Declan muttered to himself, backing away. Suddenly, Declan lunged forward and grabbed Dr. Wesley by the collar. “You knew the situation best. Why didn’t you perform the surgery for Zoe?” “Dean, didn’t you instruct that without your consent, we shouldn’t agree to Adeline’s demands?” Declan ruffled his hair in frustration, gritting his teeth, “When did I ever say such a thing?” Dr. Wesley widened his eyes in disbelief, “Isn’t that what you instructed? Everyone in the hospital knows.” I knew Declan’s character. If he didn’t do something, he wouldn’t admit it. Could it be? I instinctively looked at Nora, seeing her panicked expression and tightly clenched fists. Declan also suddenly shot a fierce look at Nora. Terrified, Nora’s eyes filled with tears as she desperately defended herself, “Declan, I didn’t do anything.” I quickly approached Nora and slapped her hard. “I’ll make you pretend. Give me Zoe’s life back.” Seeing Nora being hit, Declan pushed me to the ground without hesitation. My head hit the ground with a loud thud. The pain was unbearable, and familiar yet unfamiliar fragments flooded into my mind. My best friend, seeing me clutching my head in pain, hurriedly helped me up. “Adeline, is your head hurting again? Let’s get you up first.” The images in my mind slowly overlapped. I finally remembered who I was. After a moment, I shot Declan a cold glare. He was already falling apart. With red eyes, he apologized to me, “Adeline, I’m sorry. I didn’t know Zoe’s condition would become so serious, and in the end…” I shook off Declan’s hand decisively. “Declan, we’re finished. Get ready to face the consequences!” My best friend was stunned by my sudden change. “Adeline, did that bump knock some sense into you? Your aura is so powerful.” It was only after that bump that I remembered my past. I met Declan after a car accident. I was the patient, and he was the doctor. After the accident, I only remembered my name and had no other memories. During my hospital stay, I fell for Declan’s handsome appearance. He had just broken up with Nora not long before, and since we were both orphans, we ended up together out of convenience. After marriage, I knew he didn’t love me that much, but he didn’t lack love for Zoe. Until recently, when his Rosalie returned with a child, taking away the little affection he had for me. Declan was shocked by my sudden powerful aura. “Adeline, how did you suddenly become a different person?” “As for Zoe, I really didn’t expect it. I thought…” “Yes,” I interrupted Declan, “You thought everything I did before was just my way of competing for your attention.” “Declan, in your eyes, am I really so despicable that I would joke about my daughter’s life?” “Now that our daughter is gone, our union was a mistake from the start. Let’s end it here.” After speaking coldly, I crouched down, carefully gathering my daughter’s ashes from the ground and wrapping them in cloth. Declan was thoroughly panicked. “No, Adeline, Zoe is gone, and now you’re leaving me too?” I found it utterly ridiculous. I sneered, “Declan, it’s not that I’m leaving you. You pushed me away.” “Without us, there are others waiting for you to take them home.” I glanced at Nora standing nearby. Her eyes gleamed with pride, full of provocation. But the next second, she played the victim, “Declan, Finn is a little scared. Can you take us home first?”

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After my wife had a miscarriage, I was concerned about her health, so I decided to pause our intimate life. One day, I happened to stumble upon her private messages with a male student. The boy, in a playful yet slightly complaining tone, said: “You can’t even spend the Valentine’s Festival with me. I’m so sad.” “Will you be with him tonight?” Her response was, “No, you know I don’t want to treat it as just a baby-making task.” “I bought you a tie. Wear it for me tomorrow.” 1 That mismatched tie is around my neck right now. I thought it was a romantic surprise from Eloise for the Valentine’s Festival. So when she was in the shower, I secretly put it on. It turns out the problem wasn’t the size; she simply got the delivery address wrong. Following the hint from the message, I clicked on that boy’s social media profile. In the latest video, the boy was at the beach, holding hands with the person behind the camera, his face beaming with a bright smile. I immediately recognized that familiar hand—it was Eloise’s left hand. Long slender fingers, with the faint outline of a wedding ring on the ring finger. I unconsciously tightened my grip on the ring on my own hand. With a slight swipe of my fingertip, the screen scrolled. The boy had also shared a photo showing a shoe cabinet. The caption read: “My wife isn’t great at picking shoes, just buys blindly. #helplessLOL” I opened Eloise’s Amazon account. In her recent purchase history, there were many expensive clothes and accessories like watches, belts, and shoes. Upon checking each item, all the delivery addresses were to a dormitory at a university downtown, addressed to Jasper. I returned to the chat interface, turned on the screen recording, and started recording their chat history. Their conversations weren’t extensive, mostly her asking him out or him asking when Eloise could come to see him. In between, there were some explicit flirtations. I sent the recorded video to myself, then deleted the chat history. Next, I went to the gallery, deleted the video, and cleared it from the trash. All actions were completed smoothly. The moment the bathroom doorknob turned gently, I quietly put the phone back in its place. 2 Eloise came out, her hair hanging wet and slightly curly, drying it as she walked. Droplets of water slid down her hair, brushing past her delicate chin. She noticed that I was still wearing the tie I hadn’t had a chance to take off. For a moment, she seemed a bit surprised. “Do you like it?” she asked. “The size is a bit off. I’ve already washed it, so it can’t be returned, right?” “Return it? I bought it especially for you.” I didn’t expose her obvious lie. Eloise came closer, gently placing her hand on her abdomen. “Thinking about Buddy again?” she said. Buddy was the nickname we gave to the child we lost before birth. “Don’t be sad, we’ll have more children.” She comforted me gently. “But it’s been a year since we…” “Asher, I want that too, but considering my health… let’s wait a bit longer, okay?” I knew she wasn’t really willing. A woman’s body doesn’t lie. “My mom messaged me today, asking why you’re not pregnant yet, suggesting we see a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.” I rested my head on her shoulder, “Why don’t we try tonight?” Eloise’s body suddenly stiffened. “Asher, we could consider IVF, you know. I’ve looked into it. It maximizes embryonic health and lets us choose the timing, number, even gender.” Although I expected her refusal, a chill still swept through me. To avoid intimacy with me, she’d rather opt for IVF. “Alright, let’s see how it goes,” I said calmly. “Eloise, I’m hungry. Could you get me something to eat downstairs?” After she left, I went to the underground parking on level -2 and secretly placed a voice recorder in her car. 3 Eloise held my hand as she fell asleep. I turned over, quietly slipping my hand out of her grasp without waking her. I didn’t know how much time had passed when her phone rang loudly in the darkness. She hesitated for just half a second before cutting the call. “Asher…” I closed my eyes, not responding. She gently nudged me and whispered, “There’s an urgent matter at work, I need to handle it. If all goes well, I’ll be back by morning.” I groggily hummed in response, “Be careful on the road.” She kissed me briefly, dressed up, and left the bedroom. Not long after, I heard the front door close. I casually put on some clothes and went downstairs to hail a cab. The driver asked, “Where to?” “Columbia University, south campus dorm entrance.” That was the delivery address I found on Eloise’s shopping app. In the car, I opened TikTok and searched for a username: 203 degrees. That boy liked sharing his daily life—shopping, traveling, dining, gaming. He posted several updates almost daily. I clicked on a video he posted of a game ending screen. Seeing his game ID “Predator,” I suddenly remembered when Eloise and I played games together, this “Predator” was on our team. He played a healer role, but looking at the stats, I hadn’t received a single heal, not even a splash. I was puzzled and typed in the chat box: Why didn’t you heal me? After about a minute, he replied: Sorry, I just bought this account, not very skilled yet. I asked Eloise about it, and she said he was just a newbie, not good at playing, and suggested not playing with him again. Turns out, I was just a passerby in their game. 4 The driver floored the gas pedal, and the car sped forward. By the time I arrived, Eloise’s car hadn’t shown up yet. The sky was overcast with thick clouds, and the thunder rumbled a few times. Then, raindrops the size of soybeans started pouring down. I quickly took shelter in a 24-hour self-service bank on the street. My phone beeped, the screen lit up—it was a call from Eloise. “Asher, you awake?” her voice came through. I replied, “How did you guess?” “I knew the thunder would wake you up,” Eloise said gently. “Before leaving, I checked the weather and unplugged all the appliances except the fridge. Don’t worry, just sleep.” When I was a kid, our house caught fire during a thunderstorm. Since then, thunder and lightning at night always made me anxious. Whenever this kind of weather hit, Eloise would find a way to stay with me. Once, she even left halfway through a social event just to come home to me. I pondered if I was overthinking it, maybe she really was handling work issues. But just then, a familiar SUV with its hazard lights on slowly came into view. In the rain, a figure dashed out from the school gate. The wind lightly tousled his hair. The boy ran to Eloise’s car, paused by the passenger window but didn’t open it. Instead, he circled to the back and got into the rear seat. Soon after, Eloise also emerged, opened the rear door, and bent into the car. Rain kept pattering down as I silently watched the dark vehicle. For quite a while, Eloise’s car slowly drove off. And that boy stayed inside, never coming out again. 5 Eloise stepped into the house at dawn. She held a bouquet of bright red roses and a seafood porridge from Joe’s Seafood. “This is a belated Valentine’s gift.” I looked at her and joked, “Did you stay up all night?” “There was too much work, couldn’t finish, no time to sleep.” She pinched her brows, seemingly trying to relieve the tension there. “I need to pack and catch a high-speed train. Drink the porridge and rest; your dark circles are almost touching the ground.” With that, she called a car and left in a hurry. I went downstairs to retrieve the voice recorder I had placed there and tossed the bouquet into the trash can. Just then, the cleaning lady picked the flowers out of the trash and called out behind me, “Oh dear, such beautiful flowers, why throw them away?” I turned back, smiled at her, and softly said, “Yeah, I don’t want them.” 6 Back home, I pressed play on the voice recorder. Eloise picked up the phone and called the boy. “Wait for me at the school gate later.” “Oh my! Is it okay now?” She had the speakerphone on, and I could clearly hear the boy’s excited voice. Eloise chuckled softly, “Don’t rush, it’ll be a little while before I get there.” “Weren’t we not supposed to meet today? Why the sudden change?” “It’s the Valentine’s Festival, after all. I couldn’t bear the thought of you spending it alone.” The boy was so happy he almost jumped, “Drive safely!” “Okay. It’s about to rain, remember to bring an umbrella.” Soon, I heard the sound of rain tapping on the car window. “Wait for me at the school gate later, okay?” “Oops! Is it okay like this?” She turned on the speakerphone, and I could hear the boy’s excited shout clearly. Eloise chuckled softly, “Don’t rush, it’ll take a little while to get there.” “Didn’t we agree not to meet today? Why are you suddenly coming over?” “Today is the traditional festival, and I couldn’t bear the thought of you spending it alone.” The boy was so happy he could hardly contain himself. “Then drive safely!” “Okay. It’s about to rain, remember to bring an umbrella.” Soon after, there was a knock on the car window. “Come in from the back,” Eloise instructed. The boy climbed into the car. “Alright, I guess I’m still not qualified to sit in the front seat,” he said, sounding a bit dejected. Eloise explained, “Asher has a friend at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Better safe than sorry.” “Tsk.” “Jasper.” Eloise said his name slowly, with a hint of coldness. “I was wrong… I shouldn’t have been so petty. Punish me however you like.” His voice was full of grievance. “Then take it off now.” Eloise said leisurely. “Uh, wh-what?” Jasper seemed completely caught off guard. “Hmm? Didn’t you say I could punish you?” … In the heat of the moment, Jasper asked, “Do you love me?” “If I didn’t love you, why would I come out looking for you?” “I love you too, so much.” I sat in the living room, listening to this recording over and over. The voice recorder’s battery had long since died, but I kept pressing the play button mechanically. Click, click, click… until night fell and it gradually got dark. 7 Eloise texted me, asking why I wasn’t home. I didn’t reply. Soon, her call came through. “Asher, why didn’t you reply to my message?” “Didn’t notice my phone.” She sensed something was off in my tone and said with concern, “Let’s have dinner at that grill house on Main Street tonight.” I’ve always wanted to try that place but never found the time. “Don’t let it get to you, you have me. Let’s focus on living well.” Those words sounded so familiar. During our toughest times, she comforted me that way too. I didn’t respond to her, and tears quietly fell. “Fool, are you crying? I’ll book you a ticket right now, come home soon.” “Okay.” 8 As soon as I walked out of the station, I spotted Eloise in the crowd. She occasionally looked up towards the exit. “Asher!” She gently took my hand as soon as she saw me. I looked down at her, and the attachment in her eyes didn’t seem fake. At that moment, a thought flashed in my mind: maybe I could pretend nothing happened. We’ve been through storms together, and our emotional bond is deep. If she doesn’t want to be close to me, I could try IVF and have a cute little baby. Walking towards the grill house, Eloise took a call. I noticed her expression changed, so I asked what happened. She hesitated for a moment. “The company has something urgent… but I promised to have Japanese food with you, so I told them I wouldn’t go.” I unconsciously clenched my fingers in my palm. “It’s okay, work is important. My stomach hasn’t been feeling well these days anyway, we can go next time.” “But…” “No buts, just drop me off at that square ahead, I’ll wander around.” “Alright, then go ahead and shop, buy whatever you like, I’ll pay for it.” “Okay.” I got off at the corner, watching Eloise’s car drive away. I knew today was Jasper’s birthday. They mentioned it during their chat. Eloise said she’d go home for the festival and couldn’t be with him, planning to make it up on his birthday. About an hour later, Eloise texted me. “Arrived at the company, starting to get busy.” I thought for a long time before replying, “Don’t work too hard.” At night, I opened Jasper’s social page. He updated his status. In the photo, he closed his eyes, hands clasped, making a wish in front of a cake. Eloise’s reflection appeared in the glass behind him. There was also a photo from a romantic hotel. The lighting was dim, and the round bed was covered with petals. The location showed it was a romantic hotel in downtown. I went home to retrieve the marriage certificate, then took a cab to that hotel. Standing downstairs, I took out my phone and dialed 91

“Is this the police station? I’d like to report, my wife Eloise is having an affair.” 9 Accompanied by the officer, the staff knocked on the door of room 30 Eloise opened the door. She wore a bathrobe loosely tied around her waist. “You…” She was stunned seeing us at the door.

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On the eve of our wedding, Jack coaxed me into giving him my first time. The next morning, I painfully crawled out of his bed. Unintentionally, I overheard him chatting with his ex-girlfriend in the study. “Hey, wasn’t it thrilling to play with her in bed last night like I taught you?” “If I hadn’t told you to use a permanent marker to write ‘slut,’ ‘whore,’ and ‘bitch’ on her body while she was out of it, you wouldn’t have had such an exciting experience.” Jack replied affectionately, “You’re something else.” His ex-girlfriend whined, “You know, I’m actually a bit jealous that you’re marrying her.” Jack casually responded, “I’m just playing with her. On the wedding day, you come and crash it. I’ll leave with you, and she’ll be humiliated. Wouldn’t that be fun?” I put down my phone, neither crying nor making a scene. Instead, I booked a flight for studying abroad. The departure date was the same day as the wedding. I leaned against the door, listening to their conversation, my fingertips trembling. Emily’s tone was gleeful: “Hey, isn’t Lily supposed to be our university’s campus beauty queen? And you’ve reduced her to this state?” “You’re such a bad boy!” Jack replied nonchalantly, “Don’t say it like that. She enjoyed herself last night too.” “She chased after me for three years in college. By sleeping with her, I’m just helping her fulfill her wish.” “It’s her own fault. I only agreed to marry her, but now she’s becoming too controlling. Running away from the wedding is just to teach her a lesson.” His tone was so matter-of-fact. I felt a chill run through my body, my head spinning, almost collapsing. I had to lean against the wall to barely stand up. I didn’t know when I fell asleep last night. Or rather, when I passed out. It was my first time, and neither the preparation nor the aftercare was done properly. I touched my forehead. It was burning hot. I must have a fever. In the study, Jack spoke casually: “There’s one thing I forgot to ask. Last night was her first time, and I couldn’t hold back. I finished inside her and didn’t clean up in time.” “She’s physically weak and had a bit of a fever in the early hours. You’re a girl, you should know better how to handle this?” But Emily was dismissive: “I didn’t expect your fiancée to be such a drama queen. What’s the big deal?” “You absolutely can’t spoil her too much, or she’ll be even more difficult to deal with in the future.” I clenched my fists, holding my breath waiting for Jack’s response. He was silent for a moment, then replied, “Mm, I’ll do as you say.” I stood there stunned, suddenly feeling drained. I thought he would care about me at least a little bit. Even if it was just a tiny bit. Emily whined on the other end of the phone: “Alright, let’s not talk about your boring fiancée anymore. I want to eat breakfast from that place in New Town. Can you come over and bring me some?” Jack frowned slightly: “I should help Lily take a shower first, to wash off those words on her body before she notices.” Emily wasn’t happy: “No way! It’s more fun if she finds out!” “Oh come on, don’t worry. Even if she discovers it, she won’t dare to break up with you. Besides, she might even like being treated that way~” “Come on, I’m starving.” “Alright, you little glutton. What do you want to eat? I’ll bring it for you.” Jack hung up the phone and hurriedly left. He didn’t care at all about me, still running a fever.

After Jack left. In the bathroom, I slowly unbuttoned my white shirt. Last night, Jack pinned me down on the bed, sweet-talking me. “Are you sure you don’t want to try?” His beautiful eyes were full of deep affection. I couldn’t utter a word of refusal. So last night, I was seduced by him and foolishly rolled around with him. He held me, showing no restraint, taking me again and again. When I was barely conscious, he took out a permanent marker and held my thigh, writing on my body. I shivered at the cold sensation: “What are you writing?” He leaned down to kiss my forehead, saying softly, “Silly, of course I’m writing that I’ll love you forever.” The last button was undone. The shirt fell to the floor. I looked in the mirror, my eyes widening, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. Dirty words appeared all over my body. Last night, he carefully held me in his arms, coaxing me: “It’s my first time too, I don’t have much experience. I’m afraid I might not do it well and make you uncomfortable.” His warm breath lingered by my ear. I endured the pain and said to him: “It’s okay.” He pressed me down, using his fingertips to wipe away the tears from the corners of my eyes: “Be good, bear with it for a moment, it’ll feel good soon.” “Lily, I’m your first man, you must remember me for a lifetime.” I thought he truly loved me, that’s why he agreed to marry me. I thought when he covered my eyes and wrote those words one by one gently, he really meant he would love me forever. But in reality, he was counting the days until he could run away on our wedding day, humiliating me and turning me into a joke. In reality… there was another woman teaching him how to play with me, letting him write all sorts of dirty words on my body. Slut, whore, bitch, toilet… In my dazed state, on my lower abdomen which Jack had kissed, he even wrote word by word: “I’m a cheap whore, please use me as you wish.” … My self-esteem, which had been well-protected since childhood, disappeared in an instant at this moment. I had never felt so awful before. I leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths, my whole body shaking. I clutched my stomach, wanting to cry out loud, to scream, to smash everything around me. I wanted to rush over and confront Jack immediately, asking why he did this. I only liked him, why did he have to treat me like this? But in the end, I just numbly soaked myself in the bathtub. Those unsightly words were already very difficult to wash off. I scrubbed my body desperately with red-rimmed eyes. My skin turned red and even started bleeding, but I didn’t feel the pain. Even so, those filthy words seemed to have grown on my body. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t wash them clean. I fell into deep self-loathing. I bit my lip, hugging myself, trying hard to hold back my tears. But the tears still fell uncontrollably, splashing into the bathtub in large drops.

That day, I tried every way I could think of to clean those filthy things out of my body with my fingers. Until evening, Jack hadn’t sent me any messages. At 8 PM, Emily posted a video on Instagram. My best friend had discovered early on that Emily wasn’t a good person and told me to be more cautious. She had secretly helped me add Emily with a fake account, something neither Jack nor Emily knew about. In the video, they were playing an exciting game with a group of old classmates. Emily lost quickly and was required to choose someone for a passionate kiss. If the person she chose refused her, Emily would be punished by having to take off a piece of clothing in front of everyone. Emily walked up to Jack with a red face: “Jack, you wouldn’t let me embarrass myself, would you?” Jack looked at her, neither agreeing nor refusing. The next second, Emily took the initiative to wrap her arms around his neck, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his lips. Jack was stunned for a moment but didn’t push her away. He closed his eyes and accepted the kiss. They kissed deeply for a long time before separating. Around them were the teasing cheers of the crowd. Emily laughed: “My lipstick left a mark on your lips. I hope your fiancée won’t get jealous enough to break up with you.” Jack belatedly wiped his lips, his voice soft but firm: “You’re overthinking it. How could she bear to break up with me?” I suddenly felt nauseous and ran to the bathroom, vomiting for a long time. … That day, because of my fever, I curled up on the couch, drifting in and out of sleep until midnight. I don’t know when Jack came back. The living room light came on. I was covered in cold sweat, unable to gather the strength to get up for a long time. The next second, I heard Jack’s panicked footsteps: “Lily, why are you so hot?” I wanted to open my eyes, but I found that even moving a finger was extremely difficult. After that, I lost consciousness. The next morning, I woke up in the hospital. Jack was holding my hand, with faint dark circles under his eyes, as if he had stayed up all night watching over me. Seeing me awake, he first looked delighted, then sighed: “How can you be so careless about taking care of yourself? What would you do without me?” “You’re very weak now. The doctor said you need to eat more.” “Look, I specially bought you food from your favorite restaurant.” He deliberately lowered his voice to threaten me: “I queued for a long time to buy this for you. You better eat more, or you’ll be in for it tonight.” I turned over and said, “I don’t want to eat.” He became a bit nervous: “What’s wrong, darling? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” I interrupted him: “Get out, I want to be alone for a while.” Jack helplessly stroked my head: “Are you angry that I didn’t accompany you yesterday?” “Baby, I’m sorry. I just wanted to marry you sooner, so I was busy planning our wedding yesterday. I want to give you the most perfect wedding.” “I’m sorry I didn’t notice you were sick. I’ll make it up to you in the future, please forgive me.” I bit my lip, holding back tears. Liar. How could he tell lies so calmly? Jack said worriedly: “I know you don’t have an appetite, but please eat a little. Come on, I’ll feed you.” I avoided him and pushed his hand away forcefully. He couldn’t hold it steady, and the bowl fell to the ground, breaking with a jarring sound. He was stunned and said angrily: “What are you throwing a tantrum about now? Is it because of those words I left on your body last night?” I looked at him without saying anything. He continued: “Stop making a fuss. Isn’t it normal for couples to play like this?” “Why are you being so sensitive now? Can’t you even handle this? Look at Emily, she never throws tantrums like you!” Hearing the name “Emily,” I couldn’t hold back anymore, and tears flowed uncontrollably. He was stunned for a moment, hurriedly wiping my tears: “You’re so grown up now, why are you still crying so easily.” “Alright baby, I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Your husband was wrong. I’ll never do it again, okay?” I threw a pillow at him hard: “Get out! I don’t want to see you!” Jack’s head was hit by the pillow, and he gradually lost patience in comforting me. He looked at me disappointedly, as if looking at an unreasonable child. “Fine, I’m leaving.” “You’re an adult now. You can’t throw tantrums like a child anymore.” “I hope when I see you tomorrow, you’ll have calmed down on your own.” After saying this, he left. I felt a lump in my throat, unable to breathe properly. From then on, I shut myself away. Until a week later, when I walked to the bathroom and saw my haggard reflection in the mirror, I was stunned. My eyelids were swollen, with dark circles under my eyes, and bloodshot eyes that couldn’t be hidden. In just a few days, I looked completely different from the once youthful and beautiful me. Looking in the mirror, I questioned myself, how did I end up like this? I angrily took off my clothes, walked into the shower, and scrubbed my body vigorously. I put on a sexy red dress like I used to, applied beautiful makeup, not missing even a single strand of hair. As I was about to go out, I received a call from my academic advisor. She had always taken good care of me and admired my talent in art design. Now, her tone was serious: “Lily, I’m calling to confirm one more time. You received an offer from that French university you applied to for your Ph.D. Are you really going to give it up because of marriage?” “The professor there thinks highly of you. Are you sure you want to give up your future to stay in the country and get married?” When I was in college, I had been preparing for studying abroad for my master’s degree, spending day and night in the library. But when I finally won Jack over, I started to waver. Jack was the student union president at that time, cold and proud, from a wealthy family. I would be secretly happy if I could talk to him once a week. When we were dating, it was mostly me taking the initiative. Sometimes if I didn’t take the initiative to message him, he might not even think of chatting with me. I put in a lot of effort, trying hard to maintain our relationship. Later, when we finally reached the stage of talking about marriage, I became even more reluctant to leave. But now… I bit my lip, gripped the phone tightly, and said decisively: “Professor, I’ll go!” My advisor’s excited voice came from the other end of the phone: That’s great, you’ve finally come to your senses. That day, I talked with my advisor for a very long time, confirming the time for going abroad and future plans. After hanging up the phone, I immediately booked a flight ticket for going abroad. The departure date was the same day as the wedding. I gritted my teeth and told myself, Lily, you have to be strong. Since Jack wants to run away from the wedding and humiliate me, Why don’t I take the first step to run away from the wedding and turn him into a joke?

In the following days, I kept everything from Jack, applying for a passport and visa, preparing for studying abroad. Because I was so busy, I had almost forgotten about Jack’s affairs. Five days before the wedding countdown, when Jack suddenly said he wanted to take me to meet his parents, I was a bit stunned. In the past, when Jack said he wanted to take me to meet his parents, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep all night, constantly worrying about whether they would like me or not. I even dragged my best friend to the mall for a whole day to choose what to wear when meeting his parents. But now, I found that I didn’t care as much as I had imagined. I shook my head and said, “I don’t want to go.” He grabbed my hand: “Lily, be good, don’t make a fuss. This was planned long ago.” “Although my parents don’t interfere with my love life, only if they approve of you can we have a proper wedding.” “Don’t you want to receive my parents’ blessings?” Not wanting Jack to notice my intention to run away from the wedding, I nodded half-heartedly. When I was dragged by Jack to his parents’ house. Jack knocked on the door for a long time. Emily opened the door. She was wearing pajamas and slippers, casual as if this was her home. I was stunned, my palms turning cold. Jack looked at her, his voice gentle: “Why are you here?” Emily naturally took the gifts we had bought for Jack’s parents: “You’re being too distant. We’ve grown up together since childhood, of course I should come to see what kind of girl your fiancée is!” She looked at me, pretending to be surprised: “Isn’t this the campus beauty queen from our school? Did she fall for you so easily?” “How long have you been chasing her? A year? A month?” Jack said softly, “Not necessary.” Emily suddenly burst out laughing. She held Jack’s hand and said, “Alright, let’s not talk about her. Uncle and Auntie have been missing you so much.” Emily linked arms with Jack and went to greet his parents. It was as if she was Jack’s fiancée. And I was like a mistress peeking at their happiness. Every time I tried to speak, Emily would eagerly interrupt me. I was left out in the cold, not knowing whether to stand or sit. At the dinner table, Emily naturally sat next to Jack. She casually arranged for me: “Hey you, find a seat yourself.” The only seat left was far away from Jack. Jack didn’t notice my awkwardness, chatting and laughing with Emily. In the past, I would definitely have made a scene. But now, looking at him like this, I suddenly felt it was pointless and didn’t want to say a word. During the meal, Jack’s parents complimented me on my looks. Emily unhappily said: “Lily was our school’s campus beauty queen in college… When she was in class, quite a few guys would stare at her chest.” Jack’s expression gradually became unpleasant. He chuckled lightly: “What kind of campus beauty queen is she? At home, she just wears T-shirts and sweatshirts, with her hair in a messy bun. She gets tanned every summer, and any random person on the street looks better than her.” “She also likes to eat late-night snacks. After eating, her face swells up the next day. She keeps talking about losing weight while continuing to eat. How is that like a beauty at all?” “If her former admirers knew what she’s really like, their illusions would be shattered.” While saying these things, he lazily leaned back in his chair, slowly peeling shrimp. After peeling, he naturally put the shrimp in Emily’s bowl. Emily held the bowl, smiling and saying: “Why are you giving it to me? Your fiancée is right here.” The others at the table seemed to remember something and started observing my expression. Before I could speak, Emily spoke first. She was grinning. “Sister-in-law, why do you look so unhappy?” “Are you angry that Jack peeled shrimp for me?” “Don’t misunderstand, sister-in-law. I’ve known him since we were kids. Jack is very caring and has been peeling shrimp for me since we were little. We’re used to it.” After saying this, she affectionately put her arm around Jack’s neck: “Isn’t that right?” I clenched my hands. Jack had never peeled shrimp for me. Once during a date, I had my nails done and couldn’t peel shrimp easily. So I acted coquettishly, asking him to peel shrimp for me just once. But he frowned and refused without hesitation: “Lily, you know I never like peeling shrimp.” After that, I never asked again, even reflecting on whether I was being too demanding. But it turns out, he would willingly and without complaint peel shrimp for someone else. Jack noticed my unhappy expression and gave me a slightly reproachful look: “Lily, Emily has never peeled shrimp herself since she was little. Don’t compare yourself to her.” Where Jack couldn’t see, Emily gave me a challenging smile. I held back tears: “I haven’t said anything yet, why are you in such a hurry?” Jack’s expression became unnatural: “This is just a small matter, don’t make a fuss.” “Since you think I’m making a fuss, I’ll leave then.” Jack gripped my wrist: “Lily, don’t make a scene.” “Do you have to make things so ugly?” I pushed his hand away: “The one making things ugly is you.” Emily sat there, her eyes slightly red, saying: “Did I make Lily angry?” Jack sighed lightly: “Emily, you didn’t do anything wrong, no need to apologize.” “Lily, you’ve made such a big deal out of this. Emily didn’t even mind, when will you learn to be as sensible as her?” My eyes heated up, and I couldn’t hold back anymore: “If she’s so sensible, why don’t you marry her!” Jack frowned: “What nonsense are you talking about now?” I shook him off and turned to leave. Jack quickly tried to follow. But Emily held onto the hem of his shirt from behind: “Jack, come back.” “You men are so stupid, you don’t understand women at all.” “At a time like this, you shouldn’t follow her. You’ll only make things worse. Women just need some time to calm down on their own.” Jack listened to her words and stood still, looking at me, and really didn’t follow. Sometimes, I really wonder if he’s Emily’s puppet. If Emily says something, will he always listen?

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On my sister’s wedding night, she caught me having an affair with her husband. The wedding guests pointed at me, laughing at how disgraceful our family was. My father had a heart attack from the shock, while my mother rushed over in tears, scratching my face and pulling my hair, forcing me to kneel and apologize to my sister. At that moment, I became the most despicable and promiscuous woman in Cloud City. Gabriel Knight, satisfied with our encounter, elegantly buttoned up his shirt. In front of everyone, he suddenly grabbed my neck, his tone cold and indifferent. “Not bad, but your methods of climbing the social ladder are a bit crude.” As I struggled to breathe, I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically. Because in my previous life, this was exactly how he choked my sister when she was eight months pregnant, Until the baby stopped moving completely. When Rose kicked open the hotel room door, I was straddling her fiancé’s waist. “What are you doing?!” Rose, dressed in an elegant wedding gown, looked like a devastated clown. I threw my head back and laughed, gently biting Gabriel’s ear. “Your husband says white wedding dresses are too dull. He prefers my black lace~” “You whore!” My usually gentle sister cursed for the first time in her life. She grabbed a nearby glass and hurled it at me. The shards grazed the corner of my eye, drawing blood, nearly blinding me. Amidst the gasps of the guests, our father arrived and collapsed, clutching his chest at the sight. “Someone’s dying! Call 911!” “How awful, the Rivers family adopted a viper!” In the chaos, our elderly mother charged through the crowd like a lioness, her eyes blazing red as she slapped me hard across the face. “You ungrateful bitch! Have you forgotten how your sister worked five jobs a day to pay for your surgery when we adopted you?!” The pain left me speechless, but my mother grabbed my hair and dragged me off the bed, throwing me at my sister’s feet. Meanwhile, Rose’s fiancé – Gabriel Knight – stood by coldly, observing like an outsider. “Apologize to your sister! Kneel and beg for forgiveness!” My mother angrily pulled my hair, slamming my head against the floor repeatedly. My forehead bled from the impacts, some drops even staining Rose’s pristine white wedding dress. “I won’t! I love Gabriel Knight!” I shouted defiantly, my makeup smeared like a ghost’s. My sister, who had always loved and cared for me, slapped me for the first time. Her diamond ring cut my cheek, drawing blood. Trembling, screaming, she broke down and yelled. “Gabriel is mine! Lily Rivers, don’t you dare!” This scene of the Rivers sisters turning against each other over Cloud City’s elite bachelor clearly pleased Gabriel Knight immensely. The man elegantly buttoned his shirt, got off the bed, and suddenly grabbed my neck, his tone frivolous as if appraising merchandise. “Not bad, but your methods of climbing the social ladder are a bit crude.” I rolled my eyes, my face turning red from near suffocation. But I couldn’t help grinning widely. Yes, just thinking about how I got Gabriel Knight first in this life, Made me tremble with joy all over.

After that day, Gabriel changed his engagement with the Rivers family, abandoning my sister and marrying me instead. My father was so angry he was hospitalized, and my mother’s hair turned white overnight at his bedside. I lay in Gabriel’s arms, carelessly laughing as I fed him grapes. The whole world said I was shameless, but I had no regrets. I looked at my face in the mirror opposite, so similar to my sister’s, and bit my lip hard. Don’t blame me, sister. In my previous life, you were tortured to death by this man. In this life, even if you hate me, I must prevent it all. The next day, I stood in front of the mirror with exquisite makeup, wearing an expensive haute couture dress. Downstairs was the birthday party Gabriel threw for me. Amidst everyone’s praise, I took Gabriel’s arm, smiling seductively. “Lily, please give Gabriel back to me, please… I’m begging you! Please!” Rose somehow burst in, still wearing that ridiculous wedding dress, falling to her knees in front of me. Disheveled and bloodshot, she had lost all the grace and dignity of the Rivers family’s eldest daughter. “For the sake of our sisterhood, for all these years I’ve loved and cared for you, can’t you let your sister have this…” Seeing my sister torture herself like this over a man broke my heart. Better to end it quickly than prolong the pain. I pretended to laugh cruelly, deliberately crouching down to pat Rose’s face. “Sis, men aren’t something you can just ‘let’ someone have. You have to fight for them, understand?” Catching Gabriel glancing at me from the corner of my eye, I unhesitatingly slapped Rose hard across the face in front of everyone, so hard my palm swelled. My sister fell to the ground, her cheek bleeding, utterly disheveled. I gritted my teeth and delivered the cruel words, “Mom slapped me once. Now you’re paying it back.”

After marrying Gabriel Knight, everyone in Cloud City said his love for me knew no bounds. I could freely enter and exit his private club, and he even generously gifted me a yacht. I was the last conquest in his playboy life, able to keep him in bed. The media almost daily caught steamy photos of us at hotels. Indeed, I put in a lot of effort to achieve all this. That night, Gabriel imprisoned me in a private hot spring hotel. I was carefully applying fake scars to my inner thighs. “Back then, when Mr. Rivers had a heart attack, your sister begged me on her knees to save him,” he said, gripping my chin and pouring red wine into my mouth. “Guess what I said? Unless she gave you to me to play with for three months.” “Who would have thought I wouldn’t need her to do that? You came to me voluntarily.” I let the wine soak through my lace nightgown, offering no resistance, obedient and fawning. “Your father’s condition is very serious, you know? The hospital has already issued a critical condition notice.” “Your mother is now also lying in a hospital bed, sick with worry. Rivers Corp’s stock price is plummeting, about to go bankrupt. Your sister even has to borrow money now to pay for their medical bills.” With each sentence, Gabriel’s sharp, icy snake-like eyes stared intently at my face, afraid to miss even the slightest expression. I curled my lips into a smile, my burning red lips lightly kissing Gabriel’s Adam’s apple, my tone cold and vicious. “What does that have to do with me? If they die, they die.” “They’re not my birth parents. Do they expect me to be grateful to them for life?” Gabriel’s eyes flickered. He cursed me for being heartless, but his eyes showed satisfaction. “Mr. Knight, I have something even more exciting here.” I untied my robe, revealing a body covered in cigarette burns – all faked with special effects makeup glue. “Would you like to try a branding iron?” His eyes lit up with that familiar sadistic desire, just like when he used an iron to burn my sister’s back in my previous life. Afterward, as I lay on the bed, Gabriel gently caressed the scars on my back, placing a soft kiss on them. “You’re more interesting than Rose. She would only cry when beaten, but you climax.”

A few days later, I went to the hospital, not to see my parents, but to flaunt my upcoming wedding to my sister. “Rose Rivers, I’m going to marry Gabriel Knight.” My mother, lying in the hospital bed, was so angered she suddenly sat up, pointing at me with a trembling finger, her eyes full of hatred. “Lily Rivers! How can you be so shameless? Are you trying to drive your sister to her death? Is this how you repay her for nearly sacrificing her life for you?” “Are you really that desperate for a man?” My sister, for the sake of Rivers Corp and to be with Gabriel Knight, had taken stomach medication like food to accompany clients for drinks, drinking until she vomited blood, just to climb to Gabriel’s side and become his girlfriend. In everyone’s eyes, Rose Rivers and Gabriel Knight were a match made in heaven. But I insisted on breaking them up. I pulled open my collar, revealing suggestive red marks. “That’s right, I just don’t want my sister to have a good life. I’ve slept with Gabriel Knight, and I’m keeping him.” My always gentle and kind sister burst into tears. The recent blows had already pushed her to the brink of mental collapse, and she had lost a significant amount of weight. “Lily Rivers, I hate you so much… I hate you…” “Hate me then. Oh, and I advise you to leave Cloud City soon.” I admired my newly done blood-red manicure, carelessly addressing their hatred. “So you don’t have to watch me marry your fiancé and go crazy with jealousy~” Before Rose could react, my mother threw a pillow at me first, crying and shouting. “You don’t deserve the Rivers name! We were blind to adopt you back then! Get out of here!” I turned and left the hospital room, closing the door to block out the angry outbursts, breakdowns, and endless crying inside. Just as I walked out of the hospital, an egg smashed against my head. The foul-smelling egg yolk dripped down my hair. “Bad woman! Mommy, look! That’s the bad woman from the news who stole someone else’s husband!” A little brat helping his mother carry groceries angrily pointed at me, turning to tattle to his mother. “Child, let’s go, let’s go.” The woman first glanced at me, both fearful and disgusted, then quickly left, pulling her child’s hand. Not far away, the woman couldn’t wait to say, “Honey, in the future, never interact with people like that. It’s too unlucky.” I was stunned for a moment, then casually wiped off the egg yolk and put on my new Bvlgari sunglasses.

I returned alone to the empty Rivers house, watching as debt collectors were carrying out valuable items one by one. This once grand and luxurious house was instantly left hollow inside. According to media rumors, a mysterious wealthy buyer had swept in and purchased all the Rivers family furniture at a high price. I took off my sunglasses and went to my room to pack my things. I saw the strawberry bear plush toy that my father had braved a snowstorm to buy for me when I had acute gastritis at fifteen. I saw the performance dress studded with diamonds that my mother had hand-sewn for my dance competition when I was eighteen. I saw the brooch that my sister had personally designed for me a week before her wedding at twenty-three, smiling as she told me she wanted me to wear it with my bridesmaid dress. I didn’t want any of these anymore. When I returned to the Knight residence empty-handed, Gabriel looked somewhat surprised. He put down his newspaper and raised an eyebrow. “What’s this? They wouldn’t let you take your belongings?” I shook my head, smiling as I curled up in Gabriel’s arms, kissing his chin. “It’s all worthless stuff. I couldn’t be bothered to take it. You’ll give me everything I need, won’t you, Mr. Knight?” “You’re very clever.” Gabriel stared at the red marks on my fair shoulders, his eyes tinged with desire. Those were whip marks he had personally inflicted last night. The man picked me up in his arms and carried me to the bedroom. In the heat of passion, I gently caressed Gabriel’s chiseled jawline, seizing the moment of his climax to ask, “That female celebrity who drowned last year, you had someone tie rocks to her, didn’t you?” The man chuckled, his tone contemptuous. “Who told her to get pregnant with my child? Not just anyone can be my wife.” “I still prefer your type… scheming yet self-aware.” I pretended to be jealous, playfully hitting Gabriel’s chest while extracting more information. “How mean~ Just how many women have you had? I might get jealous, you know.” Gabriel smirked, his casual words full of boasting and teasing. “Not many. You know that famous ‘pure’ actress in the entertainment industry, right? My men drugged her and sent her to my bed.” My eyes darkened, but my tone remained coy. “So how did Mr. Knight deal with her?” “Of course, I played with her once and then discarded her. Some money as compensation is enough for people like that.” “Mr. Knight, you’re so heartless. What about me then?” I pretended to be scared, actually observing Gabriel’s reaction. As expected, the man pulled me into his arms and whispered reassuringly.

Gabriel had lowered his guard around me considerably. These past few days I had been quite demanding, complaining of boredom, so he decided to take me to his underground auction house for some entertainment. Gabriel’s current status as the all-powerful figure in Cloud City was inseparable from his behind-the-scenes power and methods. At the auction house, seeing the battered young girl in the cage gasping for breath, I let out a startled cry and curled up in Gabriel’s arms like a frightened kitten. “Such a delicate little thing.” Gabriel lowered his head and affectionately tweaked my nose, smiling slightly. “I told you not to come along. Now you’ve been scared, haven’t you?” I stubbornly retorted. “I just wanted to be with Mr. Knight. Besides, it’s just this much, I’m not scared at all.” “Oh? So you won’t be scared by what comes next either?” Gabriel snapped his fingers, and the next batch of auction items were brought out one by one, either walking a fine moral line or existing in legal gray areas. These shocking and spine-chilling items made my pupils dilate, but I still clung tightly to Gabriel, looking up at him adoringly. “Mr. Knight is so amazing. Are all these yours?” “Of course, they’re all my businesses. This entire underground auction house is mine.” My pearl earrings grew slightly warm. I leaned on Gabriel’s shoulder, curling my lips in satisfaction. Gabriel took my hand, kissing the back of it, his tone gentle. “It’s not easy to acquire these goods. Is there anything you like, baby?” I shook my head, obedient yet clear-minded. “Lily only wants Mr. Knight. I don’t covet anything else.” Gabriel patted my head, saying nothing, but his eyes were full of infatuation for me. On the way back, it started pouring rain, and the car was suddenly stopped. At that moment, I was being intimate with Gabriel. “Mr. Knight, there’s a crazy woman blocking the road!” The man’s eyes filled with bloody intent. He adjusted his tie and got out of the car. I straightened my dress and followed him out, only to find that the person blocking the road was actually Rose Rivers. She looked like she had lost all will to live. The woman knelt on the ground, her face sallow, her voice hoarse, her clothes tattered and filthy, drenched by the rain like a beggar. “Mr. Knight, Mr. Knight… will you marry me? I love you… I love you more than Lily Rivers does.” I smirked, as the assistant held an umbrella for me. I crossed my arms and sneered. “Sister, still harboring such delusions? Do you think you’re worthy?” Gabriel said nothing, coldly sweeping his gaze over her before preparing to get back in the car. However, he was stopped by Rose’s next words. “I’m pregnant.” Rose pulled out a pregnancy test report, which clearly stated she was one week pregnant. Thinking carefully, my last intimate encounter with Gabriel was two weeks ago. “It’s yours, Gabriel Knight.” Gabriel’s face darkened. He walked over and grabbed Rose’s hair, slamming her against the luxury car without a word. His demeanor was fierce, his actions decisive, showing no mercy. Rose, already weak from pregnancy, now had no strength to resist as the man gripped her scalp and slammed her against the car. The impacts were so severe she opened her mouth but couldn’t even moan. I suddenly snapped back to reality and rushed forward like a madwoman, trying to pull the man away. Because in my previous life, when he choked my sister and slammed her against the piano corner, he had the exact same expression.

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The father and his two sons, originally antagonistic figures, were destined to destroy each other over the heroine. But I intervened and altered their fate. In the end, the elder son took over the family business, while the younger son gained admission to a top university. Yet, at the company’s annual meeting, both brothers implored the Chairman to let their father marry the widowed heroine and make her the family’s Heiress. “Dad and Sister Lydia have already missed over ten years together. Mom, you need to be understanding and generous.” On the day of my husband’s wedding, I didn’t cause a scene. Instead, I summoned the long-silent System. “Confirm departure from this wretched place.” I stood in the rain, the bridge already collapsed, with old love songs playing from the speakers by the roadside until the final note faded away. I leaned forward, letting myself fall into the icy, bone-chilling river. I was a strategist, tasked with saving the antagonist and his family from tearing themselves apart over the heroine. What was tragic was that once the original male lead was gone, my husband and sons were eager to bring the widowed heroine into our home. The System’s voice chimed in: [Master, the mission has failed. Once your physical body in this alternate universe perishes, your real-world body will awaken. However, your time there is running short. Are you sure you want to leave here?] I nodded slightly. With the little time remaining, I just wanted to spend it with my family and friends. But the expected suffocation didn’t come. A strong hand grabbed my arm from behind and pulled me up. “What are you doing? Today is Sister Lydia’s special day, and you’re pulling this stunt?” I turned around to see my stepson, Jasper, panting heavily, his bright eyes aflame with anger. He was one of my targets in this world and later became the most fervent antagonist in the story. He would become obsessed with the heroine, turn against his family, and ultimately become someone everyone shunned. When I became Nolan’s second wife, Jasper was just six years old. His birth mother had passed away, and his father was always busy with work. As a child, he caused trouble in the streets, seeking attention but often ending up bullied. I brought him home, cleaned him up, and planned his future. Jasper wasn’t interested in studying, so I encouraged him, saying a man could achieve great things in business. For the first time, young Jasper had a dream. His eyes reddened, and he asked, “Can I call you Mom? They all laugh at me for not having a Mom, saying I’m a wild child…” With my permission, he hugged me gently. “Mom, when I grow up and make a lot of money, the first thing I’ll do is buy you a big house and give you a good life.” But when he actually achieved his dream, his first request was to make Lydia his new mom. He stopped calling me Mom. He even hated me because Lydia said it was my fault she got kidnapped by bad people and couldn’t come back to see him. The handsome young man in front of me overlapped with the child who used to call me Mom, but his eyes were now filled with coldness. “Stop pretending. You’re just trying to get our attention, right? If you really wanted to die, why choose the road where I’d be coming home from work, perfectly timed?” I was speechless. I just wanted to find a not-too-ugly way to leave, in a place with a nice view. I never expected to run into Jasper. Seeing that I didn’t reply, Jasper mocked, “If you really want to die, find a place further away. Sister Lydia loves this river. She takes walks here when the weather’s nice, so don’t…” He suddenly stopped. I quickly dashed to the other end of the broken bridge and jumped off. Lydia likes this river, right? Then I hope she never comes here again. Every time she does, I hate it more.

My body grew heavier, and in a daze, I heard the instruments ticking in the hospital room. Dad, Mom, wait for me! Your daughter will be home soon! Just when I thought I would succeed, a powerful force dragged me back to the shore. Jasper was soaked, his eyes misty with tears or water, I couldn’t tell. Looking at Jasper, I jokingly teased him, “You don’t want me dead, huh?” Jasper’s face twisted awkwardly, “You’re overthinking it. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me. Even if you want to die, I wouldn’t stop you, but not today! I don’t want Sister Lydia thinking of you and being unhappy on her anniversary!” Of course, it was for Lydia. Seeing I didn’t respond, Jasper dragged me home. “Let’s go back. Today, you can’t die. If you really want to, find a place further away, at least where I won’t see you!” Jasper was strong, and I couldn’t break free. When we reached the Nolan Family’s door, we ran into my biological son, Declan, in this world. He wore a neat suit, looking incredibly handsome. He had rushed back from school, and upon seeing Jasper and me drenched, he gave me a quick glance but greeted Jasper, “Big Brother.” Jasper nodded in response. Declan then remarked, “Why are your clothes wet? Be careful not to catch a cold. Big Brother, change your clothes quickly. Sister Lydia and Dad’s wedding is about to start.” Throughout, he didn’t look at me once, as if I wasn’t his real mom but a stranger on the street. In the original story, Declan was lost by the original character at birth and grew up in an orphanage, developing an extremely gloomy personality. The heroine would be the only light in his life. But now that I’m here, I gave birth to him myself, and I have high hopes for him. In my vision, he and I were connected by blood, not merely characters in a story. He didn’t need me to “strategize” him, he would naturally be on my side. I cherished Declan like my own eyes, afraid he might get lost like in the book. I did everything myself to ensure his safe upbringing. Declan indeed grew up to be a cultured gentleman, unlike the delinquent in the book. He was humble, respectful to his parents, cared for his brothers, and even became a school leader. I never doubted I could handle my own son. But once Lydia appeared, my always considerate Declan turned into a different person. He began doing all the things I disapproved of to show his dissatisfaction and rebellion against me. “Why does Mom always have to go against Sister Lydia? Clearly, Mom is in the wrong!” I never expected that after reading so many books with Declan, all those principles would become weapons he used against me. “Mom is jealous of Sister Lydia, so she let her be kidnapped by bad people, showing no kindness. How can you be my Mom?” At the time, I stood there holding the nourishing soup I had gotten up early to make for him, feeling like I didn’t recognize the son I raised. He knocked the soup from my hands, saying he’d never eat anything I made again. My heart ached beyond words, and I slapped him. His eyes turned on me with hatred. Since then, we haven’t spoken a word to each other. Hearing Declan’s question, Jasper looked uncomfortable. “Just now… she really jumped.” Declan’s handsome brow furrowed slightly, his cold voice devoid of emotion. “Big Brother, don’t be fooled by her. With you there, how could she die? She’s just using women’s tricks, seeking death because Sister Lydia is entering the family. Do you think she could really give up the wealth and prosperity here…” Before Declan finished, I slammed my head against the doorpost. I sighed inwardly, hoping to die with some dignity, but these two boys were too noisy. Hot blood ran down my cheek, and the world went black. Before my consciousness completely faded, I seemed to hear someone scream “Mom” in agony.

When I opened my eyes again, my forehead throbbed. Above me was a modern and luxurious chandelier. I realized I had once again failed to leave this world. Every night, I teetered on the brink of death. This meant my time with my family in the original world was growing shorter. Time was incredibly precious to me. I stared at the chandelier, wondering if I could use it to end everything. Just as I moved, a hand tightly gripped mine. “Cora, stop fooling around, okay? Luckily, you’re weak, so you didn’t hit too hard. Otherwise, you’d have scared the two kids to death.” The speaker was my husband in this world, the company CEO, Nolan. At this moment, his brow was furrowed, his eyes locked on the bandage wrapped around my forehead. His gaze was deep, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking. In the original story, Nolan was the heroine’s most passionate admirer. Unable to attain his love, he eventually turned dark, even betraying the company and harming others to get closer to the heroine. When I first arrived, I drugged Nolan to prevent him from pursuing the heroine, cutting off the source of his later crimes. Nolan woke up wishing he could end me right there. I knew the story inside out, so I was sure the heroine wouldn’t be harmed. In the original story, Nolan was the heroine’s most ardent admirer. Unable to win her love, he eventually succumbed to darkness, even betraying the company and harming others just to be near her. The first thing I did upon entering this world was to incapacitate Nolan with a drug, preventing him from pursuing the heroine and cutting off the source of future crimes. When Nolan woke up, he was furious, wishing he could end me on the spot. I knew the plot of the book inside and out and was confident the heroine would not be harmed. It wasn’t until he saw the heroine and the male lead happily together that Nolan began to let go of his resentment towards me. He tried to understand me, cared for me, and even stood up for me during a difficult time when he mistakenly thought I was being bullied. During those challenging days, our hearts quietly drew closer. Later, I softened my demeanor, managed household affairs for Nolan, cared for the family, and raised the children. Nolan, like any ordinary husband who loves his wife, stayed by my side, promising to be together in the next life. The system informed me that the strategist’s favorability was steadily increasing and that my mission was nearing completion. At that time, my terminal illness in the real world would be cured, and I could choose to pause time in the real world to accompany the Nolan family through this happy life. However, an unexpected change came without warning. One stormy night, the heroine returned alone. She threw herself into Nolan’s arms, weeping and recounting the inhuman torment she had suffered over the years. Usually calm and composed, Nolan was moved to tears. When he learned of my actions that had maliciously hindered him, pushing her into a predicament, the Nolan family was furious. They carefully tended to Lydia at home and ignored me. On Declan’s birthday, I prepared a table full of dishes that the family loved, but no one returned even late into the night. It turned out they were out entertaining a despondent Lydia, just to cheer her up. When I gave birth to Declan, I endured pain all night before delivering. At that time, Nolan promised to celebrate with the children every year because I hadn’t left them. But now, they’ve all broken their promises. When the Nolan family returned, they merely said, “Lydia doesn’t like the dishes you made, so there’s no need to make them again.” Recalling these events, I coldly withdrew my hand from Nolan’s grip and calmly said, “I’m not being unreasonable. I just don’t want to live anymore…” Nolan suddenly became somewhat annoyed, leaning over to hold me tightly. I couldn’t break free, so I just let him. After a moment, he finally spoke, his tone tinged with helplessness. “Cora, stop saying things like that, and don’t use death to threaten me and the kids. Our feelings won’t change, and I’ll discipline the boys. You’re forever the mistress of this house.” Nolan’s words sounded sincere, as if he still loved me as before. But then he cautiously observed my expression and mentioned Lydia. “I’ve already promised, Lydia won’t take your place. You were unfair to her before; now she just wants a place to stay… So, where did you hide her? Tell me, and we can pretend nothing happened and continue living our simple life, okay?” I laughed coldly inside. Lydia has disappeared again? Nolan still thinks I did it? Seeing me laugh, Nolan could no longer feign indifference, his tone becoming urgent. “Cora, stop pretending. I’ve searched, and Lydia’s jewelry is clearly hidden in your room’s closet. Both of you disappeared early this morning… Tell me, where did you hide Lydia?” It seems Lydia can’t wait to drive me away, even using her wedding as a ploy. After all, as the heroine, she craves attention and can’t share a man with another woman. What she wants is to be the only one in the hearts of the Nolan family. I suddenly burst into laughter, “Ha, yes, I did it. Lydia is dead! I’m just jealous of her, so I killed her. Do you want to avenge her? Then kill me unless you can’t bear to.” Nolan would do anything for Lydia. As long as he kills me, I can go home. Nolan was clearly enraged and lost his mind, gripping my neck with his hands. “Cora! How did you become like this… Lydia has suffered enough, why do you keep tormenting her?” In reality, it wasn’t me who changed, but them, the father and sons. I didn’t resist, letting my breath gradually weaken. Finally, everything will end. The door was suddenly pushed open, and Jasper and Declan helped Lydia inside.

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