My father had a severe gambling problem, amassing a massive debt that lingered even after he disappeared. To settle it, I became entangled with a local billionaire, Jack, agreeing to a deal of five million a year. But secrets have a way of surfacing. One day, a member of Jack’s family arrived at my door, offering me twice the money and stripping away my dignity. It was Jack’s son, his handsome face expressionless as he handed me a substantial check and asked, “Is this enough?” As I exited the private room, I heard him say, “You could have been Mrs. Jack openly. Do you regret it, Judy?” I didn’t turn back after hearing those words. My eyes filled with tears, but I held them back, not wanting to cry in front of him. I wanted to apologize, but my throat was too dry to speak. Jessica’s voice came again, asking, “Knowing I’m Jack’s son, do you regret it, Judy?” I couldn’t bear to listen any longer and quickly left. Standing at the shop entrance, the relentless snow outside was biting cold. It was December in North City, and the chill cut to the bone. A message from my mom appeared on my phone, asking why I hadn’t returned yet since Mr. Jack was waiting for me. My eyes dimmed as I clutched the check in my bag. Just then, my phone rang—it was Jack. I stared at the screen for a moment before answering. His voice came through, slightly distorted, as he got straight to the point: “Did Jessica come to see you?” I shivered, unsure if it was due to the cold or him. “Yes.” Hearing my response, he clicked his tongue and said, “I’ll send you abroad. Come back in two or three years. After all, Jessica is my only son.” He was suggesting I leave for a few years and return as though nothing had happened. I wanted to object, but I heard my mom’s voice on the phone. “We’ll do as you say. Judy doesn’t have much of an opinion.” Jack grunted in agreement and added, “Keep the money Jessica gave you. But don’t even think about running away.” He chuckled softly and said, “You can try if you want, right, darling?”

The call ended, leaving me standing in the snow, feeling frozen and unable to move. I heard the shop door open behind me, followed by footsteps crunching on the snow that stopped right behind me. Turning with difficulty, I saw it was Jessica. He was wearing a black coat, but his scarf was gone. “Let’s go, I’ll give you a ride,” Jessica offered. I looked at him in surprise. His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened. Sitting in his car, I was still processing the situation. The warmth inside and the familiar teddy bear cushion on the passenger seat provided a comforting environment. “We had planned to see a movie next weekend,” Jessica suddenly said. “What were you thinking then, Judy?” In the rearview mirror, I saw his mocking gaze. It felt like he wanted to torment me. “I’m sorry,” I managed to say. “Ha…” Jessica laughed coldly. Unable to face him, I looked down. Jessica asked, “Why didn’t you come to me if your family needed money? I told you before, I could support you no matter what.” Tears filled my eyes, but I couldn’t find the words to defend myself. “I… I don’t know…” I stammered. “You didn’t know Jack is my father,” Jessica said. “You didn’t know I am his son, did you?” After saying that, he exhaled, paused, and added, “Judy, you’re really something.” My gaze fell blankly on the expansive snow outside the car window.

I quietly bore Jessica’s harsh words, but he couldn’t handle my silence. The road was icy and difficult to traverse, but he continued to speed up. I felt the car losing control and turned to look at him. Jessica looked back at me, smiled, and said, “Judy, you’re not afraid to die, are you?” I heard the tires skidding on the icy surface and the startled cries of pedestrians. My gaze must have been full of sorrow—I didn’t want to die. I still had so much to do. He seemed to sense my thoughts and turned away from me. The car kept picking up speed until we slid off the road and into a snowbank. The windows were coated in snow, leaving the inside of the car dark. He didn’t turn on the lights, and I found myself gasping for air, relieved to be alive. Jessica, however, remained very calm. He said, “Last night, I found out my father was having an affair, and it was with you. Judy, can you guess what I wanted to do most at that moment?” The air felt thick and my breathing quickened. Then, Jessica leaned closer and gripped my neck tightly, slowly squeezing. I shook my head, trying to escape the suffocation, but he bit my lip mercilessly, and I tasted blood. “I want to kill you,” he said, “Judy.” The suffocation left my mind blank. He wiped my lips and then turned on the car’s light. Jessica’s face appeared before me, his lips also stained with blood. He leaned in and bit my earlobe hard. “Judy, I won’t let you go.” My heart ached, nearly breaking. The fear of dying and the pain of suffocation were unbearable. In the rearview mirror, I saw his fingerprints on my neck. Just now, Jessica truly wanted me dead.

The car was lifted, and we were rescued. Someone checked on me and looked at Jessica with reproach. I just shook my head and said it was nothing. Jessica’s eyes fell on my neck and lips, his gaze dark and silent. I eventually caught a taxi home. The reflection in the car window showed me looking disheveled. The driver joked, “Had a fight with your boyfriend?” “A big one,” he added. I forced a smile and didn’t reply. He pointed to the rearview mirror, “Your boyfriend’s still there.” I turned to look back. Jessica stood there, his black coat covered in snow. Back home, Jack wasn’t there. I sighed and sat on the bed. My mom, however, came in without knocking. I frowned and said, “Mom, please remember to knock.” She dismissed it, saying, “Mr. Jack isn’t here.” Hearing this, I felt a slight sting in my heart, but that was all. “How much did Mr. Jack’s son give you?” she asked, glancing at my bag. I lowered my eyes and said, “I’ll pay off the remaining five million debt.” My mom wasn’t satisfied with my answer and wanted to ask more, but I said wearily, “I want to take a bath and rest first, Mom.” She finally stopped talking and left. Watching her leave, I took the check out of my pocket and hid it where she wouldn’t find it. After bathing, I looked at the slightly messy table and sighed deeply. With a gambler in the family, it’s not just Dad.

Mr. Jack has been out of touch for several days. My mother is anxious, but I feel oddly at ease. The heavy snowfall has closed schools and businesses, bringing the city to a standstill. Yet, the morning news continues to air punctually. [A prominent businessman in the city, Jack, and his wife, Yan Shu, were discovered dead in their home around 10 PM last night…] I froze, feeling as if the blood in my veins turned to ice. My mother rushed out from the kitchen, her face a picture of shock. “Mr. Jack! How could Mr. Jack be dead?” she cried out. “What do we do now?” I sat on the sofa, paralyzed. Her cries echoed around me, but I could barely hear them. How could this have happened? How could his mother…? The doorbell rang, snapping me back to reality. My mother wiped her tears, ignoring the bell. I dragged myself to the door, my feet heavy. Opening it, a gust of cold wind hit me. The person at the door was wrapped in the bitter chill of snow and wind. Dressed in a black suit, with dark circles under his eyes and light stubble on his chin, it was Jessica. I stared at him, taking in his weary face. My heart ached with a bittersweet pang. Jessica was supposed to be proud, dazzling, full of life—not like this, defeated and drained. “Jessica…” I whispered. He looked at me, his eyes empty, and said, “Come home with me.” My mother protested loudly behind us, unaware of who Jessica was. I grabbed a coat and followed him, leaving behind my mother’s curses. “What are you doing with that boy? Such a worthless thing…” Jessica paused, and I nearly bumped into him. I heard his rough voice say, “Like mother, like daughter.” In the icy cold, his words felt like a splash of freezing water. I stood frozen. Jessica opened the car door and looked back at me. “You owe me, Judy,” he said.

He didn’t drive; we sat together in the backseat. Jessica didn’t say a word to me the whole way. When we arrived at Jack’s house, I was taken aback. Everything seemed perfectly normal. Jessica turned to look at me, as if he knew what I was thinking. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Judy.” Jessica was unusually gentle with Judy. Holding my hand, he led me into a study, where he moved some devices, revealing an underground passage. My heart sank. I resisted, standing at the entrance, unwilling to enter. Jessica’s demeanor changed; his expression turned dark. He tightened his grip on my wrist. “You need to know, Judy,” Jessica said. He pulled me into the passage. Dim lights lined the way, seemingly placed there on purpose. My body trembled; I resisted more and more. “Please, Jessica. I’m begging you,” I cried. But Jessica merely paused, then pulled me along faster. My heart felt dead. We reached a room with chains on the door but no lock. He gently pushed the door open, and the dim lights inside illuminated our faces. There was a red bed and countless objects and recording equipment. The screen in the middle of the room displayed my face. I collapsed at his feet, all strength gone. Jessica crouched down to meet my gaze. His eyes were too clear. I could see only hatred. “Father wasn’t home yesterday. Mother found this place,” Jessica said calmly. “She’s really stupid. She actually believed Father loved her.” My body couldn’t stop shaking, but he gently lifted my chin. “You think so too, don’t you, Judy?” Jessica said. He pushed me forward, making me face the big screen showing my image. “You killed them, Judy. You destroyed Jack’s family and me,” he said. I trembled, trying to speak, but he clamped his hand around my throat. The suffocation was more intense than yesterday, overwhelming my entire body. My limbs flailed helplessly as Jessica’s face began to blur. When I woke up again, I was lying on that despised red bed. I got up, only to find the door locked from the outside. There was no water, no food. I hugged my knees, sitting on the bed. My gaze began to drift into emptiness. I thought, perhaps dying here wouldn’t be so bad.

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To avoid the relentless marriage pressure, I told my parents I lost my job and had racked up a huge debt, figuring no one would want me then. I didn’t expect to be disowned and kicked out that same night. “We don’t have a daughter who brings such shame to our family!” “Get out, get out, get out! If debt collectors come knocking during the holidays, how are we supposed to face anyone?” “Angel, you’re an adult now. You need to take responsibility for yourself. We’re too old to bear this burden for you.” Should I tell them it’s their son who’s in debt, not me? Chapter As New Year approached, the marriage pressure calls became more frequent. “Daughter, you’re already in your late twenties. What are you going to do if you don’t get married soon?” “Your elementary school classmate, I forget his name, already has two kids!” “How can your father and I hold our heads up? People think there’s something wrong with our daughter! If you don’t marry, your brother will struggle to find a wife too!” “Listen to me, your aunt set you up on a blind date. The guy is honest and doesn’t talk much! He’s really good! You have to meet him when you come back for New Year, got it?” “There are also other men introduced by relatives. I’ve lined them up for you. It doesn’t matter if they’re good or bad, as long as someone wants you! Otherwise, in a couple of years, even the guys at the village entrance won’t want you!” By the end of the year, it was almost like clockwork, four calls a day, perfectly timed with meals. Colleagues who witnessed all this were secretly mocking me: “Is your family breeding livestock?” “Even for breeding, you’d want a strong one to ensure the quality of offspring. Your family… not even the village guys?” I was blushing from the ridicule. My manager’s gaze was also becoming strange. With my limited work experience, I guessed they either wanted to make me more compliant or suspected I was about to get married and become unsuitable for work! I was both restless and angry! I’m only 23, in the prime of my youth! At the beginning of the year, I joined a big company. Every day, my parents would call me with workplace survival tips like “be diligent, serve tea and clean up, give gifts, sweet talk, and use connections.” After being overheard, I was ridiculed and became a minor office joke. At the end of the year, because of countless marriage pressure calls, I became the office laughingstock again. I walked to a quiet corner, and another call came through. “Stop pressuring me! I’m only 23!” I ruffled my hair in frustration and pleaded into the phone with a tearful voice. “I was just negotiating a business deal! Your calls ruined the cooperation, and I’m about to get fired and held accountable!” “The deal was worth millions! Are you going to compensate for that?” “Stop calling.” The marriage pressure call ended. My mom didn’t say anything. Before I realized it, she hung up with a “ding.” I was stunned for a couple of seconds, then exhaled a breath of relief, finally able to enjoy some peace. Days passed without any marriage pressure calls, and I was in a great mood, even eating two extra bowls of rice. “Finally got through it!” I packed up my things, ready to head home. “Next year is a new year, with new gossip. Everyone will forget.” I comforted myself. Chapter

When I got home, it was dinner time. “Dad, Mom, Brother,” I greeted each one. Seeing my brother and his new girlfriend was a bit of a surprise. “Hi, hi, I’m Angel, Jack’s sister. Make yourself at home!” They seemed surprised to see me, their chopsticks frozen in mid-air, and the atmosphere felt a bit tense. “What’s up? Didn’t I text you that I’d be home today?” I looked at my silent family, feeling a bit strange. “No, uh, my phone broke, didn’t see it.” My mom awkwardly smiled, pointing with her chopsticks. “You’ve eaten, right? We’re halfway through our meal, you… want some more?” I looked at the leftover food, a bit helpless: “I sent the message to the family group chat.” My dad’s face darkened, frowning as he scolded me: “Just come home, it’s not a big deal!” “Daughter.” My mom quickly stopped him and then hesitated to stop me from getting more dishes. “Yeah? What is it?” “Well, Mom’s phone broke, and I’m getting old, don’t understand these electronic products. Can you buy me a new one?” “Sure.” I didn’t catch any hidden meaning and agreed readily. Since I started working, they’ve often asked me for gifts. She finally showed a smile and went to get me some dishes. “Daughter, it’s good you’re back. We all missed you!” “While everyone’s free for the New Year, I’ve arranged for you to meet your aunt and a few other men introduced by relatives. One every hour! Just check them out, pick one, and aim to get married this holiday.” “You’re still young, you have choices. Wait a couple more years, who will want you then?!” I was so shocked that I dropped my food, the beef roll falling back into the hot pot, quickly picked up by my brother, who glared at me. “This year? Are you kidding?” Seeing their serious expressions, I put down my chopsticks and addressed a reality check about marriage. “Marriage requires a lot of preparation, especially financially.” “For example, how much are you expecting in dowry? How much are you giving me as a bride price?” My mom gave me a pinch of cabbage, giving me a playful look. “You young people love shortcuts, hoping to get rich through marriage! Cars and houses will come in time! Don’t fuss over these! A reliable man is what matters most!” My dad’s face was grim, displeased with my questions. “We’re not selling our daughter, why ask for benefits? You want people to gossip about us?” My mom quickly filled his glass, soothing him. “Listen to Mom, money isn’t important in life. When your dad and I got married, we didn’t care about these things. We had nothing but still made it work.” Seeing I wasn’t moved, she began tearfully lamenting how hard it was to raise me, and how not getting married would be an eternal shame, leaving them restless forever. I got fed up with the pressure, recalling the words that made them quiet before, ready to use the same trick. “It’s not that I don’t want to get married, but marriage involves living together, buying a house, a car, having kids, needing a stable financial base, right?” “Before… you kept calling at inappropriate times, ruining several contracts, and now I’ve been fired. The client is demanding compensation, and I’m in debt by millions. Who would dare marry me? Marry me and share my debt?” The familiar tense atmosphere returned, broken by my dad slamming his chopsticks down. “Who are you trying to fool? You agreed to buy the phone for your mom without hesitation, how can you be in debt?!” “Don’t think we don’t know your little schemes!” “You just don’t want to get married! How are we supposed to hold our heads up in the village?” I stared in disbelief. Were they testing me from the start, setting a trap? No way, we’re family, right? I shook my head, pushing the odd thought away. “Take out a loan! If you’re deep in debt, what’s one more? If you’re covered in lice, you won’t feel itchy!” I said casually, trying to continue eating, but my brother blocked me, so I gave up, not caring anymore. “Anyway, I’m deep in debt now! No job! Anyone who marries me is unlucky! Definitely can’t get married!” “My focus next year is to find a good job, then work for promotions and raises! Be filial to you, alright?” “As for marriage, I’m not considering it for now. Don’t rush me. I’ll marry when I find the right person!” They stared at me, seemingly confirming the truth of my words. Finally, after a moment, my mom clutched her chest, trembling, and began crying again. My image of being obedient and honest since childhood was deeply ingrained, so they probably believed me. But what they didn’t know is once someone starts working, they learn to tell little lies with ease! Watching my mom cry, I felt at a loss. Is not marrying at 23 such a big deal? Is it worth crying over? “So you’re blaming us…” “You want us to pay your debts?” My mom pointed at me, crying as if she was about to faint. “How did I give birth to such a debt-collector?!” Chapter

“I…” Before I could finish my sentence, my dad took a deep breath, threw back a shot of baijiu, and slammed the glass on the ground, asserting his authority as the head of the family. “Impossible! Don’t even think about it!” “Other people’s children go out to work and earn money to support their families. But you? You’re like a failure! Not only didn’t you make money, but you also ended up owing millions!” “I don’t have such a disappointing daughter!” His harsh words left me stunned. Pointing to myself in disbelief, I asked, “Me? Disappointing?” I finally understood what they were implying. They thought I wanted them to help pay off my debts? But the debt isn’t real! Even if it were, shouldn’t a family face hardships together? “What if it was my brother Jack who was in debt?” I asked, not giving up. My dad’s face darkened even more. “Don’t even think of comparing yourself to your brother! He’s the pillar of our family! After a hundred years, everything we have will be his. Don’t even dream of getting a penny!” “Besides, your brother wouldn’t do something like that!” Jack had been looking uncertain, but hearing this, he immediately raised his head proudly. I found it absurd. They say a father’s love is conditional, while a mother’s love is selfless. Could my mom be this heartless too? My mom clutched her chest as if she couldn’t breathe. “What do you mean? Are you blaming us?” “We’re urging you to get married for your own good, so there’s someone to take care of you! If you can’t secure a contract, it’s because you’re not capable!” “If we made a mistake, it’s in raising you too well, making you arrogant! You couldn’t see your place and insisted on working in the big city!” “If you’d dropped out and worked early on, you’d already be married, and you wouldn’t have all these problems!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. In middle school, they wanted me to drop out and work. It was my teacher’s home visit that brought me back to school. I worked hard, finished college with scholarships and part-time jobs. I always thought we were poor, as they always said, raising me was a huge favor. Until last year, when they suddenly took out two million yuan to buy Jack a house. That’s when I realized we weren’t poor; they were just poor to me. By then, I was financially independent, so I didn’t dwell on it. After all, we’re family! My mom continued, “Daughter, you made this mess, you should clean it up yourself! We’re old, how can you bear to let us suffer with you?” Suffer? I’ve never made them suffer. As she bragged, when she was seven months pregnant with me, she was still working hard. I was quiet and obedient. When she argued with my grandma and accidentally fell, I was born with a “splash.” She wanted to earn money and have another child, so she barely raised me, leaving me with my grandparents. They fed me rice soup. Once I started school, being diligent and sensible, I never caused them any trouble. When I was two, my brother was born, and I helped take care of him like half a nanny. Suddenly, I wanted them to suffer a bit. Tears started flowing uncontrollably. “I’m not asking for much. Didn’t Jack prepare 188,000 yuan for his wedding? Lend it to me for now. I’ll pay it back after the Lunar New Year, double!” I gritted my teeth, looking at them hopefully. 188,000 yuan is definitely within their reach. As long as they say “yes,” I’ll repay it double next year! I wasn’t sure what I was fighting for. Maybe this would prove they saw me as family! Chapter

“Angel, what do you mean?” Jack, who had been silent, jumped up excitedly. “Who do you think you are? Do you deserve it?” I looked at him in shock, unable to believe the sweet brother on the phone could become so vicious. “I’ve wanted to say this for a long time. So what if you owe debts? Just ask for more benefits!” “Go ask around, how many college students are there in our area? We endured hardships to send her to college, wasn’t it for this? Why are you being so pretentious?” He shouted at my mom, then looked at me smugly. “You probably don’t know yet, right? Aunt found you a match whose wife just died, leaving him a big inheritance!” “You did pretty well, worth some money! He’s willing to pay 188,000 yuan to marry a college graduate!” “Don’t look so shocked, as if you’re innocent! You’ve worked so hard studying, trying to please mom and dad, isn’t it to find a better husband? If not to attract a man’s attention, why work so hard?” I was furious and slapped him across the face. Before high school, I spent all my vacations on him, teaching him homework and life lessons. In high school, I spent more time studying and working part-time, always buying him snacks and gifts when I had extra money. The effort I put into him wasn’t any less than what my parents did. His words hurt me more than my parents’ schemes. “He’s your brother, how can you hit him?” My mom shrieked, raising her hand to hit me. I dodged quickly, avoiding her hand, but tripped over a chair and fell to the ground. Jack seized the opportunity to kick me in the stomach. The girlfriend he brought home was so scared she dropped her chopsticks, quietly standing up and heading for the door. I curled up, in pain all over, unable to believe these were my family, who claimed to love me and have my best interest at heart! My dad approached, and I thought he was going to help me up. I propped myself on my arms to get up, only to see him looking down at me arrogantly. “Lock her in the room, let Aunt come to pick her up tomorrow.” My heart went cold, finally recognizing the truth. This isn’t my home, and they’re not my family. I bit down on Jack’s hand, drawing blood. He used his other hand to choke me. “You dare hit me! You’ll marry whether you want to or not! That’s your fate!” “If you refuse, I’ll break your legs!” I grabbed his hands, trying to loosen his grip, but I couldn’t match his strength. Asphyxiation set in, and my head started spinning. Tears blurred my vision, and I saw my mom leaning on a chair, crying harder than I was. “Enough! It’s a holiday, don’t you find this unlucky!” “Once you’ve vented, that’s it. We’re still waiting for her to bring in benefits!” I finally got a moment to breathe. “Wait!” “You can’t lock me up…” My dad, impatient, was about to kick me again. I covered my head and shouted, “I said the debt is real!” “They’re already here, right at the village entrance!” “They have knives and axes!” “Let me go, I’ll lead them away!” “Otherwise, none of us will survive tonight!” He paused, looking at me mockingly. “If you’re going to make something up, at least make it believable!” I struggled to look up. “Listen!” My voice was hoarse from the choking, like a ghost. Chapter On my way back, I saw people at the village entrance, smashing things. I wanted to watch but was worried they’d wait too long for me at home, so I quickly asked what was happening. “What else? Debt collecting!” “It’s a good time to collect debts during the holidays!” There are many who drink and gamble in the village, losing a car over the New Year is common. I’ve known that since I was young. But collecting debts during the holidays, this was a first for me. But it doesn’t matter to me, I just want to get away! They’re not family; they’re demons!

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I’m Jack’s cherished wife. When I learned I would die on the operating table during the birth of my fourth child, I became aware of my fate. My future husband stands before me now, a vulnerable young man, showing me his injuries. “My dad, the gambling addict, hit me again.” “Rose, why does everyone else have a happy family, but I have nothing?” Looking at his bloody wounds, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Your dad did well; he’s meting out justice!” Chapter 1 On the way home from school, Jack showed me his injuries as usual. His hands were clenched tightly, and his face was full of restraint. I felt terrible, worriedly asking him, “Did your dad hit you again?” Jack nodded, feeling wronged: “Last night, he lost at gambling and started hitting me again.” “Why does everyone else have a happy family, but I don’t?” Jack looked at me with red eyes: “Rose, it’s good to have you with me.” “If my mom hadn’t left with someone, my dad wouldn’t have turned out like this.” He made it sound as if his mom was to blame for his dad’s gambling addiction. Something felt off to me. Even now, Jack was defending his dad. Looking at Jack’s bruises, I felt unbearably sad. I didn’t voice my doubts. I just thought about how I could give him more money to pay off his dad’s gambling debts. Even though I’ve given money many times, it still couldn’t satisfy his dad’s appetite. I said, “Why don’t we call the police and let them handle it?” Jack immediately shook his head: “No, if people find out I have a gambling addict dad, how will I face anyone in the future?” He’d rather take the beatings than seek help from the police. I had no choice but to think about how to give Jack the money without hurting his pride. I handed him a card from my bag: “Here’s three hundred thousand dollars, my mom gave it to me as pocket money. You can take it first.” Jack waved my hand away, angrily saying: “What do you take me for? How could I take money from a woman!” I said, “Everything at home is bought for me; I don’t need to spend money.” “You’re so good at studying; you’ll definitely be successful in the future. This amount of money is nothing to you.” Only then was Jack satisfied. Just as he hesitated to take the card, a truck suddenly rushed straight at me. Jack noticed it first and dodged to the side alone. I couldn’t react in time, frozen in place with fear. My mind exploded in a roaring sound, and it felt as if my soul floated upwards. Images flashed before me like a carousel. I saw my future. Chapter 2 The images showed my life with Jack. The first scene was how Jack and I met and fell in love. Jack’s path to adulthood was tough; his dad was a gambling addict, and his mom was missing. He grew up in a violent environment. In his hardest times, he met me. I was his only hope during his youth. The second scene was Jack and I ending a ten-year relationship and getting married. After college, Jack rose rapidly, becoming the CEO of a public company with our family’s help. We entered marriage amidst everyone’s blessings. We became the model couple everyone envied. The third scene was my married life. It gave me chills. To my current self, it seemed more like a horror story, exhausting my future life. After having the third child, I was required to stay home with the kids. Endless household chores drove me crazy. The kids resented me, and Jack stopped coming home. This marriage turned me from a wealthy and leisurely rich girl into a complete madwoman. Later, I got pregnant again, and Jack wanted to keep it. He said, “Children are a blessing. They are the hope for the future.” “Since we have a bond with this child, let’s have it.” I listened. On the day I died of massive hemorrhage giving birth to the fourth child, Jack was in the office flirting with his secretary. Another image showed him chatting with another woman. “I wanted to drive her crazy and send her to a psychiatric hospital, but dying works too.” “I’ve had enough of her for so many years.” “Now her family’s company is mine too. Who dares say I live off a woman now!” “That old hag is dead, Lily, we can finally be together openly.” A piercing screech brought my soul back. The truck screeched to a halt just in front of me, its bumper grazing my knee. Jack finally reacted and ran towards me. “Rose, are you okay?” He pretended to care, but his first reaction was to reach for the bank card in my hand. I dodged him. He asked confusedly, “What’s wrong? Weren’t you going to give it to me?” As he spoke, he accidentally showed me the wounds on his arm again. I originally wondered if the images I’d seen were just illusions in my mind. But Jack’s series of actions made me realize that was my future! I suddenly became clear-headed. Everything was just his ploy. He wanted me to willingly become his endless source of support. Don’t count on bad genes to win the lottery; he’s just like his dad. I smiled brightly and put the card back in my bag. “You’re right; taking money from a woman is indeed shameful.” “I was thinking too much. Your dad hitting you is deserved,” “If he doesn’t vent at home, he’d take it out on society. Bear more of it, consider it a contribution to society.” Jack was instantly angry: “Rose, what’s wrong with you? You never talked like this before.” “Do you know how hurtful it is to talk like this? Don’t say things like that again!” I laughed: “Being beaten by your dad every day is fine, but a few words from me hurt you?” “I really don’t know whether to call you fragile or thick-skinned.” Chapter 3 Jack didn’t expect me to say that. He clenched his fists, his face changing slightly. It took him a while to calm down. Then he started his pitiful routine again. But I didn’t care now and called the driver to pick me up. In the car, the driver took it upon himself to offer Jack a ride home. “Jack, why don’t you get in, and I’ll give you a ride?” I interrupted impatiently: “Emma, remember whose driver you are?” Emma apologized: “Sorry, young lady, I just felt bad for him having such a hard time alone.” I sneered: “If you feel bad, you can play his dad, not use my family’s resources to show charity.” I didn’t avoid saying this in front of Jack, knowing he heard it all. As the car started, I saw Jack glaring at me with resentment in the rearview mirror. Thinking of the conversation he had with others in the visions. He said he had enough of me. Judging by the current look, he must have approached me with ulterior motives from the start. Hah. You can really act, Jack. After spending so much time together, I didn’t even notice. Thinking back on how I gave up luxury car rides to walk home with him every day to care for his sensitive nerves. I wanted to slap myself. Misery seems to find those who can endure it, and that was probably me. Otherwise, would I have died on the operating table for a fourth child? Chapter 4 The next day at school, Jack followed me around. Our classmates egged us on like savages. I used to feel secretly proud. Now I just wanted to sew their mouths shut. Jack’s first reaction when he sat down was to open my bag and help me with my homework. I snatched it back. Kidding, I’m nearly scared to death by my future self. How could I not do my homework? I’d rather read the books to pieces than live that life. I overdid it yesterday and went out today with dark circles. My best friend Eva noticed something was up. “Rose, did you have a fight with Jack?” “Oh, you’re such a spoiled young lady. Jack must suffer a lot from you.” Her words filled my mind with question marks, so I asked her: “Tell me, how did I bully him?” She said flatteringly: “Your relationship is so good. He’s in trouble now. How can you not help him with such a bond?” I was puzzled. Jack usually avoided talking about his dad’s issues. How did Eva know he was in trouble? Before I could think further, Jack interrupted my thoughts. “I thought about it all night. Was it because I only cared about getting myself out of danger yesterday that you’re mad?” “I’m sorry, I swear that no matter what happens in the future, I’ll stand up and protect you first.” I wouldn’t believe that for a second. I took off my shoe, tossed it aside, and teased him like a dog: “Sure, go fetch my shoe and put it on for me, and I’ll believe you.” Jack looked at me in disbelief, full of grievance: “Rose, if you’re mad, you can hit or scold me, but why humiliate me like this?” He placed himself in a humble position, drawing everyone’s sympathy. Classmates echoed in support, criticizing me for being wrong. Eva stepped in to mediate: “Yeah, Rose, Jack’s a guy. How can you make him do that?” She picked up the shoe and put it on for me: “I’ll do it. Don’t make it hard for him.” Anyone who didn’t know would think Eva was Jack’s friend, always speaking for him. I felt something was off. It wasn’t until Eva bent over to put my shoe on and revealed half of a necklace pendant that I finally got it. These two were probably already together. He played the victim, winning everyone’s sympathy. Classmates chimed in, criticizing me for being in the wrong. Eva stepped in to mediate: “Rose, how can you make Jack, a guy, do something like that?” she said, picking up a shoe and putting it on for me. “I’ll do it; don’t make it hard for him.” To anyone watching, it would seem that Eva was Jack’s ally, always speaking up for him. I sensed something was off. It wasn’t until Eva bent down to put on my shoe and I saw half of a necklace pendant that it all clicked. These two have likely been involved for a while. Now they are teaming up to take everything from me. That conversation in the kaleidoscope… The girl named Eva across from me must be the same Eva standing before me. The necklace was a birthday gift I gave Jack for his eighteenth birthday. It was the first time he asked me for something, saying he wanted to give it to the aunt who took care of him. It was one of three limited editions worldwide; I spent a lot of time getting it. Turns out the ‘aunt’ is her. I sneered at Jack: “Why don’t you tell everyone how much money you’ve taken from me over the years? If I had given that money to a stray dog, it would at least bark twice at me.” “And now you’re unwilling to put on a shoe for me?” The classmates immediately turned into gossiping faces upon hearing this. Jack couldn’t keep his composure and suddenly became embarrassed and furious. “Rose, spreading rumors can get you in legal trouble. How could I possibly use your money?” he said in front of the entire class. “Today, I’m inviting all classmates to dinner. I hope everyone can make it.” I chuckled. That’s Jack for you. Playing pitiful in front of the rich and acting like a big spender in front of the poor. His buddy chimed in: “Yeah, how could someone like Jack be a kept man?” “Everyone doesn’t know, last time a girl gave him a strap worth thousands, and Jack threw it in the trash.” That girl was me, and the strap was something he begged me for. It was just to show off in front of his ‘brothers.’ Chapter 5 A group of people grandly went to a high-end revolving restaurant. I didn’t join them; instead, I booked a private room to watch the drama unfold. They didn’t know I was there. Eva sat next to Jack, inviting everyone to eat and drink, acting as if she were the hostess. Jack swapped his usual cowardly attitude in front of me for authority at the dining table: “Let me tell you, even if you gave me someone like Rose for free, I wouldn’t want her.” “Why does she deserve anything, isn’t it just because she has a rich mom? Who knows if it’s dirty money from doing shady things?” His brothers echoed: “Exactly, how dare she throw a fit at you. Let her stay far away in the future.” “Not to say anything, but you and Sister Eva are a perfect match. What interest could a boring woman like Rose have?” Eva was all smiles at the comments, happily ordering more food. But her happiness didn’t last long before the waiter came to ask Jack to pay the bill. Jack ostentatiously threw out a black card, saying to everyone: “This place is still lacking. Next time, I’ll take you to the most expensive restaurant.” Shortly after, the waiter rushed to him, whispering a few words in his ear. Jack’s face turned dark instantly. He went to the corner and picked up his phone. It wasn’t long before my phone rang. As soon as I answered, I heard Jack’s questioning voice: “Why is the money in the card gone?” I calmly said: “That’s my card. If I don’t use it, I cancel it.” “Stop messing around. I’m treating people to a meal, transfer me some money first.” These days, even beggars can stand and demand money. “Aren’t you very capable? Go earn it yourself.” After saying this, I hung up and watched Jack, shaking with anger, holding his phone. After a while, Jack pulled Eva aside. “Rose took my money. You pay for today’s meal.” He said it as if I stole his money. Eva instantly got angry. “Jack, are you kidding me? You invite, and I pay?” “Are you crazy?” Jack: “Don’t you like me? Why are you unwilling to spend this little money? Didn’t you say you’d do anything for me?” “Isn’t your family rich? This money is just small change for you.” “Trust me, I’ll definitely pay you back later,” Jack added when Eva wouldn’t relent. Eva gritted her teeth and agreed. Jack got what he wanted and happily went to ask the waiter to add more dishes. From my perspective, Eva’s expression was quite ugly. Chapter 6 After parting unhappily that day, I thought Jack would have some backbone. I underestimated the power of money. Less than a week later, Jack showed up at my house waiting for me.

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During the first month of our relationship, my girlfriend was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and her therapy sessions cost ten thousand dollars each month. I sacrificed my rest, working tirelessly washing cars and delivering takeout, just to support her in battling her illness. But then, while working a car wash job that paid a thousand dollars, I saw the door of a Ferrari open. My girlfriend, who was supposed to be at therapy, stepped out, looking shocked when our eyes met. “Donna? What are you doing here?” I took a step back, staring at the red Ferrari in front of me, feeling disoriented. Despite the bright lights of the store, it was as if I had been plunged into darkness. I’d never even touched a luxury car like this before. “Dan, please listen to me,” Donna said, grabbing my hand anxiously. “I left late this afternoon… I took an Uber because I wouldn’t make it to the hospital in time.” Normally, when she pleaded like this, I’d relent. But not now. I looked at her outfit. The purple silk dress she wore looked expensive, like it was made just for her. I glanced at the nearby red Ferrari and smirked inwardly. Who uses a luxury car for Uber rides? Unable to muster the strength to argue, I looked at Donna, my hands falling to my sides helplessly. “Is this amusing to you, Donna? A young lady who spends a thousand dollars on a car wash, pretending to be poor around me, and won’t even buy a pack of sanitary pads?” My chest tightened, a wave of bitterness washed over me as memories surfaced, causing my heart to ache. “You really fooled me. A thousand dollars! I have to wash eighty-five cars and work an entire week to earn that much.” The most absurd part was that before work, I had prepared a surprise for Donna. I had just received my paycheck last night and bought a silver ring with tiny diamonds because every time we passed the jewelry store, she’d gaze at it longingly. I never imagined that the cost of washing her car would surpass the price of that ring.

Donna often curled up in my arms at night, saying I was the only one who truly loved her, even more than her own parents. In countless nights, exhausted from working tirelessly to pay for her medical bills, those words kept me going. But now, as I look back, my struggle to save up ten thousand dollars, standing on blistered feet at the car wash, seems laughable. After all, the Donna before me was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, with the scarf around her neck alone costing over ten thousand dollars. “I worked so hard to earn money so your condition could improve sooner. I even ended up in the hospital from exhaustion. Didn’t you know that?” Tears blurred my vision. Donna’s indifferent expression began to crack, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I’m sorry,” she said. On my birthday, she gave me a handwritten letter. Under the dim light, tears of emotion blurred my eyes. Reading her words, I promised myself to cherish her for life. But now, seeing the Ferrari in front of me, I felt drained of all strength, and I dropped the pressure washer. I took off my gloves, threw them at her, and headed for the door. Donna caught up to me, pulling me back. “Dan, I’ll make it up to you, don’t be mad. This is all my fault…” Before she could finish, the car door opened again, and someone stepped out. The air filled with the smell of tobacco, and a voice slowly became clear. “Donna, what’s going on? Why are you talking so much with a car washer?”

Donna froze, her expression stiffening. We turned to see a man in a white shirt, smoking, leaning against the car door. Donna hurried over to him, “Brother, why are you out here? I’m almost done, go back inside…” But the man didn’t seem to care. He pulled Donna aside, holding a cigarette between two fingers, and walked toward me. His thin lips curled into a mocking smile, asking, “Car washer, do you remember who I am?” I rubbed my eyes, taking a long time to connect the person in front of me with the face in my memory. “Jessica?” “Oh, you remember. I thought you’d forgotten.” Jessica’s almond eyes curved, and he naturally pulled Donna into his arms. His smile was exactly the same as it was a year ago. I met Jessica last year while delivering takeout to make ends meet. He was one of my customers. Because I was five minutes late, he poured a whole bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall on me. Jessica observed my expression, as if confirming my memory. He placed a large hand on Donna’s shoulder, pretending to be surprised. “Donna, you went too far. I just complained about an annoying delivery guy, and you actually dealt with him for me. Amazing…” Jessica glanced at me and couldn’t help but laugh. “Playing with this fake noble Dan is just like playing with a dog.” Donna’s expression was unnatural. I covered my eyes, holding back tears. My rough palm rubbed against my eyelids, and my heart felt as if it were being cut. Those moments I thought were genuine were just seasoning for their wealthy couple’s relationship. Hardworking ordinary people like me were like stray cats and dogs to them, ignored and kicked aside when they were in a bad mood. So I didn’t want to stay any longer. I wiped the tears spilling from my eyes and turned to leave. Jessica suddenly raised his voice, asking me, “Dan, do you know why Donna told you she has bipolar disorder?”

I abruptly halted, uncertain of what he intended to say. A heavy silence hung behind me, followed by an eruption of deafening laughter. The voice, however, clung to me like a ghostly whisper around my neck. “It’s because I told her your only sister died by suicide due to bipolar disorder. The moment Donna says she has bipolar, you become a fool and obey her every word. And guess what, hahaha, you really worked yourself to the bone for her!” A surge of heat flooded my mind, my blood boiling and rushing to my head. By the time I regained my senses, I was already striding towards Jessica, repeatedly swinging my fist at his face. If I could forgive this, I might as well become a saint. My chest heaved as I grasped Jessica’s collar: “Playing poor, huh? Pretending to be sick, huh? Enjoy mocking other people’s wounds, huh? No wonder your parents cheated, no wonder your dad doesn’t care and your mom doesn’t love you, you scumbag. Today, I’m going to beat you until your own mother can’t recognize you!” During the year I spent with Donna, whether our feelings were genuine or not, we shared our pasts. So, I knew their social circle was emotionally detached, with parents mostly preoccupied with their own lives, leading to psychological issues in these young people. I understood their pain and knew where to hit where it hurt the most. Before they could react, I slapped Jessica several times. The moment Jessica mentioned my sister Rachel with a smirk, the rational thread in my mind snapped. She was the last piece of purity in my heart, and I wouldn’t allow anyone to tarnish it. Seeing Jessica about to fight back, Donna ran over, crying, and pulled me away. He gasped for air, spitting out blood. “You’re a lunatic car washer daring to hit me! You’re really insane! Donna, call Rose and have her bring people over to handle this…” Jessica’s expression was vicious, but Donna clung to his arm, pleading, “No… Blame me, I’m the one who owes him too much.” She fumbled to pick up her bag and searched through it. After a while, she found a card and handed it to me with her head down. “The password is the day we got together. I put some money in there—it’s a small compensation for you.” I clenched my fists, my words as sharp as knives: “Hope you two lock yourselves away.” With that, I took the card from her hand and walked away.

The card had $1.2 million. I withdrew the cash and went to another bank next door, eventually securing a decent annual interest rate. I put $200,000 on WhatsApp, and $1 million in the bank. In this 30-square-meter one-bedroom apartment, Donna’s things were everywhere. Although this place wasn’t small, it was quite remote. If it weren’t for Donna, I wouldn’t have rented it. Initially, I didn’t want to move in so soon with Donna, whom I had just started dating a month ago. But because she claimed to have bipolar disorder and feared being alone, I let my guard down. Even now, I can’t distinguish whether my feelings for her were out of love or guilt after learning she had the same illness as my sister. Maybe I thought by doing this, I could finally untie the knot in my heart. Speaking of which, she had a lot of stuff—couple mugs, matching outfits, and couple pillows, all bought by me. But seeing them everywhere was truly annoying, so I decided to pack them all into trash bags. I stared at the trash bags in the corner, my gaze slowly overtaken by the blackness, and gradually relaxed as I fell asleep. I dreamt of that afternoon again. I was coming home from work when I heard police and ambulance sirens. The sharp wails almost burst my eardrums. I stood among the crowd, watching my sister being carried onto a stretcher. The red dress she wore was as bright as blood, staining her pale wrists red. Her face was as white as jasmine, her long eyelashes drooping, just like when she used to wait for me to come home but fell asleep. But this time, she would never open her eyes again, never run over and sweetly say that her brother was finally home. A week later, I walked, step by step, towards my sister’s new home, holding an urn. My sister, she wouldn’t be coming back.

Tears soaked my pillow. I woke up crying, staring into a pair of glowing eyes in the dark. “Who are you?!” I screamed, turning on the bedside lamp, and the woman instinctively covered her face. It was Donna, still wearing a mask, holding the trash bag tightly in her arms. I rubbed my eyes, regretting not changing the password for the rented room. The couple mugs, pillows, and clothes I packed into the trash bag that afternoon were still there, hugged by her. “What are you doing with those?” Donna clutched the bag tighter, silently lowering her head. “Every piece here is a memory of ours. I can’t let go…” “Even worthless things catch your eye?” Sitting up in bed, I looked around for anything important. Now that we had broken up, I could just move out. Donna held the bag, fingers lightly stroking it, her voice filled with grievance and disappointment: “Dan, I know you don’t believe anything I say, but I truly only have you in my heart… No one has ever loved me as wholeheartedly as you do. I can’t live without you.” I shook my head, chuckling bitterly. The events of the afternoon played out like a cruel joke. “Enough, did you love me so much that you flaunted your affection with Jessica in front of me? Should I be cheering you on?” “Jessica wanted to drive to your place! I couldn’t stop him… And even if I was with him, I just made a mistake anyone could make. Can’t you forgive me a little?” Her words were laughable, and as I laughed, tears fell. The year I loved her most, I worked 13-hour days and could only afford one meal a day. Life’s abyss chewed me up until only bones remained. Thinking I could help her cure her bipolar disorder was sweet in my heart. “I can’t tolerate your deceit. The moment the lie was exposed, you became a thorn in my heart. Pulling it out will only make it bleed. But Donna, did you ever think that by using my sister’s situation to get close to me, you trapped yourself too?” “What are you talking about?” I didn’t respond, silently opening the door and waiting for her to leave. Her face turned pale, as if stung by my indifference. She clutched the bag tighter and walked towards the door. “Don’t joke about bipolar anymore. Your so-called joke might make it harder for real patients to face their condition.” Like Rachel’s tragedy, it would happen again. After a while, Donna nodded lightly. Then she pointed to the jewelry box on the nightstand, still remembering that ring. “Can I have this?” “Jessica will buy you a better one.” “I only want the one you gave me. Dan, we were so happy before. Do you really not want me anymore?” Her voice was soft, with a hint of desperation. I heard her muffled sobs, saw her trembling shoulders. I never imagined that Donna, the young heiress, would one day ask for my help. Knowing her pride and seeing her defeat didn’t bring me any joy. I just stood there silently. Understanding my refusal, she quietly took the ring before leaving. Donna’s eyes turned red as she looked at me. “Love me one more time, okay?” “No.”

After Donna left, I poured myself a glass of water. I took a few sips, and my mind started to wander. I kept refreshing my phone screen, flipping between different apps, but nothing seemed to make sense. Then, I noticed a flood of red notifications on my account. When I clicked to check, I discovered a slew of direct messages: “Loser, if you’re being ridiculous, go get help. Why are you bothering someone else’s girlfriend?” I frowned and clicked on the links. Someone had posted photos of me with Donna online, showing me delivering breakfast and gifts to her. Donna’s face was blurred, but mine was clearly visible. The post accused me of harassing the wealthy CEO Jessica’s girlfriend and demanded a public apology. As I scrolled down, my hand holding the glass began to tremble slightly. There were hundreds of comments criticizing me. “This guy looks decent but does such shameless things. Appearances can be deceiving.” “Don’t you see? He’s obviously trying to latch onto a rich girl to avoid struggling for years. But going after Jessica’s girlfriend is like hitting a brick wall.” A wave of dizziness hit me, and the cup slipped from my hand. The ceramic shattered on the floor, breaking into several pieces. I crouched down, desperately trying to piece it back together, but it wouldn’t return to its original form. This cup was a birthday gift from Rachel, the year she passed away, and she had made it herself. Rachel and I were twins. When we were ten, our parents died in a car accident, leaving us with only twenty thousand dollars. No relatives wanted to take us in; we were like unwanted burdens, tossed around in disdain. So, after graduating junior high, I started working to support my sister, eventually helping her attend a prestigious university. The cup had a white and blue gradient, and the little stars on it were crafted by Rachel’s hands. “Bro, I made this cup for you with my own money. Do you like it? My brother is so handsome, this fresh color suits you best! I will work hard to become successful and buy more and better things for my brother. I won’t be a kid who worries you anymore!” Her eyes sparkled, and I pinched her chubby cheeks, nodding with affection. Rachel, it’s alright. With your brother, you can always be a kid. At the bottom of the broken cup, there was some writing. After piecing it together, I found the number “907.” When Rachel gave it to me two years ago, there was no writing on the bottom. She must have added it later. I held the ceramic pieces, thinking for a moment, and then my gaze fell on the corner where my sister’s suitcase was. I slid the numbers, and with a click, the lock opened. Inside the suitcase, there were only four items: a pair of white ballet shoes, a photo of her practicing ballet, a journal, and a cell phone she used before. I gently touched the cover of the journal with Rachel’s name on it, picked it up, and opened it carefully. Starting from the beginning, the earlier entries were just daily records, including which boys confessed to her at school. Rachel was born with curly chestnut hair, a small, doll-like face. She even received an offer from a director. But perhaps because our parents left us so early, even with all the admiration she received from others, she never dared to face it directly and only opened her heart in her journal. After starting university, Rachel, who had practiced ballet since childhood, was recommended by the school to participate in major competitions. Each spin and jump on stage made her shine like a star. I smiled as I read the entries, but my smile froze when I saw a particular line. Because my sister mentioned Jessica’s name.

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James has always been deeply emotional. There was a time when I went to see a girl, and he nearly ran me over with his car. I couldn’t help but ask, “Do you really like her that much?” James replied with a chilling tone, “She would take a bullet for me, would you?” I laughed, “Of course not.” James had been hiding a lover behind my back for six months, and I had no clue. It wasn’t until a week ago, when I was dealing with my period, that he suddenly commented, “You never seem to be in much pain.” I was taken aback, and it dawned on me that this jerk must have someone else who suffers a lot during hers. So I casually remarked, “Dennie has been helping me with some remedies, just a few doses and I’m fine.” James didn’t flinch, just gave a nonchalant “Hmm.” Three days later, I went abroad, and he took that girl to the same place. When the photo reached me, it was too blurry to make out any faces. But James’s radiant demeanor was unmistakable. I’m not shocked that James would cheat. I’m shocked that he’s so invested. What kind of girl could she be? Out of curiosity, I returned to the country without informing James. I had Katy drive me to where James was hiding her. By chance, James was stepping out of his Cullinan, throwing his custom suit into the car, and putting on a cheap jacket. Then he added glasses, ruffled his hair, and picked up a laptop bag. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Is he trying to look like Kevin the programmer?” Katy kept her head down, as quiet as a mouse. Once James was upstairs, I opened the car door. “Wait here, I’ll go check it out.” “Lila…” “What are you afraid of? He can’t kill me, right?” ………… “And he won’t kill you either!”

Anyone would know that once I go up there and confront him, things between James and me could never be the same. Especially these past two years, our conflicts have only increased. Silent treatments, arguments, breaking things—it’s become routine. The most recent was half a month ago. I can’t even remember what sparked it. In the end, I threw a water cup at him. He could have dodged, but he didn’t. Let the blood run down from his forehead, his gaze icy cold. “Do you even resemble the person you used to be?” How absurd. If I’ve changed, hasn’t he changed too? He changes, and it’s justified. I change, and it’s unforgivable? I knocked on the door. James opened it, still wearing that gentle smile, looking inside. “Leave it, I’ll handle it.” He turned back, and the moment he saw me, his smile broke, his gentle gaze turning to ice. “Who is it?” A cute girl peeked out from behind James. Meeting her gaze, I was momentarily stunned. James shifted slightly. “You go inside first.” His deep, serious voice left the girl a bit confused. A smile crept onto my face unexpectedly. I quickly extended my hand. “Hello, I’m James’s colleague, here to discuss some work matters with him.” James glanced at me lightly, acknowledging my excuse. “You stay home; we’ll talk outside.” “Is it inconvenient? Did I disturb Mrs. Xie?” The girl blushed, waving her hands quickly. “No, I’m not Mrs. Xie, we haven’t…” “Not married yet? Then it must be soon. I’ll want a drink at your wedding.” The girl’s face turned even redder, shyly sneaking glances at James. My smile widened. “By the way, I’m Lila, what’s your name?” “Lily, nice to meet you!”

Lily, 19 years old, a student at Harvard, excellent in both character and academics. That’s all the information I could find. The rest was hidden by James. In the end, I still didn’t get into their house. Under James’s extremely cold gaze, I followed him down the stairs obediently. “How did you get here?” ………… “Why didn’t you tell me you returned to the country?” ………… “How long have you known?” ………… James took a deep drag of his cigarette. “What do you want?” I sneered. Finally, we were getting to the point. “What do you think I should do?” James tilted his head, looking at me. “It’s not as sordid as you think between her and me.” “She’s not well, I’m just taking care of her, that’s all.” I let out a casual “Oh.” “What if I don’t believe you?” James’s face suddenly turned gloomy. My warm demeanor disappeared completely. I got out of the car, slamming the door shut. “Lila.” I turned around. The next second, the roar of the engine filled the air. James gripped the steering wheel with one hand. As the car sped toward me, his gaze never left me. Watching my pupils dilate, my body stiffen. The screeching brakes. The car’s front stopped at my knees. Brakes engaged. My mind went blank for a moment, as if a thunderclap exploded in my ears. The car reversed, changed direction, and drove to my side. James looked up at me. “Don’t touch her.” This wasn’t a plea. It was a warning. “Lila, are you alright?” Katy stumbled over, her face ashen, eyes full of fear. As I collapsed, I suddenly understood it wasn’t my imagination—he really intended to kill me.

James was never a saint. He, a middle school dropout, has come this far by being ruthless to others and even more so to himself. When he was six, our deadbeat dad used the excuse of taking me out to secretly meet his mistress. They rolled around in the suite while James watched Tom and Jerry with me in the living room. I didn’t understand why there were those sounds coming from the suite. Curiously, I asked, “Brother, what are Dad and Auntie doing?” He turned up the TV volume and covered my ears. “It’s dirty, don’t listen.” He was only a year older than me but took care of me well. Not because he liked me. His mom told him if he kept me in line, she’d give him a hundred bucks. That was his weekly living allowance. At fourteen, my dad eloped with his mom. My mom set the house on fire. It was James who carried me out of the flames. Half his arm still bears burn scars. He had no money for school, so he dropped out and worked odd jobs. I smashed his place with a baseball bat and paid him two grand. He still didn’t go back to school, instead went far to collect goods. He used his first earnings to buy me a princess dress. That year, I was fifteen, he was sixteen. My mom went hysterical. “Your dad ran off with a whore, and you still want to be with the bastard she bore?” “You’re truly your dad’s spawn; I should’ve strangled you at birth.” I guess I should’ve sided with my mom. But, unfortunately, I was raised by James. In the years my dad was busy cheating, and my mom busy catching him, I lived like an outcast. James didn’t charge me. He might be filthy, but I had to be clean. He could be bruised and battered, but no one could touch a hair on my head. He wouldn’t let me tell anyone about us; he feared he couldn’t protect me. He feared my tears the most, awkwardly wiping them away. Fiercely telling me to hold them back. But later, when I truly stopped crying, he didn’t seem that delighted. “If you cried and made a scene, I’d give in to you.” “Why do you have to be so stubborn with me?”

I spent a day and a half in the hospital. Eric suggested I continue pretending to be out of it. “Alright then, hand me a pack of cigarettes.” “You can’t smoke in the hospital.” “Then I want to check out.” “Can’t you just quit smoking?” “Just like that? I might as well be dead.” Eric rolled his eyes, clearly fed up with me. “What’s going on between you and James?” “Normally, he panics over a scratch. But this time, he hasn’t even shown up.” I let out a cold laugh. “Finally curious enough to ask?” “Bet it was eating you up inside.” Evan burst into the hospital just as I was about to leave, almost running into me. He looked worried, his face a bit pale. “Hey, sis, are you alright?” “What are you doing here?” “Are you hurt anywhere?” “Who told you to come back?” “Where’s James?” “Have you finished what you needed to do?” “I’m going to kill him!” Not a single word I wanted to hear. I kicked his leg. He didn’t dodge, just took it quietly and even bent down to my level. “Sis, I’m sorry.” I gave him a light slap. “Did Katy tell you?” “No, I figured it out myself.” This kid is getting smarter and more capable as he grows. Daring to check up on me, huh? “How’s the situation in the South?” “They can handle it.” He still sounded a bit defiant. “I couldn’t just not come back.” I laughed in exasperation. “Alright, you win.” Evan followed me around, whining like a puppy. And then we ran into James. He looked indifferent, holding Lily’s hand. Guess they weren’t hiding it anymore. Evan froze for a few seconds, then charged forward furiously, but I kicked him back. Eric stood aside, his face changing colors rapidly. What a spectacle. “Lila, are you not feeling well either?” Lily’s innocent voice broke the tension. I smiled at her. “Just a minor issue. What about you?” She seemed a bit embarrassed. “I have a scar, wondering if it can be removed.” I realized, “With modern medicine, it’s not a problem. Pretty girls like you shouldn’t have any flaws.” Lily blushed. “You’re very pretty too, Lila.” James tightened his grip on her hand. “We need to leave, the specialist is waiting.” “Bye, Lila.” As we passed each other, James nodded politely at me. Such a formal nodding acquaintance. On the way back, Evan’s face was as dark as coal. I couldn’t help teasing him. “What, if I hadn’t stopped you, would you really fight James?” “Shouldn’t I?” “Not scared of him now?” He pressed his lips together. “Sis, you should break it off with him.” Ha! Naive kid.

I found Evan when I was twenty, in the hallway. He was eleven then, locked out by his biological father and stepmother. Wearing spring clothes in the dead of winter, shivering with cold, bruises all over. Clinging to my pant leg, murmuring he was hungry. So I took him home, made him a bowl of instant noodles, and added a sausage. Back then, things were tense between James and me. He didn’t want me involved in his affairs, told me to focus on my studies. But he kept getting hurt. I couldn’t stand it. Money, those few bucks, could really be life-threatening. I compromised with my mom, saying I broke up with James and would come home to inherit the family business. She mocked me. But she also knew, the shares my grandparents left were only mine to control. She hated me. But she needed me. She couldn’t do anything to me, so she recorded what I said and played it for James. James didn’t believe it. He believed in me. So he felt incredibly guilty. Guilty for not protecting me. Guilt turned into arguments. From arguing about things to arguing about feelings. Then making up. Over and over. Evan was an accident. I fed him on and off for half a year. James didn’t care, wasn’t bothered. But because he always had a cold face, Evan was afraid of him. Later, Evan’s father found out about our relationship. His murky eyes ogled me up and down, lust clear as day. Evan must have overheard something, he spent his last pocket money on a knife. Scared and desperate. I cooked him a bowl of noodles, took the knife away, told him not to worry about anything. I let the man into my house, tore my clothes, pinned me to the bed. I watched as the woman followed him. They fought, and the man stabbed the woman in the stomach. He fled in panic, taking all the cash from my safe. The newly installed surveillance recorded the whole thing. He was caught, sentenced heavily. To me back then, it was a perfect setup. James said nothing, silently applied medicine to my wounds. After a long time, he spoke. “You shouldn’t have used yourself as bait.” “What if something happened to you?” Those words stuck with me. But there was another sentence, which I understood years later. He said, “You’re filthy, go take a shower.”

When James came back, I was reading in the living room. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” “Waiting for you.” A rather rhetorical question. He knew I was waiting for him. Just as I knew he would come back. For no other reason than I had Lily’s medical file. James paused while putting down his keys. He took off his tie and sat across from me. “What do you want to talk about?” His calmness was stifling. I looked at him quietly. “What if I told Lily everything?” James looked up, his eyes cold. “I told you, don’t touch her.” “What if I insist? What will you do? Run me over?” “Lila, I won’t hurt you. But I can hurt a lot of people.” That made my face go cold. As I stood up, the book fell to the floor with a dull thud. I picked up a baseball bat. “I won’t touch her.” “An arm or a leg, your choice.” James stood up. After a long stare, he extended his left hand. Without hesitation, the bat came down heavy. I heard the bone crack. James’s face turned pale, a muffled groan escaping. He gritted his teeth, looking at me. “Happy now?” “Get lost.” He cradled his arm, walking out. I couldn’t help but ask, “Do you really like her that much?” James stopped, blurting out. “She took a knife for me, can you do that?” For a moment, the air was completely still. I watched James’s tense back. He turned abruptly. Paler than before. His lips moved. “I…” I just laughed. Leaning back lazily. “Of course not.”

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My daughter is allergic to peanuts, yet my sister-in-law deceived her into eating something with peanuts. Without a moment’s hesitation, I flagged down a car to rush to the hospital. In a previous time, when my daughter had an allergic reaction, I called my husband in a panic. Although he was reluctant, he hurried back from my sister-in-law’s graduation ceremony. Unexpectedly, that night, my sister-in-law was attacked by a criminal and tragically lost her life. My husband calmly handled her funeral and told me it was just her ill fate. A year later, on the anniversary of her death, my husband poisoned my food. As I lay dying, I heard his spiteful words: “You wicked woman, you made our daughter have an allergic reaction on purpose to stop me from attending my sister’s graduation.” “You deserve to die, go and atone for her!” My daughter and I died with our grievances unresolved. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of my daughter’s allergy incident. I clutched my daughter, tears blurring my vision. The situation was critical, leaving no room for delay. I hurriedly carried my daughter downstairs. She was having a severe reaction, breaking out in hives and quickly going into shock. It was just like before. In my panic, I called my husband. He initially refused to return, insisting it was just a common cold. But my desperate cries eventually brought him back, though unwillingly. That decision led us to a dead end before. This time, I didn’t seek his help. Instead, I flagged down a car on the street. Halfway to the hospital, we encountered an Audi parked in the emergency lane. Other drivers avoided it upon hearing there was a patient inside, but this one wouldn’t budge. The driver honked furiously, but the Audi stayed put. “Damn it, this person is doing it on purpose,” the driver cursed. I was drenched in sweat from anxiety, my daughter looking ghostly pale. I could only provide her with some basic first aid. Then my phone rang. It was my husband, Ethan. “Aren’t you the schemer? Not calling me this time? Well, enjoy being trapped in the car!” I froze. The Audi blocking the way was Ethan’s doing. “Ethan, are you insane? That’s your own daughter in there, fighting for her life! Are you human or a monster?” He chuckled coldly on the other end, “Stop pretending to be pitiful. You think I don’t know your plan? Just trying to ruin my sister’s graduation, right? I’ve had enough of women like you!” My sister-in-law’s voice chimed in. “Sis, can’t you let me enjoy my graduation? I promise to give my brother back to you after this.” “Bastards!” I shook with rage. “We can’t move because of the car you called to block us. If you have any humanity left, move it!” “Spare me the act. You’re not getting your way today. I want you to feel what it’s like to be manipulated.” Ethan hung up. I looked at my unconscious daughter, tears streaming down my face. The driver was anxious, “Your husband did this? Tell him to move the car.” I wiped my tears and continued calling Ethan. This time, my sister-in-law answered. “Sis, my brother’s busy. Talk to me.” “Put him on.” “No can do, he’s really busy.” I screamed, “Tell him to move that Audi now.” She laughed softly. “No can do. He said you’d ruin my graduation if you got out. Just stay put.” With that, she hung up. The driver was desperate, trying to push past the Audi. But the Audi stubbornly stayed put, reversing into us. The driver cursed, “Son of a b*tch.” Left with no choice, he called the traffic police, but they were slow to arrive. I grew more frantic. “We can’t wait any longer. My daughter’s condition is critical. If we don’t get help soon, it’ll be too late.” Tears fell uncontrollably. In that previous time, my daughter made it to the hospital. Could things turn out worse this time? With no other option, I got out to confront the Audi driver. I ran over, knocking on the window. It rolled down, revealing a familiar face. It was Ethan’s childhood friend, Liam.

“Liam, please move the car. My daughter’s in danger.” He chuckled, shaking his head. I anxiously reached to pull him, but he rolled up the window, trapping my hand. I screamed in pain. “Are you trying to scam me?” Liam laughed maliciously. The other drivers were watching. Some began to speak up for me. “There’s a patient in the car behind, move yours!” “Yeah, you’re endangering lives.” Liam opened his door abruptly, causing me to stumble and fall. He enjoyed watching my misery. “Folks, it’s not that I don’t want to move. This lady’s daughter is fine.” “Her daughter just has a cold. She’s making a big deal to fight with her sister-in-law, using her daughter as a pawn.” After his words, others looked at me with disdain. I couldn’t bother explaining, trying to drag him to see for himself. He pushed me off with force. “Disgusting, don’t touch me. Why Ethan married a jealous woman like you, I don’t know!” “No, she’s really allergic. If you don’t believe me, go see.” I pleaded from the ground. The driver came down. “Move the car, the kid looks really bad, as pale as a sheet.” Liam frowned, then smirked knowingly. “I underestimated you, got someone to act with you.” His stubbornness and malicious assumptions made me furious, tears uncontrollably flowing. “Liam, this is a matter of life and death. How can you be so heartless? This is a living, breathing life. Aren’t you afraid of karma?” The crowd sided with Liam, some accusing me of wasting public resources. “People these days, making a scene over small disputes, using their kids as actors, it’s morally corrupt.” “Exactly, it’s too much.” I was desperate but couldn’t defend myself. My daughter’s condition worsened with every passing second. Yet, I was stuck here arguing with Liam. The driver pleaded with him, “Sir, you’ve misunderstood. The child really looks serious. Any more delay could be fatal.” Perhaps the driver’s earnestness made Liam doubt. He called Ethan. “What’s going on? Are you sure she’s not allergic?” “Of course not. I saw her coughing this morning. If she were allergic, would I leave her?” To convince Liam, Ethan lied. Liam nodded, satisfied, and hung up. He turned to us with more disdain. “Ha, you two act well. You think I’ll move the car? No way!” I lost control. Frantically, I tried to drag Liam to see my daughter’s dire state. “Go see her, see how bad it is.” Liam didn’t budge. Just then, a police car sped over with its siren blaring. The traffic police finally arrived. They quickly got out.

Understanding the situation, the officer sternly told Liam, “Sir, move your car immediately.” Liam tried to argue, pointing at us, “Officer, they’re scamming me, saying the kid’s allergic. It’s just a cold, they’re wasting medical resources.” The officer frowned, then looked at me. With tears streaming down my face, I pleaded, “Officer, please believe us. My daughter’s in critical condition. It’s urgent.” Realizing the gravity, the officer ignored Liam’s nonsense. He commanded other officers to tow the Audi from the emergency lane. Liam was taken away for obstructing traffic. Finally, we sped to the hospital. But upon arrival, I received devastating news. The allergy emergency equipment was under maintenance and unavailable. This sudden news hit me like a bolt from the blue, plunging me into despair. This didn’t happen before. Ethan must have had a hand in this. He’s one of the hospital’s investors. “How can this be? What about my daughter? She can’t wait!” Desperate, I clung to the doctor’s arm, voice breaking with tears. The doctor was anxious, “I… there’s nothing I can do.” I felt like I was falling into the deepest pit of hell. I rushed to the hospital, only to be met with devastating news. The hospital’s emergency allergy equipment was undergoing a comprehensive inspection and was currently out of service. This news struck me like a lightning bolt, plunging me back into a pit of despair. This never happened in my past life. Ethan must be behind this; he’s one of the hospital’s investors. “How could this happen? What about my daughter? She can’t wait!” I cried out, grabbing the doctor’s arm in desperation, my voice cracking with tears. The doctor was just as anxious, “I… I don’t have a solution.” It felt like I was suddenly trapped in a living nightmare. The doctor continued, worried, “We can try some basic medications to start an initial anti-allergy treatment for the child to ease her symptoms, but it’s just a temporary fix. Her condition is still very critical.” I looked at my daughter, unconscious on the hospital bed, her breathing shallow. Heart heavy with worry, I nodded in agreement. The doctors quickly got to work, frantically attending to my daughter. During this time, I made an urgent call to the relevant authorities. To make them take it seriously, I falsely claimed that the hospital was withholding the allergy rescue equipment deliberately because I had offended them. The department took immediate action, promising a swift investigation and a prompt response. Upon hearing this, I finally felt a glimmer of hope. Time crawled by, each second feeling like an eternity. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Ethan. “How does it feel to be played for a fool?” “Why are you doing this? You know our daughter has allergies.” Ethan’s low laugh echoed with malice, like a devil’s whisper. “So what? She’s a bastard. Don’t think I don’t know she’s not my child.” I was stunned. I had gone through so much to have this child through IVF, and he’d never believed she was his. No wonder he was so ruthless to me and our daughter in our past life. I pleaded in despair, “She is your daughter. Save her!” “Shut up, you witch. My sister secretly did a paternity test. That little bastard and I have no relation.” His sister, always his sister. Does she hate me and my daughter that much? Tears streamed down my face, a mix of anger and despair. “Ethan, do you really trust your sister that much?” “I only trust evidence. How can a paternity test be wrong? You and your bastard daughter can fend for yourselves!” He hung up. I collapsed to the ground, overwhelmed by sorrow. Just then, the doctor rushed out from the emergency room. The doctor looked serious, “The child’s situation is very critical. If we still don’t have the allergy emergency equipment, she might…” The doctor didn’t finish, but I understood what he meant. As I was sinking into despair, my phone rang again.

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To prevent me from competing with my stepsister for the gold medal in the dance competition, my fiancé used a crane to lift me to the second floor and then threw me off. My brother was even more ruthless, hitting me with his sports car and sending me flying. I lay there, bleeding and crying, begging them to save my child. But my fiancé remained indifferent: “A child? It’s better gone. That way, you can focus on your sadness and not interfere with Nora winning the award.” I passed out, and when I woke up, I saw my stepsister’s social media post. She was on stage holding the medal that should have been mine, with my brother and fiancé protectively flanking her. The post read: “Thanks to my two princes for their protection, even a little princess like me, who doesn’t aim high, got the gold medal!” My brother and fiancé commented: “Anyone who stands in Nora’s way must perish.” I stared for a moment before silently liking her post. Nobody knows,I came here to complete the tasks assigned to me by the system. Now it’s time to leave. “System, I want to leave this world.”

[Host is about to complete the pain point task.] [The male lead and the second male lead will soon see the true nature of the female supporting character and awaken. Are you sure you want to abandon all your progress?] “Yes.” I lay in a pool of blood, softly murmuring: “I don’t want it. I don’t want my brother, and I don’t want Ezra.” “Ah—” As I spoke, a sharp pain pierced through me. I barely opened my eyes to see my brother, Gideon, sneering as he stomped on my stomach. “Save… the child…” My child… The pain contorted my face, yet my brother withdrew his foot disdainfully. “Playing the pregnancy card again?” “I told you if you dared to make Nora cry, I’d make you bleed. Have you learned your lesson now?” Ezra stood indifferent too. “If the child is lost, it’s for the best. I promised Nora that I’d marry you but only have children with her.” “Mabel, be good, don’t make things difficult for me.” “A little blood won’t kill you; reflect on it right here.” With that, they left without looking back. I watched their retreating figures, feeling the blood draining away beneath me. My body grew colder. My child… I’m sorry, Mom. I shouldn’t have. Maybe I was destined to be a lonely star. In my original world, I was an orphan. Ill and without money for treatment, I waited quietly for death. Then the system found me. It said that if I completed the predetermined plot tasks of the novel, the family in the novel would become my real family. Then, I would be the happiest person. I believed it and became the youngest daughter of the Gideon family, Mabel. At first, I was happy. My parents were loving, my brother cherished me, and Ezra and I were fond of each other. Until Mom died. Dad quickly brought back a woman, and with her, he only cared about her child—Nora. I hated them for making Dad forget Mom and my brother and me. Back then, my brother and I were united against them. Ezra promised he would love me forever. But promises were fleeting. I had been bound by family ties for too long, and at this moment. I suddenly didn’t want them anymore. As darkness overtook my consciousness, a cold familiar voice sounded: [Child successfully miscarried. Congratulations, Host, on achieving two-thirds of the pain point task.]

I was in the operating room for a day and night. After a week in the hospital, Ezra and my brother finally remembered me. Because the stepmother’s birthday was approaching, she wanted the family to reunite, so I was “brought” home. In the luxurious living room, Nora’s sweet and coquettish voice could be heard from time to time. A servant brought a birthday cake to the table, and Nora coyly said she made it herself and even hurt her hand, so they shouldn’t dislike it. Ezra grabbed her hand angrily, scolding her for hurting herself again. His expression was stern, yet he couldn’t hide the tenderness in his voice. Nora playfully stuck out her tongue. My brother looked at her with a face full of affection. Dad and stepmother smiled with kindness. My vision suddenly blurred, making it difficult to see. I reached up to touch my face, only to find my fingertips wet. “Sister finally came back.” “Today is Mom’s birthday. You won’t blame us for not waiting to eat with you, will you?” Nora saw me and smiled brightly, though her eyes shone with obvious provocation and ridicule. Everyone in the room turned to look at me. “Are you mute? Why don’t you speak when you come in?” Seeing me, Dad’s smile faded. Seeing me standing at the door motionless, my brother also impatiently scolded, “What are you standing there for? Don’t you see everyone waiting for you? When will you change your spoiled princess attitude?” I blinked, holding back tears, clutching my aching stomach, and limped over with my injured leg. Ezra saw my movements and frowned, “You’re hurt?” It might have been my imagination, but there was a trace of concern in his voice. My brother glanced at me and then sneered, “She’s pretending again. Ever since Nora came, she’s always like this.” Hearing this, the concern in Ezra’s eyes disappeared, replaced by the familiar disdain. “How long do you plan to keep this act up? How many times have I told you, Nora is just a young girl. She lost her dad, came with her mom to your house, and has been living cautiously. It’s normal for her to rely more on me and Gideon. You have everything. Why can’t you give her a little?” I gave a bitter smile. I have everything? Since Nora and her mother arrived, Dad became colder towards me, and my brother grew to dislike me more. Even Ezra, who used to be devoted to me, gradually sided with Nora. “Ezra, she lost her dad, but I lost my mom.” “Later she got a dad, and I lost my dad.” “Slap!” As soon as I finished speaking, the next second, Dad slapped me across the face. He glared at me: “Your old man isn’t dead yet!” But whether alive or dead, is there a difference? I held my cheek, silently weeping: “I lost my brother, my fiancé.” “And my child.” Ezra looked at me, and there seemed to be some reluctance in his eyes. Suddenly, Nora choked on her sobs. “Sister, are you blaming me?” “Sister, I’m sorry. Then I’ll just go die!” “Nora!” Ezra and my brother immediately rushed to embrace her. I watched the smugness in her eyes, watching their anxious faces. “Mabel, you never change.” “Falling from only the second floor, do you really need to play the victim in front of us?” I stared at him blankly, feeling the pain creeping in. Before, I would’ve cried and begged him to believe me. But now, I didn’t want to explain anymore. I closed my eyes, looking at my brother with one last bit of hope. “My leg is broken.” “The doctor said I can never dance again.” My brother didn’t even look at me, indulgently watching Nora: “That’s just as well. Nora won’t have to hide under the covers crying about you winning dance awards anymore.”

Nora shyly stomped her foot, “I never cried under the covers, brother, you’re so annoying.” Laughter from the family filled the hall. I stood there frozen, my vision starting to blur again. When I was in school, I won an award for dancing, and Nora cried all night. My brother threw away all my dance costumes and shoes, forbidding me to dance anymore. My heart grew colder with every beat. “Alright, let’s eat!” Ezra saw my expression, a hint of reluctance flashing on his face. He pulled me to sit next to him, “Don’t be stubborn. Once your leg heals, we’ll get married.” If it were the old me hearing this, I would’ve jumped up in joy and hugged him. But now, my heart was unusually calm. Nora gave me a look full of jealousy, quickly hiding her emotions, and smiled as she pushed the cake in front of me. “Sister, today is Mom’s birthday. It’s rare for our family to be together.” I lowered my gaze and spoke softly, “My mom’s been dead a long time. Her memorial day isn’t today.” Nora was at a loss for words. The stepmother graciously tried to smooth things over. “You child, your sister rarely comes back. As a younger sister, how can you not know to yield a bit?” My gaze landed on the stepmother’s neck, staring at the familiar and precious emerald necklace. Sensing my look, the stepmother straightened up and intentionally touched the necklace. That was my mom’s favorite thing. Once she was gone, it was safely kept in a safe. I never thought it would appear around the stepmother’s neck. “This is my mom’s. Why are you wearing it?” I lunged madly to snatch it away. The stepmother pretended to be scared and stepped back, yet when no one was looking, she whispered mockingly in my ear: “Your mom couldn’t win against me, and neither will you against my daughter. Everything you and your mom had will be ours sooner or later.” My eyes turned red, and I squeezed her neck tightly. Everyone finally reacted and rushed to separate us. The stepmother leaned tearfully against Dad. Dad, feeling sorry for her, pointed at me and cursed. “You rebellious daughter, your mom’s been dead a long time. I gave the necklace to your Aunt Fiona. If you’ve got a problem, take it out on me.” I rushed forward desperately, trying to snatch it away. My stepmother feigned fear and stepped back. But when no one was looking, she whispered mockingly in my ear, “Your mother couldn’t defeat me, and neither will you against my daughter. Everything that belongs to you and your mother will eventually be ours.” Fury welled up inside me, and I tightened my grip on her neck. Only then did the others react, rushing over to separate us. My stepmother collapsed into Dad’s arms, sobbing. Dad, sympathetic to her, pointed at me and shouted. “You ungrateful daughter, your mom’s long gone. I gave that necklace to Aunt Fiona. If you have a problem, take it up with me.” “Apologize to your Aunt Fiona, or leave this house. I don’t have a daughter like you.” My brother kicked my chair, “Mom and Nora kindly brought you back to reunite, and here you are causing trouble. Is that what you want?” I looked at him defiantly, my face pale. “That’s Mom’s necklace. Why should the other woman wear it?” “Brother, do you still remember Mom?” My brother froze. In a fit of rage, Dad flipped the table and threw a cup at me. “You rebellious daughter, get out!” Ezra and my brother immediately shielded Nora. Blood trickled down my forehead, blurring my vision, and dizziness overwhelmed me. Before I lost consciousness, Ezra rushed over and caught me.

I woke up the next day. I found myself back in the hospital, and the wound on my forehead had been treated. Turning my head, I saw a haggard, pale face reflected clearly in the window. I numbly removed the bandage, revealing a long, deep wound stretching from my forehead to my cheekbone, raw and bloody. [Congratulations, Host, on completing the task of disfigurement.] Touching my ruined face, my throat tightened. “Where are Ezra and my brother?” [Nora was frightened, and her depression relapsed. Your fiancé and brother are by her side, not leaving for a moment.] [And…] The system hesitated but ultimately said nothing, only comforting me: [Host, just hang on a little longer. No matter what they do, once you finish the abuse plot, they’ll realize you’re the only one they love. Then you can enjoy their love and live happily ever after.] Happily ever after, huh? I tugged at the corners of my mouth, saying nothing. I used to believe Ezra and my brother would eventually see through Nora and her mother’s facade. I compromised again and again. But now I finally understand. This so-called happiness is twisted. I don’t want this kind of happiness anymore. When I got home from the hospital, Ezra was resting with his eyes closed on the sofa. His expensive suit jacket was casually thrown aside. He looked utterly exhausted. As I got closer, I could faintly smell Nora’s perfume on him. Hearing my movement, he opened his eyes and looked at me in confusion. “Why are you back? Why aren’t you staying at the hospital?” I lowered my head and said nothing, trying to pass by him to my room. He suddenly grabbed my wrist, somewhat angrily asking, “Mabel, I’m talking to you. What’s your problem now?” My foot injury hadn’t healed yet, and his forceful tug made me gasp in pain. Seeing my gritted teeth, Ezra stood up and stared at me. “Is it because of your face, or are you mad about last time?” “It was just a small lesson. Is it really a big deal?” So, in his eyes, throwing me from a height causing a miscarriage and a broken leg, and forcing me to kneel and apologize to Nora was just a small lesson? I looked at him with red eyes, filled with grief and anger, “A small matter? You think causing my miscarriage and breaking my leg is a small matter? Is Nora’s mood more important than that?” That so-called small matter in his words killed my child and made it impossible for me to dance again. But just because Nora was upset, he was so anxious. Ezra had never seen me so out of control. After a moment of surprise, his tone became a bit impatient. “The doctor said it won’t affect your walking in the future. If you can’t dance, then don’t. Just be Mrs. Ezra after we get married.” “Miscarriage? Even if you never get pregnant again, Nora will have kids for you.” “Then you can raise her kids.” He frowned as he spoke, wanting to say more, but his gaze softened when he saw the scar on my face, “As for the scar on your face, just leave it. Don’t treat it.” “You’re prettier than Nora, which makes her feel inferior. Now that you’re disfigured, it’s just in time for my engagement party with her.” “You can be the bridesmaid, so you don’t steal her spotlight.” I stared at Ezra, dumbfounded. Even though I was used to his favoritism toward Nora, my heart still ached. “What am I then?” “What does our relationship mean?” Ezra moved his lips but remained silent for a long time before saying: “Just be good.” He seemed to want to say more, but his phone rang suddenly. As he answered, his expression grew more and more serious, and his gaze toward me became increasingly complicated. On the other end, I could hear my brother’s excited voice, “There’s hope; Nora can be saved… the same rare blood type…” My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a foreboding sense of doom. At that moment, the system suddenly shouted, “Host, run!”

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In the sixth year of my concealed marriage with Elaine, we decided to quietly part ways. He wanted to protect his young girlfriend from being labeled as a homewrecker. He said, “I want no one to know we were ever married.” I nodded silently and added an extra zero during the property division. Elaine’s expression shifted. “Is money all that matters to you?” he questioned. I laughed softly. “After all these years, you know me best.” Elaine ended up in the hospital from drinking too much. A nurse asked, “Who is the patient’s family?” Lily and I both stood up. “I am.” “It’s me.” The nurse frowned. “Who really is it?” Lily quickly stepped forward. “It’s me. Tell me whatever is needed.” The nurse explained the night care instructions, and Lily listened carefully. I glanced at Elaine. His breathing was labored, his brow furrowed, and the corners of his eyes were red, yet his lips were pale and bloodless. It had been years since I’d seen him like this. Alcohol tolerance can be developed, but it also depends on one’s constitution. Elaine, unfortunately, is allergic to alcohol. Lily, with tears in her eyes, warmed his hands. For a mistress to go to such lengths, it’s quite awkward for me, his lawful wife. I hesitated whether to leave when she spoke. “It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have drunk so much.” My assistant had already briefed me before I came. At the banquet, someone flirted with Lily and tried to drink with her, but Elaine intervened. The person mocked, “A man who won’t drink? You might as well be with me.” Elaine had long outgrown reckless behavior, but that night he lost control and started drinking heavily. Those who know Elaine understand he can’t handle liquor. But if he decides to drink his life away with you, you might not keep up with him. In his youth, such recklessness had landed him in the hospital several times. The last time was in the second year of our marriage. He was in the hospital vomiting blood while I got into a car accident on the highway. After that, he changed. Lily asked, “Leader Demi, did he protect you like this before too?” I was at a loss for words. “You take care of him; I’m heading back.” “Leader Demi.” Lily’s voice was urgent. She bit her lip as if making a decision. “I told Elaine I want to get married, and he agreed.”

Two days ago, I had to return to the office for something important. Passing by Elaine’s office, the lights were still on. Lily was sitting on Elaine’s lap, her arms wrapped around his neck, leaning into him. In a sweet voice, she said, “Elaine, I want to get married.” I don’t habitually eavesdrop, but her words made me stop. Elaine wore a lazy smile, his eyes half-closed, gently running his fingers through Lily’s hair. “Why, little girl, can’t wait to get married?” “No, it’s not that!” Lily pouted. “I just want to marry you. Will you marry me, Elaine?” I stood outside, watching Elaine through the half-open door. He was silent for a long time, the smile fading from his face. Quietly, he met my gaze. Then he softly said, “Okay.” “Leader Demi, Elaine doesn’t like you anymore; he likes me now,” Lily said confidently. She looked at me with a mix of nervousness and pride. I lowered my gaze. “Well, congratulations.” Elaine returned to the office the next afternoon. As soon as he entered, he called me over. Entering the office, I found him holding his head, pressing hard on his temples. The aftermath of a hangover, the migraine was acting up. “Sort out Julia’s project and hand it over to Lily,” he suddenly said, making me pause for a few seconds. “What?” He didn’t repeat himself, just looked at me intently. “Julia’s project is important, and Lily is new… So she needs a chance, a head start, a glamorous resume.” I stayed silent again. “Demi, I’m not discussing this with you.” Elaine struck the table heavily, clearly impatient. Taking a deep breath, I relaxed my clenched fists. “Fine. But I have one condition.” Elaine raised his chin, signaling me to continue. “Don’t change the original team, just replace the leader with her. The dividends and bonuses for the project members must remain unchanged.” “Fine, I agree.”

With Elaine’s confirmation, I turned to leave. I spent an hour and a half organizing everything and explaining the situation to everyone. Their looks were filled with pity, sympathy, resentment, and anger. I knocked on the table. “No personal feelings, don’t talk about so-called loyalty. It’s just work, do your job, get paid.” With my things in hand, I went back to Elaine’s office. Lily was there too. She was smiling, feeding Elaine cookies. Elaine doesn’t like sweets. Though he frowned, he reluctantly accepted. Seeing me, Lily quickly stood up. “You guys have things to discuss, I’ll step out.” “No need.” Elaine placed the cookie box in Lily’s hands. “Eat in the corner.” Then he looked at me, his tone unfriendly. “Remember to knock next time.” I didn’t knock? Seems like I didn’t. Habit. “There won’t be a next time.” “What?” I placed all the documents on Elaine’s desk. Meeting his suspicious gaze, I handed him the sheet of paper at the bottom. It was a resignation letter. Elaine paused for two seconds. When he looked up again, his eyes were cold. “What do you mean? Threatening me?” I paused. “You’re overthinking. The resignation letter was prepared a long time ago, just waiting for Julia’s project to finish. Now that it’s handed over, I’ve completed everything. Just the right time to resign.” Elaine glared at me, angry. Lily seemed scared. “Leader Demi, I won’t do this project anymore, please don’t be mad. I know I’m not qualified, I just wanted to learn from you. I won’t participate; it’s my fault. I apologize.” Elaine’s expression turned even darker. He pulled Lily close. “Do it if you want. No need to apologize to anyone. Resign, huh? The company won’t stop running without you.” Elaine picked up a pen and swiftly wrote his name at the end. He threw the resignation letter at me. “Get out.” I looked down at the paper at my feet. “One more thing.” Elaine’s face was tight, silent. “Since you and Lily are getting married, shouldn’t we end our marriage first?” Even Lily’s sniffles stopped. She clung to Elaine’s arm, looking at him with both nervousness and anticipation. Elaine seemed stiff. He slowly turned his head. “What did you say?” “I said, let’s get a divorce while we’re at it!”

Lily was sent out by Elaine. She was a bit reluctant but didn’t disobey him. She just gave me a hesitant glance before leaving. Elaine and I stood facing each other. He broke the silence first. “How long have you been planning this resignation?” “Half a year.” “So, you’ve been ready to divorce for half a year, right?” I didn’t affirm or deny. Elaine sneered. “Demi, what right do you have to ask for a divorce?” I looked at him. “Does it matter now?” “Yeah, it doesn’t.” Elaine took out a divorce agreement from the bottom drawer. “Name your terms. Just one thing. I don’t want people saying Lily climbed up as a mistress. So, no one can know about our divorce. Or rather, I don’t want anyone to know we were ever married.” I skimmed through the agreement’s content quickly. Nodding, I said, “Okay, no problem.” Then I picked up a pen and added an extra zero to the property division. Elaine looked at me mockingly. “Demi, is money all that matters to you?” I smiled. “After so many years, you still know me best.” That day, I packed everything and left the company. Some were gloating, some were reluctant to see me go. The most complicated emotions probably belonged to Lily. She seemed hesitant to speak, but her relief was visible. I nodded. “Sure, that’s fine.” I picked up the pen and added an extra zero to the asset division. Elaine looked at me with a sardonic smile. “Demi, is money all you ever think about?” I smirked. “After all these years, you still know me best.”

That day, I packed my things and left the company. Some people were happy to see me go, while others were sad. Lily, though, had the most mixed emotions—she seemed relieved but hesitant to speak. Back home, I felt a bit lost without work to occupy me. I spent the day feeling like a restless cat, unsure of what to do. In the afternoon, my assistant messaged me. “Elaine was like a fire-breathing dragon today, even giving the cold shoulder to his future boss lady. Leader Demi, I bet he’ll soon realize he’s made a huge mistake. If you find a good opportunity, take us with you! We’d love to follow you, hehe.” I chuckled. “Don’t overthink it. As long as Julia’s project goes through, the company’s future is still promising. At least you won’t miss out on your salary.” As for me— I don’t plan on working for a while. In the evening, Rose invited me out for drinks. Like clockwork, she asked every day. I replied: “Send me the location.” Her call came in the next second. “Wow, the workaholic is taking a break? Did Elaine go bankrupt?” Her lively voice made me smile. “So, are you inviting me or not?” “Of course, get over here! We’ve got a private room, drinks, and guys—all set!” I met Rose through Elaine, but we became unexpected friends. She’s one of the few who knows about my marriage to Elaine. So, when Elaine blatantly cheated, she was furious with him and eager to set me up with other men. In her words: “If he’s going to cheat, why shouldn’t you? Let’s see who’s got the better options!” By the time I arrived, Rose was already in full swing. Clutching a drink, she danced and cheered surrounded by six-foot male models. “Demi, over here!” She pushed the most handsome guy towards me. He was quick to catch on, pouring me a drink and calling me “sister.” I smiled and downed it in one go. “Alright, you guys can leave now!” “What do you mean? Demi, you’re such a buzzkill.” I rubbed my temples with a sigh. “It’s too noisy.” She winked at me. “I thought you were shy!” I raised an eyebrow. “Do I look that innocent to you?” “Definitely not. So why stay faithful to Elaine with his behavior?” Rose was blunt. “If he cheats, I cheat—it’s payback.” “Revenge is too strong a word; we’re not there yet. Besides, he cheated after we fell apart.” … “Does he admit that?” Rose sat up, her eyes bright with realization. “I think I’ve just figured something out.” I asked her what she meant, but she kept it mysterious. “Alright! Actually, I came to tell you that I’m going abroad soon.” “For what, a vacation? Business?” “School.” “What?” “I got accepted into a business school for my master’s.” “What about your job? And you and Elaine…” “I’ve already resigned, and as for Elaine, we’ve agreed to go to the registry office tomorrow.” Reaching this point with Elaine was almost inevitable. I always thought I didn’t feel much. But when Rose’s eyes turned red, I felt a pang in my heart. “Is he causing trouble again?” “No.” “Is he targeting you on purpose?” “No.” “Why are you resigning? He should be the one to leave!” Rose and I drank glass after glass. She criticized Elaine, feeling sorry for me and thinking it wasn’t fair. It seems love is the only thing where effort and reward don’t match. It’s strange; once in love, both parties end up feeling shortchanged.

I met Elaine in high school. He wasn’t supposed to be in our small town. But family changes forced him to transfer and live with his grandfather. Back then, he was rebellious. Not long after school started, he was among the first to be publicly criticized. Others at least acted humble when admitting mistakes. But even standing before the whole school, he remained nonchalant. I didn’t like people like him. Nor did I want to interact with him. Yet when he was falsely accused, I couldn’t help but stand up for him. From that day, he followed me, from school to my home, until I went upstairs. “Without me, you’d have been retaliated against by now.” “Good student, stay out of such matters in the future.” He didn’t care. Fighting, false accusations, misunderstandings, and punishments—he didn’t care about any of them. But when my dad’s fist was about to fall on me after hitting my mom, he rushed in, knocking him down. My mom screamed, supporting my dad, glaring at me and calling me a disgrace. Elaine froze. The next second, he grabbed my hand and ran. He made me a bowl of noodles. Cooked too long, it tasted bad. Too much soy sauce made it salty. The veggies were added too late, tasting bland. It was the worst noodles I’d ever eaten, but I finished every drop. In our turbulent youth, two lonely people, we warmed each other and pushed each other forward. But everyone opposed us. The school was against early romance. Elaine’s family looked down on us. “I’ve seen many reaching for higher branches, but never this young.” My mom’s eyes reddened with anger, hitting me and calling me a disgrace. Elaine was forcibly taken away, and I became the school outcast. But he escaped, bringing all his New Year’s money, injuring his leg. He said, “Let’s elope!” I hugged him, leaning against his head. “One year. “We’ll get into the same college. “Then no one can stop us. “Just one year.”

Elaine reached the office before me. I got out of the car, seeing him there, squinting, holding a cigarette, pressing his thumb against his temple. Noticing my gaze, he looked up and put out the cigarette. “Let’s go!” The divorce process went smoothly. The moment I got the divorce certificate, I couldn’t help but sigh in relief. “What about your stuff in the house?” “Toss it.” We turned and walked in opposite directions. There was still a lot left for me to handle. I called a familiar organizer to clear out all the male belongings from the house and pack the rest for storage. Midway through, a young girl came from the study with a 36-inch photo frame. “Sis, what do we do with this?” Inside the cracked, web-like glass was an enlarged red registration photo. Seeing the two heads leaning together, looking happy, I felt a bit dazed. This was hung at our bedside, replacing a wedding photo. We never took wedding photos, nor held a ceremony, just quietly registered behind everyone’s back. The reason was his family’s disapproval. If we insisted on being together, it had to be a secret marriage. I didn’t mind, but Elaine felt bad about it for a long time. At first, he said he’d make it up to me once he was established, making our marriage public. Later, he said it didn’t matter; as long as we were happy, who cared if others knew? Eventually, he smashed the frame, saying harshly, “I’m so glad I listened to my mom.” “Throw the frame away, shred the photo.” After handling everything, I boarded a plane abroad a week later.

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I hadn’t fully recovered after giving birth when my husband, Albert Decker, asked me to help set up a new home for his childhood friend, Emily Harris. “Who doesn’t know you’re the go-to expert for all things home-related? With your help, things will be much easier for us.” As I was finishing up the last few tasks, I suddenly felt a wetness in my pants, and the afterbirth began to trickle down my legs, pooling on the floor. Emily covered her mouth and exaggeratedly exclaimed, “What is that? How disgusting!” She bent over, pretending to gag, making the situation even more uncomfortable. Embarrassment and shame hit me like a wave, and I wanted to disappear. But Albert grabbed my arm, furrowing his brow deeply. “I asked you to help, not cause trouble. Is that what you’re doing?” It was Christmas Day, and he sent me home, leaving me to wait for him with the baby all night. It wasn’t until the next morning that he returned with hickeys on his neck. At that moment, I knew there was no future for me and Albert.

“Betty? Why aren’t you asleep?” Albert looked a bit puzzled when he saw I was still awake as he returned. It was just beginning to get light outside. At his words, I slowly looked up, staring blankly. When I saw the marks on his neck, I smiled faintly. “Why are you coming back at this hour?” I should’ve known, but I hadn’t expected it to be so blatantly right in front of me. Albert was momentarily taken aback when he heard my hoarse voice. He noticed where I was looking and instinctively touched the marks on his neck, awkwardly explaining. “I was helping Emily fix her fridge. I didn’t finish until late, so I just dozed off over there. I thought coming back would disturb you and the baby. The marks on my neck are from mosquito bites, so don’t think too much about it.” Mosquitoes in the middle of winter? After Christmas, no less? Didn’t he know better? My gaze grew colder, and I gently rocked the baby in my arms, muttering to myself. “The baby’s still so young… it’s not right for him to grow up without a father…” “Stop thinking like that. Don’t overthink it.” Albert tried to play dumb. I sighed inwardly, no longer willing to engage with him. I laid the sleeping baby in his crib and turned to head to the bedroom to rest. “Betty!” Seeing what I was doing, Albert suddenly came up behind me and hugged me tightly. I froze in place, and my whole body stiffened. Albert didn’t seem to notice, resting his chin on my shoulder. “You have to know, I love you.” “Let go of me!” I furrowed my brows, my voice laced with irritation. Albert didn’t let go, continuing to explain. “It’s just a little thing. You’re still upset about yesterday. I’m your husband now, you should at least be a bit more understanding. Emily and I haven’t seen each other in ages. And besides, you were the one who made a mess of her new place.” At that moment, I couldn’t hold back my anger any longer. I snapped at him. “Albert! Would I have embarrassed myself if it weren’t for you? You knew I wasn’t fully recovered yet and that my health wasn’t great, yet you still made me help her clean! And now you want me to be understanding? Do you have any feelings at all?” Albert sighed and put on an apologetic face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I promise it won’t happen again.” I simply snorted in response. I had been married to Albert for three years, but our relationship had been distant ever since I got pregnant. I knew Albert didn’t feel much for me, but every time I thought about leaving, the thought would disappear when I looked at our child. He was still so small, and I couldn’t bring myself to be that cruel. But now, I couldn’t justify staying for a father like him. At that moment, the baby, who had been stirred by our conversation, started crying. I pulled out of Albert’s embrace and rushed to scoop the baby into my arms, gently patting him to calm him down. “Alright, Dennis, don’t cry. I’m here, don’t cry, don’t cry…” Albert was about to say something but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. He told me to go answer the door, and when I opened it, Emily was there, looking upset. “Albert, I… can I stay over? I spent one night in my new house, but the formaldehyde is too strong, and I’ve got a terrible headache.” I walked closer, holding the baby, furrowing my brows, about to refuse. “If there’s too much formaldehyde, you should go stay at a hotel…” “Of course! Come in, Emily. You didn’t sleep well last night, did you?” My words were interrupted by Albert, who immediately greeted Emily warmly, pulling her into the house. Emily hesitated for a moment, then nervously glanced at me. “Is it too much trouble for you, Betty?” “Trouble? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine. Betty doesn’t mind.” Albert grabbed her suitcase and started pulling it inside, acting as if he had already made the decision for me, and kept throwing me glances. I felt completely drained. I couldn’t take another day of this. Chapter 2 “Who said I don’t mind? Why did you move in? Get out! This is my house!” I raised my eyebrows, saying and standing in the doorway to refuse. My gaze toward Emily was cold and unfriendly. Albert frowned again, stepping forward as if he was going to bypass me and enter. Seeing that I wasn’t budging, he sighed in frustration. “Betty! Why are you making this so difficult? Emily came to us because she really had nowhere else to go! Letting her stay here is just what friends do for each other! Why are you reacting like this?” “…Albert, don’t argue with Betty. It’s really my fault for troubling you, I’ll leave right away. Don’t fight, I’m fine!” Emily’s eyes reddened as she apologized and turned to leave, but Albert immediately grabbed her, soothing her. “Emily! What’s the problem? How long have we known each other? Of course, you can stay with us! I can’t let you stay in a hotel!” After calming Emily down, Albert turned to me in a low voice. “Betty, I know what you’re worried about. I swear, I would never betray you. Emily and I have been friends since we were kids. If something was going on between us, it would’ve happened a long time ago. How could I be marrying you if there was anything?” I was so angry I nearly laughed, my frustration boiling over. “Yes! If you two really have something going on, it’s not my place to marry you! Albert, don’t you feel any guilt saying that? You’re just making up excuses for your own cheating! Do you think everyone here is a fool, just buying into your lies?” “Is this all the trust you have in me?” Albert was shocked. I stared coldly at his face, my voice trembling with emotion as I responded. “Otherwise, what?” “…Do whatever you want.” Albert’s temper flared, too. He grabbed the suitcase and tried to push past me. I stepped back, directly facing his angry expression. “Betty! You’ll see whether I’m cheating or not! Don’t think that just because I gave you a son, you get to decide everything around here! Emily has to stay today!” Albert forcefully arranged for Emily to stay in the guest room. I was exhausted, too tired to argue anymore. I should’ve known this would happen. I wasn’t even sure what I was hoping for anymore. Maybe a small part of me still had some hope for our relationship. “Sorry to trouble you, Betty.” Emily followed Albert into the room, pretending to feel guilty as she nodded at me, but her eyes were full of smugness. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and thought to myself that I just needed to hold on for a few more days. Once the month-long recovery period was over, Albert and I would be done, and this painful marriage, which had tormented me for so long, would finally come to an end. After that, Albert and I sat in silence. I had thought that with Emily moving in today, he would find some excuse to be with her, but to my surprise, after showering, he came straight to the master bedroom. I lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. When his body heat neared my back, I tensed up instinctively. I wanted to pull away, and I even felt a slight urge to gag. I couldn’t believe I felt such strong disgust for him. “Darling.” Albert hugged me from behind, his hands starting to wander. “Don’t touch me! I just want to sleep today.” I rejected him bluntly, not even trying to spare his feelings. His movements froze for a moment, and I could almost feel his embarrassment. He sighed deeply and fell silent. But then Emily started causing trouble again. Without a word, she opened the door and walked out in her pajamas and slippers. “Emily!” Albert heard the noise and quickly got out of bed to chase after her. When he came back, he wore an apologetic expression. “Sorry, honey. Emily… she was sleepwalking. I need to go check on her in the next room.” A poorly executed excuse, but I didn’t stop him. “Go ahead, do whatever you want, Albert.” What I mean was, not just whatever with him, but whatever with them too! Chapter 3 The next day, Emily came over to apologize. She was all smiles, pulling my hand as she spoke. I quietly pulled my hand away, feeling disgusted inside. “Betty, I’m so sorry for making you sleep alone last night. Sleepwalking is an old problem of mine. I always lock the door and windows, but I just forgot last night. If you don’t believe me, I even have a doctor’s note.” She apologized with an almost pitiful tone, but there was a look of satisfaction in her eyes that couldn’t be hidden. Albert was standing by, ready to step in if I said anything difficult. “I know, you don’t need to explain it.” I responded flatly, which made both of them look at me in surprise, but they didn’t have an excuse to keep pushing. Albert seemed a little awkward, trying to speak a few times but never succeeding. I watched them both, feeling completely uninterested. Just then, the baby let out a soft cry. I stood up, moved past them, and went to warm up some breast milk without saying a word. Emily hadn’t just returned recently. From what I knew, she had probably come back from overseas as soon as my pregnancy started showing. By now, it had been at least half a year. They were nothing but liars. After an awkward breakfast together, Albert bought me breakfast, and we ate in silence. Then, I received a notification from the hospital about a follow-up checkup. “Albert, the hospital wants me to go in for a checkup.” I showed him the message, and Albert looked a little uncomfortable, rubbing his nose. “I need to do some cleaning at Emily’s place today. I don’t think I can go with you. You’ll be okay on your own, right?” “Fine.” I had a feeling something was up, so I didn’t push it. I gathered the things I needed for the baby and was about to leave. “Darling!” Albert saw the situation and called me back, looking at the child with some guilt. “Just leave Dennis with me, I can help take care of him. It’s quite a hassle to go to the hospital anyway, and you don’t want to forget anything or make the kid go through all that trouble too.” I was a bit stunned. I hadn’t expected him to offer to help with the baby. After all, in the past month since I gave birth, he had never once offered to help with the child. But considering the long distance ahead, I reluctantly agreed to his suggestion, giving him a few instructions. “The breast milk is in the fridge. You know the temperature he likes. Make sure to feed him in small amounts, and don’t give him too much at once.” “No problem, honey! You can trust me!” Albert replied confidently, so I left. The checkup went smoothly. The doctor said my postpartum discharge would gradually decrease, but I needed to pay extra attention to my emotional well-being, as stress could cause other issues. I thanked the doctor and was about to leave the ward when Albert texted me. [Betty! Dennis has been throwing up non-stop! What should I do?] [What?] In that instant, I panicked and told him to bring the baby to me immediately. When Albert and Emily brought Dennis over, the poor baby had already thrown up so much that he looked completely drained. Seeing Dennis’ pale face made me feel like I was going to collapse. Once they brought him in, the doctors immediately rushed him into the emergency room. For such a small baby, any issue could be life-threatening. Seeing Albert in a panic as well, I was furious. I stormed up to him and slapped him across the face. “What the hell happened? I was gone for less than two hours, and you let the baby get like this? Albert! Was this on purpose? He is our child!” Albert, stunned by the slap, covered his face and looked at me in shock. Chapter 4 “This… this… is…” Albert stammered, unable to speak properly. I grabbed his collar and dragged him to the window near the emergency room, fiercely demanding an explanation. After a few moments, he finally gritted his teeth and spoke up. “Well… I left the feeding task to Emily. She’s always been really curious about Dennis and likes him a lot, but it seems… she didn’t heat the milk fully. After he drank a bag, he started vomiting and having diarrhea.” “You let her feed our baby? What were you thinking? Albert! Are you out of your mind?” I was completely stunned. I released his collar and slapped him again, shouting in anger. “Albert! I swear to God, if anything happens to Dennis, I will never forgive you! I won’t let either of you get away with it! If something happens to him, you’ll regret it!” As I spoke, my anger boiled over, especially when I saw Emily standing silently behind Albert, wiping her tears. The resentment that had built up over the past six months exploded in a flash, and I immediately slapped her across the face. Amid Emily’s screams, I grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head into the wall, cursing at her. “And you, you bitch! Albert might not see it, but do you think I don’t? You’re trying to harm my baby! Emily, if anything happens to my child, the next one who’s going down is you!” Emily, hurt by the blow, choked and struggled to break free. “Betty! I didn’t mean it… I’ve never taken care of a baby before! I swear I wasn’t doing it on purpose! Betty! Let go! Someone’s going to get hurt!” Seeing me yell and hit Emily, Albert couldn’t sit still any longer. He rushed up and grabbed my wrist. “Betty! Emily didn’t mean it! The baby’s still in critical condition, so stop making a scene! It’s already happened, can’t you calm down for a second?” I turned around and slapped him again, in disbelief, accusing him. “Albert! You think the safety of our child is less important than me hitting Emily, right? Why can’t I hit her? Who does she think she is, that she can take care of our child?” “Enough! Betty! Calm down!” As more and more people gathered around, Albert, who had been slapped several times, finally lost his temper. He yelled at me in a voice so loud it made the whole room go quiet. Some nurses stepped forward, grabbing my arms and trying to calm me down, while other security guards helped control the situation and clear the crowd. I watched as Albert pulled Emily into his arms, shielding her, and suddenly felt weak. I no longer had the energy to argue. I just sat helplessly on the bench in the hallway, waiting for the doctor’s report. The doctor took a long time to finish the treatment. When he came out wearing a mask, I rushed forward and grabbed his hand. “Doctor! How is the baby?” Albert and Emily also stepped forward, anxiously waiting for the doctor’s news. The doctor took off his mask, and in the worried silence, he spoke softly. “The baby is out of danger now. Are you both the parents? You were so careless! The milk wasn’t heated properly, and the bacteria inside can sometimes be fatal for a baby.” Hearing the doctor’s reprimand, I nodded continuously, my eyes reddening, and only then did I relax. After the doctor left, Albert sat next to me and put his arm around my shoulders, trying to comfort me. “The baby’s out of danger now, sweetheart, don’t worry too much. I made a mistake. I won’t let it happen again. This is a lesson for me.” I pulled away from his arm and stood up, smiling faintly. “Albert, there won’t be a next time.” Albert froze for a moment, his brows furrowing as he asked, “What do you mean?”

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My wife’s assistant, Chris Green, suddenly posted a tweet saying that he no longer wanted to continue this unclear relationship. Yolanda Bowers, my usually indifferent wife, suddenly looked panicked. She rushed home and said to me. “Chris has really made a big mess this time. Let’s pretend to divorce for now. You can go back to your hometown for a couple of days, and when you come back, we can remarry, okay? “Don’t worry, it’s just a fake divorce. You, Matthew Castro, are still my true husband!” Seeing the urgency in her face, I nodded. But what she didn’t know was that my fate had already been tied to hers by the system. If I divorced her, I would leave this world forever and would never see her again. After I agreed, Yolanda took me straight to the courthouse. I remembered the last time I told her I wanted a snack. She took a few minutes to get it from the snack cupboard. At the courthouse, she held my hand tightly and said, “Matthew, trust me. Just seven days. I just need to calm him down for seven days, and then we can remarry, okay? “Once I’ve sorted things out with him, you can have anything you want!” I numbly nodded. She smiled brightly and pulled out divorce gifts. The things I liked were laid out in front of me, but I didn’t want to look at them anymore. These were just her tools to get rid of me and be with her assistant. I didn’t accept them. I quietly walked out of the courthouse. Her lovers had never stopped, even after we got married. Her assistant always changed, but it was always a handsome young guy. I had argued with her, even begged her, but after she soothed me, she would still act as she pleased. Eventually, I stopped caring. It was her nature, and no matter what, she wouldn’t change. As long as she still considered me her husband, I could bear it. But this time, her assistant seemed different from the others. It seemed like she had really fallen for this young guy who had just graduated. She would spend lavishly just to make him happy, leave me at home while she traveled with him, and ignore my calls just to avoid upsetting Chris. Now, to make Chris happy, she even came home and begged me for a fake divorce, planning to hold a grand wedding for Chris. Her heart had long since stopped being with me. I walked side by side with her out of the courthouse, and Chris had been waiting outside for a while. As soon as he saw us come out, he hurried over to Yolanda. “Yolanda, you’re finally out! I’ve been waiting for you forever. Let’s go!” He ignored the dark look on Yolanda’s face and quickly turned to bow to me. “Thank you, Matthew. It’s because you left that I got this chance. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Yolanda!” Chris seemed ready to say more, but Yolanda stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. “Shut up! Didn’t I tell you to stay in the car and not come out? “If you ever pull this again, just leave!” Chris looked down, covering his face, his expression filled with grievance and anger. “Yolanda, haven’t you two divorced? Why are you still protecting him like this?” Yolanda pressed her hand on Chris’ face and shoved him away. “I’ve warned you about this already. Don’t make me say it again!” Chris seemed to feel Yolanda’s anger. He turned and left, his voice choking and trembling. Yolanda looked at him for a moment, reaching out as if to comfort him. But then she pulled back. She stood in front of me as if protecting me. Once, Yolanda promised that no matter how she acted with others, she would never bring trouble to me. But now, she was panicking. When Yolanda looked at me again, her face turned pale and flustered. She spoke carefully. “Matthew, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect him to run over like that. “It’s probably my fault for spoiling him too much lately. I’ll make sure to teach him a lesson.” I shook my head to signal that it was fine. It was not like I haven’t seen more upsetting scenes, so this wasn’t something I cared about anymore. I spoke to Yolanda. “Since he’s here, you should go be with him. You don’t need to worry about me. “I’ll just take a cab back, pack my things, and head to another place.” Yolanda froze for a moment, then slowly regained her composure. “Matthew, if you want to go anywhere, I’ll pay for it. Just go and enjoy yourself.” I nodded without saying a word and continued walking toward the door. After leaving the courthouse, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in my mind. “Matthew, the system has detected that you are divorced and separated from Yolanda. The mission is complete! “In seven days, you will pass away from illness and leave this world!”

Eight years ago, while reading a novel at home, I accidentally traveled to this world. I was bound to a companion system and ended up by Yolanda’s side. The system told me I needed to accompany Yolanda for eight years or help her achieve success and happiness. In those eight years, Yolanda’s happiness had long reached its peak, and with my help, her company thrived, eventually becoming worth over one hundred million dollars. But despite completing the mission early, I didn’t leave. During those eight years, I truly fell in love with Yolanda. I couldn’t bring myself to leave her. The system had told me I only needed to stay with her for eight years, and then I could remain in this world. I thought I would stay by her side until the end of my life. But, with only seven days left until the eight years were up, Yolanda suddenly filed for divorce. On the final day of the eight years, I would be sent back to my original world. With seven days left, I checked into a hotel for the time being. On my way back, I noticed billboards everywhere, filled with pictures of Yolanda and Chris, looking all sweet and happy. Even the news was full of stories about Yolanda and Chris preparing to get married and hold a grand wedding. I watched the two of them in their wedding attire, full of happiness, and it suddenly hit me. No wonder Yolanda was in such a rush to get a divorce. She was preparing a surprise for her assistant. I remembered when I first arrived. I followed the system’s mission and found Yolanda, and when she saw me, she instantly fell in love with me. From that day on, she vowed that I would be the love of her life. To be with me, she said she would do anything. And she kept that promise. She cared for me in every possible way, and every detail of my life had Yolanda’s touch. Back then, I truly felt she saw me as the only person in her life. Yolanda’s family didn’t want her to marry someone like me, a man with nothing. To get their approval for our marriage, she starved herself for three days and nights, and only then did her parents agree. At the wedding, she held my hand and swore to the heavens. “I, Yolanda, will love Matthew for life, forever and always!” But she didn’t keep that promise. I had just lay down when, without warning, blood suddenly surged up my throat. Seeing the blood on the sheets, I rushed to the hospital. It seemed that the illness the system planned for me over these seven days was going to be hard to endure. Surprisingly, the hospital couldn’t figure out what was wrong and just gave me some painkillers before sending me home. I couldn’t help but wonder how Yolanda would look when I finally passed away. The expression on her face would surely be something to behold. Of course, before I die, there was one more thing I need to do. I want to tell her parents to rest well and not to mourn for me. In this strange foreign world, they were the only ones who still treated me like family. Since my condition was beyond saving, I felt it was time they knew. Before I even reached Yolanda’s father’s house, I saw through the window that Yolanda had Chris behind her, glaring angrily. “Mom, Dad, Matthew has been busy lately, so I brought my assistant to visit you. You don’t need to throw the gifts!” Yolanda’s father pointed at her and cursed. “How could you! I’ve told you. I only accept Matthew as your husband! “Tell that damn Chris to get out! Get out of here now!” Yolanda’s mother was even more furious, clutching her chest as her face turned pale. “Your father’s right. Take him and leave! “Yolanda, Matthew has never wronged you!” Watching this scene, I felt a slight warmth in my heart. It was once Yolanda’s parents who refused to let me marry her, only agreeing after she starved for three days and nights. Later, to earn their approval, I often visited, cooked for them, and looked after their health. They slowly began to treat me like their own son. “I already discussed it with Matthew, and he agreed. “I’m not asking you to accept him. I just wanted him to meet you. Is that too much to ask? “Chris, let’s go!” Yolanda’s face turned red with anger, and she pulled Chris toward the door. This scene was almost identical to when she fought for me, back when she would do anything for me. But now, things have changed. I placed my medical report at the door and prepared to leave. Just as I was about to step out, Yolanda suddenly saw me, her expression paling instantly. “Matthew?”

Yolanda’s eyes flickered with panic. She probably didn’t expect to run into me here. But I just left the report at the door, turned around, and walked out without saying another word. It wasn’t until I was almost home that I received a message from Yolanda. [Matthew, I only brought Chris home today to introduce him to my parents.] [He kept insisting on a wedding, so I just let him meet my parents.] [But don’t worry, it’s just a fake wedding. You’re still my husband!] She typed quickly, as though she had been waiting to say this for a while, and the words came pouring out. This message certainly came later than the idea of a wedding. I didn’t know how long she had been planning the wedding with Chris. I also didn’t know how long I had stopped being her husband in her heart. All I knew was that in five days, I would never have to see Yolanda again. I wandered aimlessly down the street, my feet instinctively carrying me toward the café where Yolanda and I used to go on dates. Everything inside the café felt so familiar. But now, the two people sitting at the bar drinking coffee were Yolanda and Chris. He held a glass of wine, his arm around her. Both of them flushed, their eyes full of desire. “Come on, Yolanda, let’s drink another toast.” A toast? I stared at the two of them, my mind scrambling to remember this gesture. The memory shot back to our wedding day when Yolanda looked at me in her pure white wedding dress, her eyes full of love and gratitude. But after that day, we never had the desire to share a toast. I had tried countless times, but all I got in return was rejection. Yolanda refused to drink even a single glass of wine in front of me, but with Chris, she drank glass after glass. The two of them were completely engrossed in their interaction, not noticing me sitting nearby, but the coffee shop owner did. His gaze shifted between me and the couple, confusion and shock filling his eyes. Maybe, to others, we appeared like a happy couple, but only I knew how torturous this marriage really was. Chris followed the owner’s gaze and immediately furrowed his brow when he saw me. He set down his drink and walked over, his voice tinged with frustration. “Matthew, I just asked Yolanda to spend a few days with me. You don’t have to act like this! “I swear, I’m not trying to take Yolanda away from you. Please, just let us have a few more days together. Just a few, I beg you! “After that, I won’t bother you two anymore!” Yolanda, seeing me, had the flush of alcohol and desire fade from her face in an instant. “Chris, be a bit more polite to Matthew. Stop making a scene!” Hearing Yolanda’s words, Chris looked down and quietly returned to the bar, sipping his drink. Yolanda’s brow furrowed tightly as she gripped my hand a little too forcefully. “Honey, I’ve told you. He won’t shake your place in my heart. You’ll always be my husband! “After this fake marriage is over, we can remarry, okay? “But right now, just leave us alone. Don’t show up here again, alright?” Her voice grew louder and more desperate, almost turning into a scream. I wasn’t angry, nor was I pleading. Just like when she told me she wanted a fake divorce, I quietly nodded and turned to leave. Yolanda still wanted to say something, but seeing my silent demeanor, she opened her mouth and couldn’t get a word out. The greatest sorrow was when one’s heart died. When one gave up on someone, even the desire to be angry at them vanished. For the next few days, I stayed home, as the condition the system gave me kept me bedridden. Then, I received a message from Chris. [Matthew, today is the wedding between Yolanda and me. Are you coming?]

My legs were weak from the system’s condition, making walking difficult. I had to use a cane to get to their wedding. I couldn’t really describe my feelings about attending their wedding, but I thought it would be interesting if I collapsed in front of them. Most of the people at the wedding were Yolanda’s friends and family, and as an outsider in this world, I had no one to talk to. In this world, Yolanda was my everything. The guests looked at me with various expressions, some mocking, some pitying, others with disdain. I had seen too many of those looks already, and I had become immune to them. The internet was flooded with news about their wedding, and as Yolanda’s ex-husband, I was being discussed by countless netizens. I walked slowly through the wedding venue, taking in the surroundings. The couple stood in front of an arch of flowers, greeting their guests, all of whom had once blessed Yolanda and me. I couldn’t help but wonder how they would mock me today. I gave a self-deprecating smile. This was all my own doing. Behind the wedding stage, there was a deep blue lake with fluffy, cotton-like clouds drifting above it. The lawn was covered with Chris’ favorite white roses, and countless blooms surrounded Yolanda, who stood there in a beautiful wedding dress. When Yolanda married me, our wedding was simple. We were poor back then and had nothing. Yolanda had told me that she wanted a wedding like this. I promised her that once we had enough money, I would give her the perfect wedding she had always dreamed of. But we had just started making money, and before I could fulfill my promise, she was about to marry another man. Everything here was exactly what Chris liked, and everything here was bought with the money that Yolanda and I had earned together. Yolanda walked slowly toward Chris in her wedding dress, her face glowing with a happy smile as she looked at him. “Chris! You don’t know how many times I’ve imagined this moment!” Tears of joy welled up in Yolanda’s eyes as she gazed at him with deep affection. “Chris, marrying you has always been my dream, and today, I’ve finally made my dream come true! “My love!” Chris, too, shed tears, but his eyes were filled with ambition and smugness. “Yolanda, the moment I first met you, I fell hopelessly in love with you. Marrying you has been my dream for life!” After sharing their feelings, they embraced each other tightly. The crowd cheered, offering their blessings for the couple to be together forever. Eleven years ago, they had done the same for me. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, everyone eager to offer their well wishes to the newlyweds. I sat in the audience, watching the beautiful scene unfold, tears streaming down my face. Suddenly, Chris spotted me from the stage. He probably didn’t expect that I would actually show up, and a sly grin appeared on his face. He tapped the microphone to quiet the crowd and fixed his gaze on me. “I owe a lot to one person for being able to marry Yolanda.” All eyes turned to me as they had already read about me in the gossip columns. Everyone knew I was Yolanda’s ex-husband. They were all waiting to see what I would say, what kind of spectacle I would make at my ex-wife’s wedding. I looked toward Yolanda, but all I saw on her face was panic and unease. She quickly grabbed the microphone from Chris’ hand and whispered something in his ear, but her words were still loud enough for everyone to hear. “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you not to provoke Matthew?” She turned around and looked at me, her eyes pleading. After being married to her for so many years, I knew exactly what that look meant. It was a silent plea for me not to say anything that would embarrass her. After all, she had planned this wedding for so long, and she didn’t want anything to ruin it. I gave a self-deprecating smile. I had taken care of her for so long, but she couldn’t even spare me the last shred of sympathy. She knew full well that I would be ridiculed when I stepped onto that stage. Amidst the boos and applause, I made my way to the stage and grabbed the microphone.

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